Sustainability Resources
From my sustainability talk, The Eco-Nomics of Fiber Arts: We need to change the way we make and appreciate textiles!
Click on the name:
TATTER - explores the medium of textiles to tell human stories and cultivate understanding. Includes a library and object catalog, essays, articles, and a Journal, classes, events and retreats, and a shop.
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UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME - "UNEP"
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ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION - works to develop and promote the idea of a circular economy, and work with business, academia, policymakers, and institutions to mobilize systems solutions at scale, globally.
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A NEW TEXTILES ECONOMY: REDESIGNING FASHION'S FUTURE - a 2017 report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in partnership with UNEP.
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TEXTILE EXCHANGE - an organization of over 800 brands, manufacturers, farmers, retailers, and others committed to climate action toward more purposeful production from the very start of the supply chain - see their yearly reports.
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TOXIC TEXTILES: THE CHEMICALS IN OUR CLOTHING - EarthDay.org (Yes, the folks who do Earth Day!)
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ENGINEERING OUT FASHION WASTE - 2018 report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
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STYLE THAT'S SUSTAINABLE: A NEW FAST FASHION FORMULA - McKinsey & Co.
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SHAVE 'EM TO SAVE 'EM - The Livestock Conservancy's initiative to save rare breed (endangered) sheep by connecting fiber artists directly to farmers.
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RUSTY BEE RANCH - Barbara Cloud-Wiseman & Brent Wiseman, Florida Cracker (critically endangered) sheep - search The Livestock Conservancy's online directory of rare breed products.
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CATSKILLMERINO - a local (to me) sheep farm where I buy wool; they also have booths at the Union Square Farmer's Market in Manhattan and Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn every Saturday.
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WINTERS PAST FARM - a local (to me) sheep farm with Coopworth wool and locks.
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JOHN C CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL - established in 1925 in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina to support local artisans and preserve traditional American crafts, and a great place to learn spinning and weaving. Local Shetland sheep wool available from Martha Owen Woolens (on Facebook and Instagram).
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BUSINESS INSIDER -"We've now found microplastics on the very highest and lowest points on Earth..."- 11/20/2020
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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC - "Creatures in the deepest trenches of the sea are eating plastic" - 2/28/2019
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ABC NETWORK AUSTRALIA - "Great Barrier Reef's microfibre problem increasing due to synthetic clothes, study finds" - 4/11/2018
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FIBERSHED - a non-profit organization that develops regional fiber systems that build ecosystem and community health.
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WEAVE A REAL PEACE (WARP) - an international network dedicated to improving improving the quality of life of textile artisans worldwide.
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THE CLEAR COTTON PROJECT - International Labour Organization
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THE LIFE CYCLE OF A T-SHIRT (TedEd) & HOW ANCIENT TEXTILES CAN HELP THE FUTURE (TedTalks) - Angel Chang
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SINGTEX - S. Cafe fabric made from used coffee grounds.
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MITERRO - fabric made from spoiled milk.
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ANANAS ANAM - yarn and leather made from pineapple plant waste.
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ORANGE FIBER - fabrics made from citrus juice by-products.
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OLIVER CHARLES - clothing made in Brooklyn NY from sustainable materials such as seaweed fiber, using 3D printing technology.
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BOLT THREADS - bio-based textiles (including mushrooms).
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LANZATECH - carbon capture technology, partnered with Zara for textiles.
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FAIRBRICS - carbon capture technology, partnered with H&M group’s Circular Innovation Lab.
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ALGAEING - textile dyes and inks made from algae.
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ORIGIN BY OCEAN - harvests invasive algae to create biodegradeable, non-toxic and low energy textiles, natural fibers and dyes.
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LIVING COLOUR - bacteria dyes.
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COLORIFIX - uses DNA sequencing to create color pigments from nature.
AQUAFIL - takes abandoned fishing nets and castoff bits of carpet and transforms them into Econyl, a 100 percent “regenerated” nylon that has made appearances in products by some 750 brands, including swimwear, eyewear, and activewear.
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SAM BENTLEY - sustainability news, including monthly roundups.
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MATERIAL DISTRICT - new sustainable materials; "the world’s leading match-making platform in the field of innovative materials" - @materialdistrict on Instagram
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EILEEN FISHER RENEW - accepts returns (no matter what the condition) of Eileen Fisher brand clothing and resells, recycles, or repurposes the garments - if only all brands did this!
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FABSCRAP - in Brooklyn NYC and Philadelphia, collects unwanted textiles from manufacturers and makes them available for sale to the public; recycles what remains.
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THE BIG REUSE - nonprofit store in Brooklyn NYC for salvaged & surplus building materials, appliances & furniture (accepts donations) and city-wide composting programs.
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THE RESOURCE EXCHANGE - Nonprofit store in Philadelphia for used fabric, lumber, furnishings, craft items, office supplies & more, including items from film & tv sets.
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PHILADELPHIA GUILD OF HANDWEAVERS - holds an annual Fiberpalooza! sale of unwanted fiber arts supplies donated by members.
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NANGELLINI.COM - My friend Nancy Nagle is a weaver who gives me her thrums which I use to make colorful yarn.
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WOVENBYCAROL - My friend Carol is a weaver who also gives me her thrums! Along with other items, she weaves bathmats made from upcycled t-shirt fabric.
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OAK & LAUREL FIBER - traditional textiles handmade by master craftspeople and silk weaving thrums.
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LILY HOPE - Tlingit Ravenstail and Chilkat weaver.
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WAFA GHNAIM - Palestinian embroiderer and dress historian.
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ABOVE THE FRAY - traditional textiles from the weaving traditions and cultures of hill tribe Laos and Vietnam.
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THREADS OF LIFE - revitalizing Indonesian textile traditions, supporting women's enterprises, and conserving dye plant ecologies.