What is a Fibreshed?

A Fibreshed is a community of textile professionals who aspire to use materials grown regeneratively within their region. It is also:-

“a geographical landscape that defines and gives boundaries to a natural textile resource base. Awareness of this bioregional designation engenders appreciation, connectivity, and sensitivity for the life-giving resources within our homelands.” – fibershed.org

The Fibershed project grew out of it’s founder, Rebecca Burgess’s commitment to develop a wardrobe of garments whose fibres, dyes and labour was sourced entirely from her home region. In 2010, seeking to reduce her ecological footprint, she teamed up with farmers and artisans from within 150 miles radius, to create new clothing by hand.

The project grew into a movement that now seeks to “educate the public on the environmental, economic and social benefits of de-centralising the textile supply chain.”*

The Northern England Fibreshed was originally founded by Justine Aldersey-Williams as the North West England Fibreshed becoming an official member of the Fibershed Affiliate Network in March 2020. It evolved in collaboration with Anita Radini and Mark Palmer (based in the North East) into a combined Northern England Fibreshed in March 2023.

Counties included in the Northern England Fibreshed are:-

• Merseyside
• Cheshire
• Lancashire
• Greater Manchester
• Cumbria
• Yorkshire
• Northumberland
• Durham
• Tyne & Wear

Aims

To identify, galvanise and promote a community of bioregional fibre and dye professionals interested in transitioning from extractive textile manufacturing processes to more regenerative systems. This might include farmers, spinners, weavers, dyers, educators, makers and manufacturers.