Below is a list of fibres, farmers and supply-chain which have allowed this collection to be:
Great Basin Rambouillet Wool
A smooth, soft, high-micron wool, raised at Bare Ranch, Northern California/Northwest Nevada - home to Lani Estill's Rambouillet sheep who graze a 90-mile shepherded journey across the Great Basin High Desert area each year. 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. 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. We look forward to sharing more with you about this producer.
Texas Organic Cotton
USDA-certified Upland Organic Cotton grown by the Texas Organic Cotton Co-operative- a farmer-owned-and-operated cooperative with approximately 35 members. 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.
Canadian Wool
Our lofty, rustic hand-knitting wool collected from small & medium farms across Canada. Due to the high minimums of cleaning, carding, and spinning wool, many farms opt to pool their fiber as a way to have their wool processed. Made 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.
Tennessee Indigo
The first of our locally-grown-and-foraged dye offerings - an entirely plant-based Indigo produced in Tennessee in partnership with neighboring farms. Grown as a rotational crop, the production of this indigo is intended to simultaneously enrich the soil, contributing to carbon capture.
Produced in small quantities, each piece dyed with Tennessee Indigo is individually dyed-by-hand, finished with a hand-numbered edition.
GOTS-Certified dyes and dyeing
Fibre-reactive dyes and dye applications that uphold the Global Organic Textile Standard.
Foxfibre©
An array of naturally colored cottons grown at Veradita’s Farm, CA, and the life-work of Sally Fox - a farmer & scientist known for breeding Heirloom Colored Cottons into more spinnable, usable forms. Colored cottons are naturally pest resistant and require less water. Their natural shades of greens, browns, and reds offer a alternative to dyeing. Sally has also been a pioneering advocate for the shift back to organic farming since the early 80s, both locally and globally. *coming soon*
New Mexico Organic Sea Island Cotton
A luxurious long-staple cotton, also known as Pima, grown by Alvarez Farms in New Mexico and owned by Dosi Alvarez. An organic grower since 1992, Alvarez is one of the earliest commercial organic cotton growers in the USA and the only US producer of Organic Sea-Island. *Coming Soon*
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.
We look forward to sharing more about our other supply chain partners, including some artisan mills and dyers integral to our process.
GARMENT CARE
How to care for your Hand Knit:
Wool is a breathable, natural fibre allowing for long term wear without much cleaning required. A day left in the fresh air and sun can take away odor. If the area that is soiled is small, take a bit of hand soap, gently rub it into area, rinse and lay out flat to dry. Do not agitate the wool too much as it will cause felting. For heavy soil, we recommend dry-clean. Store folded and do not hang as the weight from the sweater can stretch out the body. To keep your sweater looking new, remove pills by hand. Please note that pilling is a characteristic of wool and unrelated to quality. The woolier, or loftier the yarn, the greater the risk of pilling during normal wear. When not in use, store in airtight container with cedar balls or lavender to avoid damage by moths. A properly-cared for Hand Knit can be an heirloom piece passed down through generations.
How to care for your Great Basin Fleece items:
Our care labels say hand wash but we’ve had good results with the following: machine wash alone (to prevent abrasion), cold/cool, short/gentle cycle, low spin. Always air dry flat to prevent stretching or hanger marks. Use only pH-neutral detergents that do not contain bleach, brighteners, whiteners or stain removers (as these cause holes.) Dry-clean is OK, too. Do not Iron (though light steam is fine.) Store folded and do not hang, as the weight from the garment can stretch out the body. When not in use, store in an airtight container with cedar balls or lavender to avoid damage by moths.
How to care for your Natural Indigo-dyed items:
As indigo tends to release some colour (especially in the first few washes), we recommend washing alone or with similar colours. Use only pH-neutral liquid detergent no higher than pH 7. Some natural dyes are sensitive to citrus. Follow the other care instructions included with your garment.
IMAGERY
Documentary images shot by Adrian Buitenhuis