Fibershed

We're so glad you are part of our community! If you are new to Fibershed, allow us to introduce ourselves. 👋 🌿 Fibershed is a nonprofit organization that develops regional fiber systems that build ecosystem and community health. Our work expands opportunities to implement climate-benefiting agriculture, rebuild regional manufacturing, and connect end-users to the source of our fiber through education. We transform the economic systems behind the production of material culture to mitigate climate change, improve health, and contribute to racial and economic equity. 🌿 Throughout the Fibershed community, innovators are reimagining the ways in which clothing is produced, sold, used, and re-used. Sign up for our "Fibershed Forward" email series to be introduced to community members, makers, activists, growers, and leaders who are affecting change and inspiring action in the world of textiles and clothing. Through this short series, you’ll learn how you can get involved and join us in the movement to protect the health of our biosphere. Sign up here: https://buff.ly/3Pu2ztZ.

Affiliate project spotlight! ✨ Dansk Fibershed (Denmark) is advancing environmentally responsible fiber processing with the Mobile Micro Spinning Mill project, launched in 2023 and set for completion in 2025. Insights from this project have been shared at events like Fiberfolk 2023 and Festival Vinterstrik 2024, with additional details available online and in Gavstrik magazine. This three-phase project includes training on the open-source HiLo spinning machine, developed by Berlin-based Studio HILO, which allows users to create custom yarns from local and recycled fibers, supporting small-scale, environmentally responsible production. It also involves research on Spelsau wool, producing data sheets that address challenges in adapting raw wool for machinery designed for industrial rovings. The mobile mill empowers local producers, reduces environmental impact, and strengthens resilience and environmentally responsible practices within the Danish fiber community. ✨ Dansk Fibershed is one of 79 international Fibershed Affiliates advocating, designing, and building regional fiber systems communities. This giving season, we encourage you to join the movement by supporting your local Affiliate. Explore the Fibershed Affiliate Directory (link in bio) to find an Affiliate near you! https://buff.ly/3HCtZJc Photos courtesy of Dansk Fibershed

Transforming the fashion system requires a unified, cross-industry effort. 🤝 Fibershed was proud to collaborate with our friends at Bioneers on a special newsletter that delves into a few of the conversations and innovations leading us toward a healthier fiber future. 🌱 Explore it here: https://buff.ly/41mbUKX

Our atmosphere has too much carbon, while soils around the world have too little. Agriculture can balance the carbon cycle and stabilize climate through carbon farming, which moves carbon from the atmosphere into plant life and soil ecosystems. 🌱🐛 Fibershed is a leader in modeling carbon farming in our home community and expanding broad awareness of how fiber and dye-producing landscapes can restore balance to the earth’s climate, build resilience to drought, and increase our agricultural productivity naturally. Since the inception of the Climate Beneficial™ Program in 2016, enrolled producers have implemented carbon farming practices that we estimate will sequester 130,000+ metric tons of C02 over the next 20 years. ↪️ Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/g8uBPaqX Photos by Paige Green #CarbonFarming #ClimateBeneficialAgriculture #WorldSoilDay

Curious about California's move toward sustainable fashion? Join our FREE webinar on the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 (SB-707, Josh Newman) to hear from experts on how this groundbreaking law impacts producers and drives the state toward a circular textile economy. Tap the link or scan the QR code to register: http://bit.ly/4hwODvy    #SB707 #SustainableFashion #CircularEconomy

This giving season, our ask is simple—yet critical to strengthening regional fiber systems. We encourage you to locate, connect with, and support a #FibershedAffiliate in your region. 🌐💛 Affiliates form the widespread backbone of our collective movement. Global collaboration among Affiliates—on issues vital to regional textile ecosystems and rural economic development—unlocks untapped potential for economic innovation, environmental enhancement, and social equity. Explore the Fibershed Affiliate Directory to find the Affiliate closest to you: https://lnkd.in/gpDst3yq 🌱 PS: Fibershed Affiliates! Leave a comment below so community members can keep up with your work! –––– Photos courtesy of Fibershed Affiliates and Paige Green

Our wardrobes tell stories. What’s yours saying about your commitment to healthy communities and a thriving planet? 🌿 Fibershed's new Sustainable Closet Audit is here to help you align your clothing choices with your values. Join us in rethinking fashion—sign up today for a free guidebook and worksheets that offer insights into your purchasing habits, motivations, and how your decisions impact the world around you. ↪️ Learn more and start your #FibershedClosetAudit journey here: https://lnkd.in/ey2AYVNk

In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 into law. This groundbreaking law (SB707, Newman) will hold textile producers accountable for the lifecycle of their products, from collection and recycling to reuse, all while addressing environmental and public health concerns. ⁠ Want to learn what's next and how you can stay involved? Join a free webinar on Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon PT hosted by the bill sponsors, the California Product Stewardship Council. During this webinar, Senator Newman's office and the California Product Stewardship Council will discuss passing the legislation, EPR program structure, and the timeline for actionable milestones. Plus, get your questions answered during the Q&A. 📢 Learn more and RSVP here: https://buff.ly/49dvHhK

🧵By sourcing all fiber, dye, and labor from within Northern California, Fibershed Producers are creating a system that not only reduces the carbon footprint of their goods but also strengthens the local economy and fosters a deeper connection between communities and the land. Their collective efforts are a testament to the power of collaboration and the potential for regenerative practices to transform entire industries. McCormack Ranch, a Fibershed Producer Member, is a historic operation in Rio Vista, California, where time-honored practices meet forward-thinking stewardship. “McCormack Ranch has always been a very holistic system,” says Ranch Manager Kelsey Nichols. “Small grain farming and sheep fit really well together.” McCormack Ranch is not only preserving its legacy of sustainable farming but also pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in regenerative agriculture. 🐑🌾 Read McCormack’s story, originally published by Fibershed and written by Stephany Wilkes: https://buff.ly/4h1CYoh

Looking for a reason to slow down this season? We recommend watching "The Nettle Dress," an independent film that showcases the healing power of nature and craft. 🌿🪡 It is available online through December 2—a special opportunity as it is not yet widely available to stream. This touching and uplifting film carries a story about textile-making that goes beyond a particular craft. It portrays how a tangible connection with materials from our own landscapes can bring healing and joy where it is most needed in our lives. 💛 Learn how to stream the film, which includes a pre-recorded Q&A with textile artist Allan Brown and filmmaker Dylan Howitt: https://buff.ly/4ijzBK7