CURRENT LIST OF FARMS & FIBRE ORIGINS

BLACKollective© - Southern and Southeastern U.S.A

Tameka Peoples founded Seed2Shirt and the BLACKollective© (Black Land Agroecology Cotton-Farmer Collective), a vertically integrated, woman-led, and member-based organization from which DLB sources cotton – cotton grown by Black farmers in the southern and southeastern regions of the US. 

The member farms of BLACKollective heal the land, farm families, and local communities through regenerative and climate beneficial agriculture practices, and include farms like Bridgeforth Farms, the largest Black-owned farm in the state of Alabama. BLACKollective addresses the many structural, generations-long challenges that US-based Black cotton farmers face, from land access and ownership, to government discrimination, social and business exclusion, and regional and national supply chain obstacles.

BLACK SHEEP FARM | Grey County, Ontario (Romney, Gotland and Shetland cross sheep wool with a focus on natural colours)

Brenda Hsueh is the founder of Black Sheep Farm in Chesley, Ontario, a 40-acre agroecological farm that prioritizes soil health, biodiversity, circular economy and social justice. At Black Sheep Farm, sheep are grazed on pasture using intensive managed grazing techniques, which maximize the soil carbon capture benefits of ruminants. This practice helps produce food and fiber from grass—something humans can’t eat—but that can be transformed into something beautiful and functional.

SALLY FOX / VIRIDITAS FARM | Northern California

Organically Bred FOXFIBRE® — Naturally Coloured Cotton

Based on her biodynamic farm and research site in Northern California, Sally Fox is a pioneering scientist and activist known for her decades-long work with heirloom, naturally coloured cotton varieties.

Sally has dedicated her life to rescuing these rare plants from obscurity and refining their genetics to enhance fibre quality. Naturally grown in subtle, earthy tones of green, brown, and red, these cottons require no dyeing. Their strengthened genetics also reduce water usage and increase pest resistance — a quiet revolution in sustainable fibre.

Her commitment to regenerative organic farming includes rotational systems that integrate livestock and heirloom crops, notably Sonora Wheat, prized for its ability to restore and enrich the soil.

Much of the foundation for commercial organic cotton farming in the U.S. can be traced back to Sally’s vision and persistence, opening the door for generations of farmers to come.

ALVAREZ FARMS | New Mexico

Organic Sea Island Cotton & FOXFIBRE® Coloured Cotton

Founded in 1992, Alvarez Farms — led by Dosi Alvarez — is one of the earliest commercial-scale organic cotton farms in the United States.

The farm is the only grower of Certified Organic Sea Island cotton in the U.S. — a long-staple fibre prized for its softness, strength, and natural sheen. Sometimes referred to as Pima, this cotton is known for its luxurious hand and exceptional durability.

Alvarez Farms also serves as the primary growing site for Sally Fox’s naturally coloured FOXFIBRE® cotton, supporting the ongoing cultivation and refinement of these rare heirloom varieties.

LANI’S LANA | HIGH DESERT CALIFORNIA/NEVADA

Fine Rambouillet Wool — CLIMATE BENEFICIAL™ & RESPONSIBLE WOOL STANDARD Certified

Lani’s Lana produces fine yarns and combed top from Rambouillet sheep that graze across the Warner Mountains of Northeastern California and the open rangelands of Northwestern Nevada.

In winter, the flock roams the desert rangelands under the watch of skilled sheepherders and their dogs. Come summer, they migrate into the Warner Mountains, continuing a centuries-old pastoral rhythm. Lani describes this life as “deeply rooted in tradition and grandeur — close to the earth, connected to nature, and ever exposed to the uncontrollable elements beyond human influence.”

The wool is certified Climate Beneficial™, a designation earned through a Carbon Farm Plan developed in partnership with Fibershed and the Carbon Cycle Institute. The ranch implements practices such as

Riparian restoration projects and naturally occurring beaver dams across the property further strengthen local ecosystems.

Lani’s wool is also Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified, affirming best practices in animal welfare, land stewardship, and supply chain transparency.

TEXAS ORGANIC COTTON MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE (TOCMC) | South Plains Texas  (Organic Upland cotton)

Farmer-owned-and-operated, TOCMC’s approximately 35 members, grow USDA-certified Upland Organic Cotton. Driven by the work of their members, without whom they would not exist, each bale of cotton sold by the co-op can be traced to not only its farmer, but the specific field from which it originates. Farmers are paid based on quality, incentivizing them to raise their plants with a focus on longevity and overall health, avoiding the overapplication of fertilizers and pesticides. The surplus organic cotton seeds they produce are also used in dairy feed, and their diversified fields naturally fix nitrogen with legumous cover crops like peas and soybeans.

CREDITS

Documentary images shot by Adrian Buitenhuis

Writing by Theo Mohamed

Identity Design by Manon Fraser