Zena Holloway is a true biomaterial pioneer. Her one-of-a-kind designs is very intriguing. Gauri D pens down her thoughts on Zena Holloway’s unique and beautiful collection.
Design that mimics nature captivates the viewer. It reminds us that we, the universe, are one. Zena’s bio designs prove this hypothesis a thousand times over. The beauty of corals and everything they represent is a pure delight to the British underwater photographer, Zena Holloway. Moreover, when the oceans started filling with more plastic and fewer corals, she decided it was time to take some action.
Through that passion for beauty and nature, Rootfull came to life!
Meet Zena Holloway
Zena Holloway is an artist, a bio-material innovator and an underwater photographer. Not unlike diving underwater, she leapt into textile design. Besides, textile tradition and innovation are both personified in her bespoke designs.
As a person who has spent time with corals, the plastics affecting the coral ecosystem left Zena flabbergasted by. The patterns, textures and designs of corals have inspired her in many ways. Grassroots art and design were her way of honouring nature. Her collection of sculptures and wearables is an inspiration for sustainable development.
Getting to the roots
They say, ‘creativity takes courage.’ Zena had the courage and passion to make it happen. Rootfull sculptures and wearables are completely sustainable, biodegradable, and 100 per cent natural. The key products used in these sculptures and wearables are wheat grassroots and beeswax.
During her experiments, Zena realised that wheatgrass roots form a soft, woven web of delicate roots that can be moulded into shapes and patterns with the help of the right container and beeswax. Additionally, these roots can be then manipulated into wearables and sculptural designs that last long and eventually become a part of the circular economy.
The sustainable fairytale
A beautiful dress is made of three things – gorgeous patterns, an alluring design, and beautiful material. A Rootfull dress checks all the boxes and more!
Zena uses wheat grassroots to create the one-of-a-kind Zena’s collection grassroots dress. Further, while the dress is in the making, she uses the grass blades of the roots as food for pets. The beautiful patterns created by the natural growth of roots represent patterns of the corals underwater. Each fabric piece is unique and stitched together with great intricacy. If there was ever a perfect example of the true circular economy, this is it. Moreover, it’s a dress that has the power to make new relations happen and then sustain the new life with time.
The day is not far when the brides would rush to stores demanding a sustainable wedding dress for their big day. One can only dream that instead of breaking glass and throwing rice, the upcoming wedding tradition would be giving back to nature in one form or another.
Holloway’s designs represent the deep water corals and they grow on the ground. A beautiful tribute to something from land and something from the ocean.
Food for thought
As the world fights over the variations in ‘The Little Mermaid’ movie, isn’t sustainability a bigger issue to tackle? It’s an issue of the Mermaid’s survival after all!