In recent years, there has been a growing interest in local foods. Buying, growing, and eating local food supports local agriculture, reduces the environmental costs of shipping, provides better awareness of the environmental and labour practices used in the food we consume, and allows each and every one of us to feel connected to what we put in our bodies. Why not do the same with local clothing?
Local clothing and textiles are not frivolous. The textile industry is one of the most exploitative, polluting, and resource intensive industries in the world. Fast Fashion is also one of the consumer trends most symbolic of the waste of our modern consumer lifestyles. Supporting and participating in a local textile economy is an act of resistance against global forces that wish to isolate us from each other and impoverish our imaginations.
Local clothing and textiles are not fantasies. In the Alberni Valley, the Hupačasath and Tseshaht people have provided all of their textile needs in a sustainable manner from the local environment for thousands of years. Each of us, whether our ancestors are from here or elsewhere, is connected through time to people who have provided the means of their own subsistence for most of human history. These skills are not lost, and there is a growing network of farmers and makers worldwide who are trying to rebuild the cultural capacity to re-localize the textile economy .
The Alberni Valley Fibre Guild invites YOU to join us in a 2-year journey to build a 100-km wardrobe. Over the next 2 years, we will provide the networking, mentorship, workshops, training, and fibre procurement necessary to produce wardrobe pieces that connect us to each other and the land. We will celebrate our creations with a community-building fashion show in the spring of 2027. We welcome all skill levels, from complete beginners to expert crafters. Email AlberniValleyFibre@proton.me to get involved!
Alberni Valley Fibre Guild 