SWE Fibreshed membership

Become a member

Join a global growing movement that supports agroecological farming, creates fair and resilient economies and boosts regional textile and clothing production.

Why join South West England Fibreshed

Our fibreshed is the landscape that defines the fibre and dye resources available to us for making our clothes.

Become part of a community that is regenerating our natural environment and textile economy in the South West. Connect and collaborate with like-minded producers and designers to rethink the way we make textiles and clothing.

Apply

Member benefits

Inclusion in our producer map

Add more business, bio, website & social links to our interactive directory of South West producers

Use of the South West England Fibreshed logo

Product tags and labels are a great way to communicate to customers your commitment to working within the fibreshed system. We have seen a growing number of customers looking for locally grown materials, and our logo is a great way to verify your work. Eligible products only.

Opportunity to apply for a bursary of up to £2500

For project work, research or collaborations related to strengthening the fibreshed model of production within the South West. Open to members of 6 months or more. 

About the bursary

Plus...

  • Quarterly news round-up email sharing relevant news, events, webinars, books and other resources
  • Email features for your business
  • Inclusion in occasional press & PR opportunities
  • Regular virtual meet-ups
  • List your fibre relevant events / workshops on our calendar of events
  • Community rate workshop and event hire fees for Bristol Textile Quarter studio
  • [PENDING] Attend face-to-face meet-ups and events across the South West
Who is in SWE Fibreshed

Our members include:

  • Textile crop farms
  • Dye plant growers
  • Sheep & alpaca farmers
  • Garment manufacturers
  • Natural dye facilities
  • Spinning & weaving mills
  • Pattern designers
  • Knitwear designers
  • Woven textile designers
  • Technical editors
  • Alterations & mending
  • Shearers
  • Textile educators & tutors
  • Fibre product makers
  • Tanners & leatherworkers
  • Textile & clothing brands
  • Felters
  • Handweavers
  • Handspinners
  • Knitters & crocheters
  • Pattern cutters & seamstresses
  • Sample makers

Meet some of our members

Harvard Farm

Organic wool production in north-west Dorset
Dorset

The Rushlade Wool Company

Raw fleece and yarn direct from our Devon Farm
Ashburton

Kulu Textiles

Botanically dyed wool and woven products from our Shropshire flock.
Shepton Mallet

Raw Wool Company Ltd.

Undyed yarn that celebrates it's amazing lustre and shine
Cornwall

Gullet Farm

A certified organic farm growing wool in Devon
Devon

The Woolgatherers Workshop

Beautiful knitwear and re-energising traditional farming
Dartmoor

Gutchpool Farm

An award-winning flock of sheep creating super soft wool
Dorset

Dartmoor Wool

Fleece and yarn from naturally coloured Shetland and Jacobs sheep
Devon

PIGMENT Organic Dyes

Organic natural dye business growing plants and people
Devon

Kerswell Farm

Woven blankets, throws & scarves from grassland sheep
Devon

Woolmatters Fibre Co.

Creating local and natural fibre yarns using wild plant colour
Clevedon

Susannah Mitchell

Natural dye studio working with native rare breeds and alpaca
Padstow
How to join

We are a growing community with shared values

Please check you meet at least one of our eligibility criteria before getting in touch. Everyone is at different stages of their regenerative journey, but we all share a commitment to producing and designing with practices that nourish people and planet. 

Eligibility criteria

Grow or farm natural fibres and/or natural dyes in South West England
Produce products which are wholly made with fibres, dyes and labour grown and sourced within South West England*
Offer services for processing natural fibres and/or dyes in South West England, either on a commercial or an artisanal scale
Offer services for manufacturing garments from local yarns or fabrics
Offer a retail site (physical or online shop) that is geared toward consumers who would support and buy into the Fibreshed ethos e.g. an ethical or sustainable fashion/lifestyle store
Offer education or tuition in Fibreshed-related concepts.
*NOTE: This need not be true of entire line of products, but the Fibreshed logo and any claims made regarding Fibreshed can only be used on, or regarding, products which meet these criteria. Please see Exceptions.

Note: We have based these exceptions on our knowledge of the textile and fibre industry in the South West and expect them to be under ongoing review.

  • We are aware that the region has limited processing facilities and are therefore happy to consider on a case-by-case basis supply chains and end products that are sent elsewhere in England or the UK for processing when the required service is not available in the South West. We also acknowledge that this may be due to issues of volume or timeline rather than availability of service.
  • Sewing thread and other haberdashery items are not yet manufactured in our region on a commercial scale.  We therefore expect members to:
    • make every effort to to modify their design and manufacturing to minimise the need for such items
    • to source UK-made products wherever available
    • to source ethically produced and traceable products where UK-made products are not available
    • ensure that items contain 5% or less of nylon, poly cotton, or poly thread by weight and clearly label this, since the product will not be biodegradable as a result.
how much does it cost?

Membership fees

In June 2021 we implemented a tiered membership fee structure:

  • Basic £55 / year

    For individual designer/makers or businesses with just 1 full-time employee (or the equivalent.)

  • Advance Micro £105 / year

    for businesses with 2 – 3 full-time employees (or the equivalent) AND individuals who wish to use the SWE Fibreshed logo

  • Advanced Small £195 / year

    for businesses with 4 – 10 full-time employees (or the equivalent.)

  • Custom £POA

    Businesses with 10+ employees

join us

Do you have a role to play in strengthening fibreshed in the South West?

Apply to join
Building ground-up momentum to radically and regeneratively reshape the way we do fibres and fashion in the UK.

We plan to launch a Supporter membership soon. Sign up here to receive updates and news.

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© South West England Fibreshed

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We will be launching a Supporter membership shortly. If you are interested in receiving more information on this and other news from our fibreshed, please sign up here.