Fibershed

10/02/2026

Two talks coming up from the Maria Manetti Shrem Institute for Sustainable Design, Fashion & Textiles, both in Cruess 1003 Theatre.

Today (!!), October 2 at 4:30 PM. Artist and author Anna Von Mertens talks about astronomer Henrietta Leavitt and the Harvard Computers, whose study of glass plate photographs of the night sky fed foundational discoveries in modern cosmology. Von Mertens's hand-stitched quilts and her book Attention Is Discovery (MIT Press, 2024) draw on Leavitt's work.

Monday, October 5 at 4:45 PM. Sophie Weston Chien joins Natalia Duong and Aksh*ta Sivakumar to discuss Touching Toxicity, her textile series mapping contamination and remediation across the East Bay.

Go to one or both, and pass this along to anyone who'd be interested. Links for each event here: https://designinstitute.ucdavis.edu/events/wonder-familiarity-truth-discovery - https://designinstitute.ucdavis.edu/events/touching-toxicity

09/17/2026

The New York Times just ran a sharp, well-reported piece on SB 707, California's new textile extended producer responsibility law, which requires clothing brands to fund the collection, reuse, and recycling of textiles at end of life.

Fibershed helped inform parts of the original bill and now holds an ex-officio seat on the program's board, so we were glad to talk with the reporter at length for the piece. While our conversation didn't make it into the final piece, we found it productive enough to put our comments on the record anyway.

Read more from us on Landbell USA's role as PRO, what California can learn from France's EPR rollout, and how eco-modulated fees could fund the natural fiber infrastructure this law will need to actually deliver:

Last week, the New York Times published a story on SB 707, California’s textile Extended Producer Responsibility law, which requires clothing brands to fund the collection, reuse, and recycling of […]

08/26/2026

Today, August 26, is International Dog Day. Around here, that means working dogs! To that end, we want to uplift this fundraiser for a local grazier who needs a dog to support her herding business, Scape Goat Grazing.

The dog she is looking to purchase is Linda — a fully trained, expert goat/sheep-herding Collie who is ready to step up to the plate. Collies are renowned for their intelligence, work ethic, and natural herding instincts, making them the ultimate partners for livestock management. Linda will transform the operation by helping to safely manage and move 250 animals across rugged pasture and steep hills, and by protecting both livestock and handlers by keeping unpredictable situations controlled at a safe distance. Dogs are such an important part of this work!

Any support would be welcomed, donations can be given directly here:

My career advisor never warned me about the voluntary pivot i… Lindsay McKenzie needs your support for Bring Herding Dog Linda Home: Paws up for Wildfire Defense!

08/14/2026

Ever wondered how flax becomes linen? Now is your chance to find out with some hands-on learning!

On September 12, we're hosting a Growing Fiber Flax for Linen workshop at the Learning Center, led by Sandy Fisher and Durl Van Alstyne of Golden State Linen, who've grown fiber flax in Chico for over 14 years. Participants will have to chance to learn about seed planting, harvest timing, and water and dew retting, plus a discussion with CSUC's Professor Hossein Zakeri.

Tickets here: https://fibershed.org/event/learn-to-grow-flax-from-regional-experts/

08/12/2026

It's time... join us for the upcoming Fibershed Winter Market in downtown Point Reyes Station! 💚

Come for locally-grown, naturally-dyed goods, minimally processed and sourced from across the Northern California region.

More than 20 vendors will be there, from local farmers and ranchers to artisans, all who are helping to shape our natural fiber ecosystem. Shop for family and friends, or get inspired for your next project by what the local landscape has to offer.

Everyone is welcome, no admission fee. Enjoy local music and complimentary tea and snacks, with food also available for purchase.

Help us spread the word — tag someone who'd love this!

08/04/2026

August is National Dog Month!

Around here, the dogs we see most are the working kind. On farms and ranches, livestock guardian and herding dogs are more than just our furry friends. They're also a critical part of the business, helping manage flocks and protect animals from predators.

At Fibershed, we see these dogs as core to our biodiversity work, one more piece of how people, livestock, and wildlife can share the land.

Pictured here: Great White Pyrenees pals Piper and Pigeon from Allison Reilly, animal manager at Black Mountain Ranch in Point Reyes, California. This pair of livestock guardian dogs help protect her flocks of Jacob and Churro sheep, as well as alpacas.

07/28/2026

Exciting news! We've got special VIP discount codes for Rethink the Runway's upcoming Switch & Stitch — $10 off an Atelier Pass:

1. Go to the Luma registration page (linked below) and select an Atelier Pass (VIP) based on your preferred Garment Mending Appointment time.

2. Enter the matching code at checkout:

FIBERSHED530 – 5:30pm
FIBERSHED550 – 5:50pm
FIBERSHED610 – 6:10pm
FIBERSHED630 – 6:30pm
FIBERSHED650 – 6:50pm

3. Finish registration and you're set!

Link to register: https://luma.com/92wh7yah

About the event:

Bring clothes you don't wear anymore and trade, mend, or upcycle them with expert menders. Free non-alcoholic drinks and waterfront views included!

07/24/2026

This July, the Marin County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution proclaiming Plastic Free July.

The resolution recognizes synthetic textiles, made from petroleum-derived fibers, as a significant and growing source of microplastic pollution, accounting for an estimated 35% of primary microplastics entering the world's oceans. But, in a significant move, it also points to what Marin already has as a solution: over 3,700 acres of actively managed rangelands, shepherds raising sheep, and a regional fiber community building a healthier textile economy.

Fibershed is very proud to be named in the resolution alongside the Marin Carbon Project and our network of producers and conservation organizations. Local policy rarely reflects this kind of work back at the people doing it, so we're proud to be included, and we'd love to see other counties pass something similar.

If you're in a community with working lands, producing natural fibers, or committed to reducing plastic pollution, this resolution is a model to bring to your local representatives.

Read the full resolution at the link here:

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07/08/2026

REMINDER: RSVP to Audrey Danser's upcoming clothing repair workshop at the Fibershed Learning Center on July 25.

Audrey is a denim and garment repair specialist helping keep beloved clothes in circulation and out of the landfill. She runs her full time clothing repair business Salvage Studio from San Francisco where she has mended 3000+ jeans, sweaters, outdoor gear, special vintage and modern pieces since 2020. She looks forward to meeting the West Marin community, who she invites to bring garments for repair. She will do the work onsite, if the repair is complex, she will have your garment mailed back to you within an agreed on time frame.

More details & RSVP here:

Come meet Audrey at Fibershed's Learning Center~ She can repair your favorite clothing!

06/26/2026

Today, we're lifting up an urgent call from the Solano Together Coalition!

California Forever is pushing provisions into state budget trailer legislation to bypass local voter approval for the Suisun City Expansion Plan and Shipbuilding in Collinsville, sidestepping Solano County entirely.

We stand united with Solano Together Coalition against this action.

Here's how to help:

📞 Call the Governor's office at 916-445-2841 and comment on the Budget Act of 2026, SB-110. Here's a script you can use to leave a message: "Dear Governor Newsom,
I am against any revisions to the Budget Act of 2026, SB-110 that would allow California Forever to bypass local voter approval . I and others have now heard from multiple sources that the Governor’s team is working with California Forever’s lobbyists in a last-minute, backroom deal to benefit the backers of that project. We ask that your office says “no" to any action that would allow California Forever to proceed against the will of local residents."

📞 Call Assemblymember Wilson and Senator Cabaldon's office and demand they reject backroom deals in budget trailer legislation.

✍️ Sign the petition calling for an advisory vote in Suisun City — then pass it to five people.

You can get background on this action + further updates on how you can help from the Solano Together Coalition directly: