Who we are.
Michigan Fibershed is a community-based organization that supports the growth of a regenerative natural fiber economy in the state of Michigan with a vision to move materials, skills, and knowledge through the networks that comprise the Soil-to-Soil cycle of our state’s fibersheds.
Inspired by Fibershed and our neighboring regional affiliates, and together with local regional farmers, artisans, and makers that have grown fiber and dyes and dreamed with us, the Michigan Fibershed vision is coming to life.
Our vision is rooted in the Soil-to-Soil cycle shared by the Fibershed movement.
Photo by Amanda Maurmann
Building our Community
We are working to identify the people, projects, cooperatives, organizations, and businesses that are interested in participating in this Soil-to-Soil collective - from farmers to natural dyers, to spinners and weavers and knitters, to designers and garment makers.
From there, Michigan Fibershed works to support the connections needed to build our regional supply chain around this cycle.
What we do.
By fostering connections and removing barriers between people, materials, and the land, we create opportunities for collaboration and cultivate a deeper understanding of the interdependence within our regional ecosystem.
Through workshops, community meetings, expert discussions, and Michigan-wide fiber-related events, we support community connections and preserve knowledge of crafts and skills essential for building human-centered, regional material economies.
We advocate for policies that support local, sustainable fiber economies and provide support to farmers, producers, manufacturers, and people using and wearing textiles and fiber products.
Why we do it.
As we build our Michigan Fibershed, we are advancing a movement towards a more interconnected, resilient, and self-sufficient world. Our work is both deeply local and expansively global, grounded in the belief that empowerment comes from reconnecting with the land, the fibers we grow, and the communities we nurture.
By creating a platform for experts and providing space for local engagement, we support humans systems that center intergenerational wisdom, empowerment, and community care.
We recognize the intersections of sustainability, colonization, the climate crisis, and agriculture, textile, and fashion systems. We move slowly and with intention to address, educate and repair the negative impacts on our local and global communities.
Our 2025 goals:
Continuing to Support Community Fiber Arts Education Across the State
Establish the Michigan Fibershed Network to Connect Producers, Processors, Makers, and Consumers Statewide
Engaging Michigan Fibershed Contributors to Understand Needs and How To Support Longterm Natural Fiber Economies in our State
Establishing our 501(c)(3) Designation and Communication Platforms
This builds upon our past work of:
Data collection to map Michigan Fibershed contributors
Flax-to-Linen Community Grow Projects in 2023 and 2024, and 2022 Flax Feasibility study in Washtenaw County
Building flax hand processing tools to lend out to community members
Consulting with University of Michigan SEAS Master’s Student Team to survey and interview local fiber producers and Fibershed Contributors to establish the “State of the Fibershed” Assessment
Community engagement by giving talks and holding processing flax fiber demonstrations across the state and region