CURRENT LIST OF FARMS & FIBRE ORIGINS

BARE RANCH- NORTHERN CALIFORNIA/ NORTHWEST NEVADA (Regeneratively-Raised Rambouillet wool used in our sweatshirt fleece)

Home to Lani Estill's Rambouillet sheep who graze a 90-mile shepherded journey across the Great Basin High Desert area each year. Raised by Climate Beneficial™ land management practices, Lani’s Sheep are integral to the ranch’s carbon sequestration plan in addition to producing the beautiful, high-quality wool used in this collection.Very similar to the Merino breed, Rambouillets have a silky, superfine wool but have been adapted to fit the American open-range model of raising sheep.

BLACK SHEEP FARM, Grey County, Ontario (woolen-type sheeps wool for our upcoming hand-knits)

An agroecological farm started by a Canadian-born Chinese woman, Brenda Hsueh, prioritizing soil health, biodiversity, and social justice. The sheep are grazed on pasture using intensive managed grazing, to maximize the positive soil carbon capture benefits of ruminants, while producing meat and fibre from something humans can’t eat, grass.

SMALL FARMS ACROSS CANADA (woolen-type Sheep’s Wool used for our current hand-knits)

Due to the high minimums of cleaning, carding, and spinning wool, this group of farms opt to pool their fibre as a way to have their wool processed. Obtained from the shorter fibres of sheep, this woolen-type wool is more suitable for hand-knitting and blanket-type fabrics. Due to the lanolin oil content and airiness of the fibres, this utilitarian wool-type is both warm and water-repellent.

TOCMC, South Plains Texas  (Organic Upland cotton)

(Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Co-operative) A farmer-owned-and-operated cooperative with approximately 35 members, growing USDA-certified Upland Organic Cotton. Each bale of cotton can be traced to a specific farmer and field. While cotton quality is partially determined by weather, farmers are paid based on quality, which incentivizes  growing the highest quality cotton possible. Organic cotton seeds are also used to supply dairy feed, and their fields are diversified with other crops such as corn, soybeans, and peas.

VIRIDITAS FARM, North-Cali (Organic/ regeneratively grown FOXFIBRE©)

A biodynamic farm owned and operated by Sally Fox, a scientist and environmental advocate known for breeding ancient heirloom coloured cottons into more usable forms, paving the way for commercial organic cotton production in the US. Naturally growing in beautiful shades of greens, browns, and reds, coloured cottons offer an alternative to dyeing, are naturally pest resistant and require less water. Dedicated to regenerative and organic agriculture, Sally integrates sheep and other rotational crops including Heirloom Sonora wheat, remarkable for it’s soil-enriching qualities. 

ALVAREZ FARMS, New Mexico (Organic Sea island)

Owned by Dosi Alvarez, an organic grower since 1992, and one of the earliest commercial organic cotton growers in the USA. Alvarez Farms is the only American grower of Organic Sea Island, a luxurious long-staple cotton, also known as Pima. 

SMALL FARMS IN TENNESSEE (regeneratively-grown indigo used for our hand-dyed items)

In partnership with a Tennessee Indigo dye producer, this group of farms integrate natural indigo as a rotational crop to help enrich their soils- part of a community effort to shift towards more regenerative farming practices.  

HOWE SOUND, B.C. and the SOUTHERN US (foraged branches and plants used for our hand-dyed items)

Artisan Mills & Supply Chain Partners

Dana is grateful to be continuing relationships with 3 local producers that have been sewing and knitting with her since 2009. Thank you to the the Lau, the Cazranee and the Hirano families for your skill & partnership over the years.

More coming up on the artisan mills & dyers integral to this collection.

CREDITS

Documentary images shot by Adrian Buitenhuis

Identity Design by Manon Fraser