research research research...

there are a lot of North Carolina hopefuls trying to keep our cotton in NC where it can be spun, woven, dyed, sewn and printed.  TS Designs is company that is a working example that it can be done, while providing jobs, using environmentally conscious methods (dying and printing with water based inks) and keeping it all here in NC :)
awesome. heres a short video I found about their vision
http://tsdesigns.com/blog/

Step One: Finding Fiber

                                                                    baby alpaca :)

First step in building/working/creating my blue ridge fibershed is finding a fiber source

in October there is a animal fibers fair in Fletcher NC with tons of local vendors, animals, workshops etc.  Might be an eventful trip to learn more about the Southeastern region for animal fibers and trades of all sorts

http://saffsite.org/

AFTER SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES..... I'M BAAAACK

my project direction is to create/bring together/ demonstrate a workable fibershed right here in western nc.  Incase you guys didn't catch my post of the fibershed video I'll post it again 
because it is a huge inspiration..
and..it's beautiful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJmXmTFpMg 

 

Quite possibly my favorite part of the entire textile or apparel process is the print design on fabrics

These are from freshman year so nothing to recent....

So I want my senior project to be a combination, based off previous knowledge of things that I have learned over the years studying fashion and textiles AND my future interest (career, goals, knowledge, etc.) 

In the past....

*Written research papers conducted on hemp as a fiber, and also the importance of switching to more sustainable practices in the textile and apparel industry.

*A project in my SD class where my roommate and I created reusable coffee coozies out of old belts and gave the money to a non-profit organization
(I'm still in the process of trying to find a picture of them to show)

*Learned how to use natural dyes

*Created a line of clothing out of recycled materials for the 2012 Spring Showcase at the Broyhill

All of these garments are made from found fabric ( like window curtains), some of the fabric is hand dyed

About where my mind is at in this whole process. All tied up.

Let's Start Stitching

I find myself here at the most difficult of part of this process- brainstorming... and then narrowing it down to the perfect project.

Here are a couple of possible topics:

1.) create an up-cycled line of clothing 

2.) learn to/ harvest natural fibers or dye plants native to the area

3.) apprentice with a local fiber artist

4.) create a fiber shed map (like that of Rebecca Burgess.. in the video I posted above) of Western North Carolina

fiber shed?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJmXmTFpMg

threadin' the needle

 Equity. Economy. Environment. These are the three e's of sustainability. My focus over the last four years has been learning all aspects of the apparel and textile industry (sewing, pattern making, weaving, dying, printing, merchandising, marketing, etc.) and incorporating elements of sustainability (natural dyes, recycled, natural fibers, projects for non-profits...)

So the challenge is this- trying to figure out some type of project in some sort of media that will create a capstone which best encompasses what I've learned at Appalachian and at the same time drives inspiration for the future.