Back to Our Roots: Plant-based Textiles
Have you ever found that when we step outside our comfort zone and open ourselves to the mindset that anything is possible, incredible opportunities present themselves? The year 2024 was one of those periods in time for me personally and professionally. One period in particular was finding myself in London, winning a global award for my sustainability work, and meeting the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.
I had no intention of going to London, but when I was announced as a finalist for the Women Changing the World Awards, many people swiftly told me I had to go. ‘You are a fianalist! You have a chance! Plus, it’s not every day you get to meet Royality!’ They had a point. Well, a couple. So I accepted the ride, and in doing so, it set off a cascading journey of amazing serendipitous events. Two of which inspired me to write this article about plant-based textiles.
@acala.stem
When we arrived in London, I heard that the iconic, world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show was on. Growing up, I remember seeing Mum, my aunts and my grandmother all watching it on TV over the years, and I would listen to all their oohs and ahhs. They were all lovers of nature and gardens and in awe of what they witnessed. Sadly, these matriarchs are no longer alive. I thought to myself, what are the chances that I find myself on the other side of the world when this show is on?
I had to go. We jumped online and grabbed one of the final tickets remaining. Wow! The show did not disappoint! Not just the beauty but also the embracing of the importance of sustainability. Then, something very unexpected happened. In an act to get in touch with my maternal roots, I discovered someone working fascinatingly with roots.
Here, I met the creative visionary and founder of Rootfull, Zena Holloway.
Zena crafts her creations using grass roots, water and beeswax. Intricate patterns are carved into the beeswax, creating a pathway for the roots to follow. Unique patterns are formed to create clothing, sculptures, wall hangings, and lighting. Collaborating alongside incredible fashion designers and music artists such as the legendary Imogen Heap. The creations are a perfect example of a circular economy. The ingredients are organic and locally sourced, with sustainability at the heart of the process. Water is reused from runoff, and any leftover shoot or seed is eaten as animal fodder.
@acala.stem
Fellow Australian Leanne Savage, the founder of Acala Stem, Leanne, also has sustainability and social ethics at her core. Using the lotus plant, stems are cracked, exposing a soft thread that is woven into the finest material - Lotus silk, once only worn by royalty and the highest-ranking monks across Indochina. Having taught English in Cambodia, Leanne saw firsthand the ethical issues of clothing manufacturing and the devastating impacts it had on the family members of the workers. Not willing to become yet another company that contributed to modern-day slavery to make a profit, Leanne embarked on searching for a Cambodian supplier that supported their workers and their families.
Plant-based textiles are not a new thing. We have been using cotton, hemp, and linen for aeons, but with the surge and subsequent purge of fast fashion's favourite fabrics of cheap polyester and synthetic, fossil-fuel-derived fabrics having such a detrimental impact on the environment and our health, we are seeing some new plant-based fibres entering the market. Fabrics from rose, corn, milk, aloe vera, bananas, oranges, eucalyptus, seaweed, the list goes on! With awareness growing about the social, environmental and health implications of not only synthetic fibres but also natural fibres, there is a shift in demand for more natural fabrics. But how do you choose the right ones?
For more on decoding the fabrics, visit Stirling & Truffles
