Weaving, the act of integrating threads to create fabric, it is a tradition that has existed for thousands of years, and has played a major role in human history. Native people all over the world, including tribes in the New England, have strong weaving traditions, creating woven baskets, rugs, and clothing. Providence and New England are deeply connected to textiles through the industrial revolution, when weaving mills were built along our waterways and New England became a hub for textile manufacturing. 

The textile industry, however, was a large contributor to the pollution of river-ways in Rhode Island and still is a large contributor to pollution around the world because of all the chemicals used throughout the process of textile production, from the unsustainable growing of fiber plants to the toxic dyeing and finishing processes of the product. There are many people pushing for sustainable and ethical change on large and small scales, giving us hope for the future of the textile industry.

In the summer of 2021 we revived a vintage loom (weaving machine) that sat in the back of a dusty barn in New Hampshire, and we began the creative process of developing patterns that capture the essence of our coastline. Clara Boberg,  ( RISD Textiles ’23) was our weaver and pattern designer, and they are now training our new weaver, Alejandra, to replicate the pattern so we can make some clothes! We are, simultaneously, searching for an additional weaver, already skilled in this craft, from our refugee or immigrant community, to join the team for 2022. If you know somebody, please let us know!