150-mile wardrobe: local fiber, real color, P2P economy
Вставка
- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- Except for notions (buttons, zippers, etc), everything in Rebecca Burgess' wardrobe has been grown and designed within 150 miles of her home. But until putting her closet on a diet one year ago, nearly all her clothing was produced far from home, and that made her a very typical American.
Over the past half-century, the U.S. textile industry has been decimated. "In 1965, 95% of the clothing in a typical American's closet was made in America," Burgess writes on her blog, "today less than 5% of our clothes are made here."
Upset by the outsourcing of the American wardrobe, as well as the disconnect this by the waste produced by the textile industry worldwide (it's the #1 polluter of freshwater on the planet and America's 5th largest polluting industry), Burgess decided she needed to focus public attention on local fabric, in the same way the food movement had done with local food.
Inspired by the success of challenges like the 100 Mile Diet, Burgess decided to put her closet on a diet. For six weeks she wore one outfit (created from local rancher Sally Fox's color-grown cotton that Fox had milled back in 1983 before the area lost all of its mills), but then local designers, in collaboration with local farmers, began creating more handspun/knitted/dyed pieces until her wardrobe had become so complete she even had a naturally-wicking alpaca raincoat.
Rebecca calls her experiment the Fibershed Project, because like a foodshed or watershed, her fibershed- the 150-mile radius of her home- is big enough to provide for all the fibers and dyes necessary to create a diverse wardrobe. She admits she's lucky to be in Northern California where there are plenty of ranchers raising even alpacas, angoras, and mohair goats and where there's an ideal climate for growing a variety of color-grown cottons.
In this video, we visit Burgess at her dye farm in Lagunitas, California and her home nearby where she shows us her 150-mile wardrobe, including a bicycle-felted vest and a sweater made from the wool of the oldest rancher in the fibershed (a 96-year-old sheep rancher) and the youngest designer (an 18-year-old knitter).
Original story here: faircompanies.c...
Ill be honest when she started talking about the gold pants I started crying. Im crying for what we have lost. We live in a generic society where everything is plastic and preservatives. Where we go to big box stores and buy clothing that are made by kids. We are starving in this counrty for jobs. Bring the cottage industries back and support these people. I know the clothing will be more expensive but years ago people didn't buy clothes every year. We can go back to that and be happy.
This makes me rethink my whole wardrobe. Thank you for this video. I don't know why I didn't think of this before. I already am conscious of what I put in my body, what I can reuse and recycle, what I can give instead of just put in a box and forget about, and what I make as garbage. I discover something new all the time on this channel and think about how I can incorporate it into my life. Thank you for yet another perspective.
Thank you! I am in the process of creating a clothing line using only natural, organic fibers from the US and this is so inspiring. We have to take back our independence as a community. We are a nation second. Becoming a country first required community! Thanks again for this and the other video with Sasha on natural dyes! Maybe one day you will be able to come visit me, after dreams become a reality! :)
This just brings so much joy and inspiration to my heart !! I can't tell you how deeply this touches this old fiber lover. I have the book Fibershed and all year long it inspires and gives me hope ❤
@haniyyahn I do agree that you couldn't simply substitute a large wardrobe with this type of clothing, but if you were to buy one pair of jeans that were guaranteed for life (something Rebecca hopes to do... that are also custom fit), then it very well could be cheaper long-term. The same goes for buying one classic sweater that you wear over & over. I like the idea of owning a lot less & owning quality. Saving up to "invest" in a piece of clothing, that can even be passed along as an heirloom.
Maybe hemp jeans will do. Hemp could do a good job.
@LocumRex Rebecca doesn't expect everyone to live only within the fibershed, we've just gone too far in the other direction (nothing/little in the fibershed). Also, not all clothing has to be complex handknit stuff. Rebecca told me that 5th Ave is interested, "but if we want to put our yarns, from our sheep and our alpaca on mechanized equipment we need this to be a lot finer (points to handknit sweater) and we need the spin to be a lot tighter. So for that to take place we need new equipment."
Rebecca isn't saying we should go back to the past. Her response to my question about that: "Now we have the ability through an information age that's come.. My goal is to use the best of modern technology and the best of self sufficiency that we could learn from our ancestors. Combine self sufficiency with modern technology and that combo, like a solar-powered cotton mill on a farm. That mill is very advanced, yet at the same time it's very new and old. I love this new old thing. "
@haniyyahn While organic food is pricier, I'm not sure that healthy food always is. A recent NY Times article calculates that a McDonald's meal for 4 is $23-28 while "You can serve a roasted chicken with vegetables along with a simple salad and milk for about $14, and feed four or even six people. If that’s too much money, substitute a meal of rice and canned beans with bacon, green peppers and onions; it’s easily enough for four people and costs about $9." (& dried beans are even cheaper, etc).
A really moving story. I Like that we could combine the natural resources within our "sheds" with creative innovations that don't displace local economies or rather that recreate local economies. However clear or unclear, Rebecca, shares a vision that's possible to refine in our own lives.
I love your conscious attitude, drive and wardrobe! Thanx for the lovely video with all of the specificity - you’re rocking it!!
This is just the greatest thing I've seen in a long while. :)
As usual with your wonderful site, a most beautiful interview. I love them all, keep them coming, and get them on regular TV!!!! :)
Excited & frustrated by this video. The possibilities are beautiful, but as others have posted price matters. I agree that there is no need to buy as many clothes and as frequently as we do, but frankly I can't really afford an $80 or even $50 shirt. It makes sense to pay high price points for certain items, that get a lot of wear and will last for years, like coats and shoes, I'm handy and crafty and willing to make what I need, but even the raw materials are insanely expensive.
As a land person dwelling with plant foods and medicines in the northeastern US, I super appreciate this. I am fascinated to learn what fibers might be gleaned from plants only...milkweed floss for insulation, hemp for fabric, etc. I would love to learn if you know of any good sources for that. Great work.
This is amazing! We have totally lost touch with the land and beautiful natural resources all around us. This gives me hope and makes me want to see what I can do to embrace this philosophy
You are an amazing inspiration Rebecca :)
Wow - that is so cool!!! I love it!!! My goal this year is to knit a plant dyed sweater - but after that - I am going to challenge my self even more after seeing this video :-) Thanks a lot for a beautiful video :-)
Amazing!!! Good climate zone for such rich produce.
A wonderful wonderful video
@kirstendirksen I would like to see the fiber producers Rebecca works with work towards supplying materials for home weaving, sewing and knitting that aren't priced for these things as a luxury hobby (as is the case now). I have the skills to make my own clothes and would love the chance to make my own clothing and my kid's clothing from wholesome materials. Artisan producers coexisted with people who made their own textiles and clothing. I want to see this again not the factory only model.
Omg, i love what you are doing. I wish i could find enough of these pieces to sell in my shop in California.
What a beautiful clothes!!!!!
a great story again. thank you!
I'd love to see this idea take off.
This lady is freaking amazing
Beautiful, thanks so much!
congrats and thanks for sharing - this brings a lot of awareness to my generations (late baby boomer) and afterward - to the "millenials" - I love your message at 7:30 into the video! Again, thanks for sharing!
it is a very impressive and noble project. well done. Although it will require a large scale change in economics and public behavior for it to go mainstream. if all 800,000 people in SF wanted their clothes done this way, how long will people be walking around nude before they got their orders fulfilled?
This is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!
fascinating, thanks for sharing.
@LocumRex there are knitting machines. I think you can buy them at JoAnn fabrics even. Then you cut up the knitted fabric it made and sew it into a sweater. That's how most mass-produced knit fabric is made, just far far away.
However, this DOES explain why wardrobes were SO much smaller historically. Average woman in 1930 had 9 dresses for her whole wardrobe--and that's long after the industrial revolution.
Awesome! Love this
Really interesting video.
I enjoyed listening to you.
I believe we must get beyond this digital economy go back to natural living. Do you have any books? 😀💗
Inspirational!
great job, very interesting people and stories you find expose.
Amazing and so inspiring! I wish I could be part of a chain like that in my community..
My total support and praise here but where is the Gandhian economics? I don't see it explained in the video or description? Gandhi wasn't successful at really anything much less economics. Just interested and again my full praise in starting this. Really exceptional how you've created a community in such a short period of time.
@exee1 But if you look at Apple and Walmart in particular, where are they making jobs? Not America. Walmart forces their suppliers overseas to meet a certain pricepoint, and Apple moved all their production overseas years ago. Just because the CEOs live here doesn't mean the labor is done here or that transporting the items to stores is fuel-efficient and short.
Besides, trade is only beneficial when it's exports. Imports are a loss.
How can this be done? How does one get started? Where do you begin? I sucessfully dyed a handspun fiber sample last night using coffee and citric acid. It worked wonderfully. My son even commented on how the natural color reflected light and gave the yarn a translucent quality. I am glad to have found your site. But I really want to get something like this going in CT.
@BoringPeopleEnt I would be interested in seeing the economics of this model. things like the earnings per hour that would need to attract the unemployed away from the current public assistance programs for them to give those up to work in a textile factory in the US. It easy to imagine putting all those millions of unemployed to work but much harder to put it in practice.
nice project. keep it up!;)
I want to live that way
wonderful :)
pretty cool!
I LOVED the idea but what do you do about shoes?
I love this! Has the Fibershed expanded around the country? I'm in Ohio.
@kirstendirksen In theory I like the idea and don't actually own many clothes myself. I suppose it will depend on the price points and the items of clothing. As I've said, I spend on coats and shoes because they last and offer necessary protection. My small, casual wardrobe gets worn over and over and with kids and household stuff takes a beating. I don't think I could handle having my $50 shirt stained or clipped with scissors by a little one.
love that!! i dont like fashion..etc. this is so cool!
Amazing inspiring x
Fantastic! Thank you for this.
This is so beautiful.....
love that!!
Consuming local products is good, but trade is also beneficial. There seems to be a lot of talk these days about 'Made in China' or basically, not made in America. Yet, we ignore companies such as Apple, or Walmart, or Facebook, or Google or Citibank or Goldman Sacs and on and on. We just focus on.. GM, textile industry, manufacturing industry. Actually, we just focus on what the media has drummed up, and we keep quiet about all the other INTERNATIONALLY dominant companies that are... American.
This is amazing! I'm in the Los Angeles area and do all sorts of crafting, how can I get involved?
@nagaempress yes cause it was SO wonderful working in this industrie. Why do you think there will be any difference to the working condition of the 3. world?! This is painfull work, as a hobby as a projekt - yes. But yesterday never IS the answere for tomorrow.
@kirstendirksen What I meant was the equivalent of the clothing she's talking about - so food grown/raised by small producers either organically or with the minimum of chemicals, damage to the environment and with a lot of care. I don't consider food grown with pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormone, grain fed/herbivores eating animals, etc. to be healthy. Your ex.'s better than McDo (bad ingredients + highly processed + poorly cooked) but I think access to the best food should be standard.
Красавица и талант!
Wonderful idea. In my country (Ireland) I'd love to see more people making and wearing locally sourced and produced clothes. Unfortunately we've embraced the American fast clothing throw away culture of cheap sweat shop badly made clothing that exploits man and nature in our headlong rush to "progress" and modernisation in the Celtic Tiger years. We've lost so many traditional skills in the last 20/30 years, it's awful :(
It would be great to see working models of this in every country.
I'm a big fan of you guys, and of Ghandi, but it's well known among economists that he made some incredibly poor economic decisions (due to understandably feeling pretty burned by the British). I get the point, but any time I see someone talk about a Ghandi economy, I laugh a little.
@cloudld nettles would make similar materials, from what I've heard.
this is awesome. I love this. Can I help?
I am trying to start something like this in MB Canada do you have any tips? Thanks you for your vide.
Jen
I don't make my own fabric yet, but I haven't bought synthetics for years.
Local fiber is one thing, but something I see being completely unemphasized yet entirely prevalent in these discussions is the assumption that modern manufacturing techniques will not be used in the production of this clothing. One commenter pointed out that if a knitter spends 120 hours on a garment it will either cost way too much money or the knitter will be below the poverty line. however with automated manufacturing processes that will be unnecessary.
i thought the title meant that she had a wardrobe 150 miles deep!! :3
I know it isn't going to happen over night, but since the I'd say the 80's there have been more cottage industries popping up. My Aunt was working with a group of knitters that made and sold Items as a group. I think one of the problems are short sited box store mangers telling woman and men that they don't need a sewing department any more because people don't sew. Really! I think of that (fool) I mean shorted gentleman when I see those very same departments back in the stores with in less then 2 years. My mother taught me to sew her mom taught her. My mom and taught the grand kids. I'll teach my soon to be my grandson how to sew. Even it is just an apron for his dad tool or for his mom for a gift. You never know where talent come for until it is exposed. And after watching this I will look to see what I can do to work on some of the local options for me to help no matter how little. I'll start by shearing this post.
Amazing, thanks for this! :D
"who cares who's measuring us or who's telling us what our worth or value is.. we just provide for one another" !!
Yhyh
@shtfgear Not as long as you would think, a lot of people are unemployed so why not create a few plants and manufacture clothing. No every piece of clothing would be made in North America but imagine if 30% of your clothes were made here. That number would grow over time greatly. Nothing happens over night.
Does anyone know, which spinning wheel she is using? I thought, it is nice because of using both feet make it going.
This is like a skit out of Portlandia
Imagine how unhealthy it is to have plastic against our skin 24/7.
where can you purchase these clothes??
I don't feel like it was a dig at those of us who can't afford all sustainable clothing. Part of the reason that sustainable clothing isn't affordable is the fact the local resources aren't supported, and she was just presenting an ideal and saying :why if you had the resources (local factories, the money, etc. ), would you wear 7-11 clothes vs. local, sustainable ones?
@bikemandan510
yuppie self gratification? It is about as far removed from that premise as you are removed in understanding her concept.
The comparison to food is apt also because of what's happened with the organic food industry/movement. Instead of making healthy food and agricultural practices widespread, it's just created another price tier. So, now if you are poor or even middle class that food, and the clothes she keeps referring to as the equivalent to eating at 7-11 or drinking Coke are well beyond your reach and likely to stay that way when your partners are Williams-Sonoma. Those digs annoyed meI wear what I can afford.
I like this idea, but there's enough existing clothes to cover us for decades. You don't need a closet full of clothing. Also, shop at thrift stores
@shtfgear raising awareness is a already good enough goal of this project.
@MrElektrolyt I disagree, here in America, we've grown ourselves and all the people around us to live like we do and we're suffering tremendously for it. We, as a whole, need to stop and rethink our situation and understand that we need NONE OF WHAT WE HAVE, other than farming and shelter to survive. Just look at how the REST of the world lives!
😍😍😍😍😍🥰
I love her feet! You can tell she rarely wears those baby-toe warping runners we all love so much. Wide, flat feet! :D
"The world doesn't stop just because Wall Street Journal lost a few points..." I KNOW, RIGHT??
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤💓💓💓
Porque cor de cafe. Tem tastas coleres lindas. Marron parese roupa velha. Seu trabalho e bom so nao ten variedades. Me.dievau. dimais. Sorri
Buying clothes at a thrift store is infinitely more efficient. This seems like nothing more than yuppie self gratification
The reason for not seeing too much on people's backs is the cost, time and effort involved in doing this. NO garment we make ourselves is viable on the market! It's always going to be a small market produce of how could an entire nation manage making everything from scratch? It's unrealistic. Not everyone CAN or has the skill to make their own clothing. You know how long it takes to get all the equipment, the skills learned and practised to produce a piece and after all, all of your clothing is a collaboration and a labour of love. Who has the time to spend doing this? But it's wonderful for individual people to do it so they make their own clothing and have the time to do it or get a grant of tax payer's money to fund them while they do this, or go without a lot of comforts so they can spend the time doing it. That map was amazing... but your whole concept is really unrealistic and it's obvious you don't understand the global world. Get those people making these clothes for the price people can pay and it won't work. I eco dye and print but I get what the real world is like and your observations are so fanciful in real life. You KNOW how long it takes to create one garment. We don't live in slow times and the world won't stop for us. We all try to do our bit but we can't all seek out the farmer the goats, the machinery and those with the skills. Did you pay those people for your clothing -I mean hard cash? In fact, that's an interesting question - or did they do it FOR you so they could be part of your dream? Were they paid the amount they should have been paid for the work?? . The general public will NOT return to the dark ages with people having to make it all. I guess you did some thesis on this. I see you have a lovely home with all the mod cons. It all seems paradoxical and while you may wear the clothes for the rest of your life, it leaves me wondering...
Good idea, but the bathing suit is gross!
She is a prophet priest and king....she goes against the trend of fewer and fewer masters.
Holla! Have you considered intellectus 424 diet (search on google)? Ive heard some great things about it and my mate lost lots of weight with it.