CURRENT LIST OF FARMS & FIBRE ORIGINS
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®)
A biodynamic farm and research site, owned and operated by Sally Fox, a pioneering scientist, artist, and activist Known for her work with heirloom, naturally coloured cotton varieties, Sally has dedicated her life to rescuing these unique plants from the forgotten halls of history and refining their genetics to improve the quality of their fibres. Growing naturally in rich, subtle shades of green, brown, and red, coloured cottons require no dyeing while their heartier genetics both reduce their water needs and provide stronger resistance to pests. Sally’s lifelong dedication to regenerative, organic farming is evident in her integration of livestock and crop rotation systems, notably featuring heirloom Sonora Wheat–renowned for its soil-enriching qualities. Paving the way for farmers that came after her, commercial organic cotton farming in the US owes much of its life to Sally.
ALVAREZ FARMS | New Mexico (Organic Sea island cotton & Foxfibre®)
Founded in 1992, Dosi Alvarez’s organic cotton farm is among the earliest commercial scale growers of organic cotton in the US. Alvarez Farms is the only American grower of Organic Sea Island cotton, a luxurious, supple, long-staple fibre, also known as Pima.
LANI'S LANA | HIGH DESERT CALIFORNIA/NEVADA
(Fine Rambouillet Wool, CLIMATE BENEFICIAL™ and RESPONSIBLE WOOL STANDARD Certified)
Lani’s Lana produces high-quality yarns and combed top from luxurious Rambouillet wool, sourced from sheep that open-range graze in the Warner Mountains of Northeastern California and the rangelands of Northwestern Nevada.
In the winter, under the careful watch of sheepherders and their dogs, the sheep browse the desert rangelands. During the summer, they migrate to the Warner Mountains, following a centuries-old pastoral tradition. Lani describes this way of 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.”
Lani’s wool holds the CLIMATE BENEFICIAL™ wool certification, thanks to a Carbon Farm Plan developed in partnership with Fibershed and the Carbon Cycle Institute in 2016. This plan integrates sustainable practices such as:
No-till or minimum-till farming
Cover cropping
Compost application
Hedgerow planting
Water conservation initiatives
Additionally, the ranch features several beaver dams and completed riparian restoration projects in the Warner Mountains, further enhancing ecosystem resilience.
Lani’s wool is also Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified, ensuring ethical and sustainable wool production. This certification verifies best practices in animal welfare, land management, and social responsibility across the entire wool supply chain.
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