{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1424463"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1424463/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PL6618/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2026PL6618/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2026PL6618","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PL6617","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PL6614","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PL6619","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PL6616","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2026PL6615","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB2627","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB2626","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1424463/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1424463","accessionNumber":"T.2344-2021","objectType":"Dress","titles":[{"title":"Rootbound #2 Dress","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"The Root Systems Dress is made by manipulating the roots of oat grass to grow into a particular form. Amsterdam-based artist Diana Scherer has been developing this technique of growing textile-like structures since 2014. She harnesses the intelligence and natural tendencies of the roots, training them to grow into intricate structures that result in a 3D textile. The process, referred to by Scherer as ‘exercises in Root System Domestication’, explores the possibilities of combining technology and nature, and plays with the boundaries between what is seen as ‘natural’ and ‘artificial’. The fibrous constructions hint at a potential, more sustainable future in which we grow our own fashion in the ground.\r\n\r\nScherer has described her role in the process as ‘plant root weaver’, acknowledging the ‘textility’ of the pieces. During her development of the technique she experimented with different plant types, assessing the different characteristics of the roots of each; for instance their strength, fineness, and likeness to silk yarn. The patterns of the templates that she designs are often inspired by geometries found in natural structures. This example is made from the roots of oat grass. Scherer initially produced flat, rectangular samples of the root textile but advanced to experimenting with more complex forms. The Roots Systems Dress is one of Scherer’s earlier experiments with growing complete garments.","physicalDescription":"A v-neck shift dress of a textile of oat grass roots, grown to shape.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Diana Scherer","id":"AUTH346635"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"plant","id":"AAT14031"},{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"roots (roots of a plant)","id":"THES305128"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Diana Scherer was inspired by the intertwining roots of a rootbound potted plant to experiment to see whether plant roots could be manipulated and trained into growing in a regular structure. She developed a process that begins with her digitally designing a template that is then 3D-printed. She places the template in fertile soil and sows the seeds of her preferred crop. The plants (often oat grass) grow for around two to four weeks, after which Scherer removes the roots from the soil, cutting them from the plant and template before naturally drying them out in the sun. The resulting structures resemble a woven or wound three-dimensional textile, visually similar to lace.","categories":[{"text":"Sustainability","id":"THES285124"},{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2026PL6618","2026PL6617","2026PL6614","2026PL6619","2026PL6616","2026PL6615","2021NB2627","2021NB2626"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CA018","id":"THES413400"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dress","id":"x47499"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Amsterdam","id":"x28722"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2017","earliest":"2017-01-01","latest":"2017-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Diana Scherer","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"135","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The dress was included in the ‘Future Fabric Labs’ section of the V&A exhibition Fashioned from Nature (April 2018 - January 2019) and the subsequent exhibition tour to the Natural History Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark and Design Society in Shekou, China.  A film commissioned by the V&A for the Museum’s website at the time of the exhibition was shortlisted for the Fashion Film Festival Milano in 2019.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Root System dress, oat grass roots, Diana Scherer, Netherlands, 2017","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>GRASS ROOTS FASHION</b>\r\nDiana Scherer trains the roots of plants to grow in intricate structures, creating a 3D textile. When the roots are fully grown, she remvoes them from the soil and cuts off the plant stems.\r\nThe pieces produced are not yet suitable to be worn, but hint at a potential, more sustainable future in which we grow our own fashion in the ground. \n\r\n<b>'Rootbound #2' dress</b>\r\nDiana Scherer (b.1973)\r\nNetherlands, 2017\r\nOat roots\r\nLent by the artist","date":{"text":"2018","earliest":"2018-01-01","latest":"2018-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["T.2344-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"2344","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-20","recordCreationDate":"2017-11-10","availableToBook":false}}