AWARD YEAR
2023
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Responsible Consumption & Production
KEYWORDS
root, grassroot, fashion, wearables, compostability
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
DESIGNED BY
Zena Holloway
WEBSITE
https://zenaholloway.com/root
Rootful
A collection of sculptures, wearables, and products grown entirely from roots
How does it work?
To create the collection, Zena Holloway cultivated seeds in beeswax molds. The roots can expand vertically or horizontally to follow the shapes of the molds into which they grow. The roots can be forced into small spaces to become flat and compact, or encouraged to develop at a deeper level to create complex 3D shapes. She uses roots like a 3D printer. No growing cycles are the same so each piece is unique.
Why is it needed?
Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity's carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams. What's more, 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year (UNECE, 2018), and washing some types of clothes sends significant amount of microplastics into the ocean. This collection attempts to find a small solution to the complex issue of climate change. The roots trap carbon and can be composted, so the environmental footprint of the products is much lower. Root sculpturing can open up new ways and approaches in the world of sustainable fashion and design.
How does it improve life?
Rootful is a promising possibility of root-grown textiles and contribute to a future where fashion and design is sustainable and compostable.