Fibershed Woven Together: From Farm to Fashion Within Fifty Miles
On exhibit November 4, 2019–January 3, 2020.
Opening reception Saturday, November 9, 11 am–1 pm.
FIBERSHED Woven Together: From Farm to Fashion Within Fifty Miles, celebrates the successful production of bioregional wool fabric (woven from yarn spun here at the Spinnery) that was fashioned into original designs by ten local craftspeople.
From bespoke shoes to flat caps and everything in between, ten expert artisans turned the flat fabric into one-of-a-kind, wearable items. Alongside the completed apparel, the fiber, yarn, cloth, and narrative storytelling materials will be on display to educate the public about producing local textiles—introducing them to the land, the people, and businesses integral to the journey.
This exhibit features the work of: Leonore Alaniz, Daphne Board, Katie Cavacco, Larisa Demos, Anna Gilbert, Erin Kiewel, Gretchen Laise, Joanne Semanie, Sarah Shields, Nur Tiven (and Green Mountain Spinnery). We are proud that we we asked to spin the yarn that was woven into this very special fabric used by the artists listed above.
Western Mass Fibershed received a microgrant for this debut project from Fibershed California, an organization that develops regional fiber systems that build soil & protect the health of our biosphere. With this funding, our local Fibershed organization embarked on a two-part mission: first, to navigate new territory to map the process and potential for future bio-regional cloth-productions and second, to inspire, educate, and generate interest for locally sourced, sustainable materials.
Uniquely situated, regional resources enabled the metamorphosis from farm to fabric within a 50-mile radius!
The exhibit opened earlier this week on Monday, November 4. This weekend marks the opening reception on Saturday, November 9 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. There, you can meet the Fibershed founders, farmers, spinners, weavers, and designers who are involved with this exciting project and others interested in sustainable practices.
For questions and to learn more about this project please contact WMF co-founder Michelle Parrish, 413-461-5588. She is a natural dyer, weaver, spinner, and blogger living and working in the Connecticut River Valley of Western Massachusetts.