I am a designer and maker. 14 years ago I started becoming uncomfortable about the materials I was using. Having been trained to make applied art beautiful (hopefully) and practical, I wanted the materials and processes to be environmentally friendly too. I joined the Textile Environmental Network, started to use hand spun wild hemp, and locally produced fleece for my felt work.
People really don't buy things unless they are practical or beautiful, so the aesthetic and function had to follow the narrow parameters of the very few materials I had sourced.
The only place to make an impact was the professional forums where I was already showing and selling my work, so the new pieces had to be innovative too.
You can see my work on my websites:
www.anniesherburne.co.uk and the older, transitional website, www.anniesherburne.com.
I have just finished 2 years intensive research at Kingston University, where I undertook a masters by research.
The process involved working my way through new ideas and jargon, and realms of science that had been pretty alien to me. I soon realised I needed a directory. This was supported by the results of a questionnaire on my website, where most respondents needed information and access to materials.
Ecological Textile Glossary has been compiled during this research, and draws on many areas of expertise.
I hope you will add your own contributions and also benefit from a greater understanding of the other disciplines associated with the magnificence of textiles, and how we can begin to remake and use them in harmony with the natural cycles of our world.