We’re hosting a Launch Event for participants of our recently launched “Borrowed from the Soil” Design Challenge! Throughout the day, you’ll be able to connect with other textile designers in the region, explore regional material options coming from our local landscapes, learn more about the upcoming Design Challenge offerings, and dive into the three Design Focus Areas facilitated by Fibershed staff and local designers in the industry. See the agenda for the day below!

Note: If you are a Design Student at one of our participating Design School partners (College of Alameda, SRJC, Sacramento State, California College of the Arts), please signup using the “Design Student Ticket”.

In the second half of the day, we will split up into three small group discussions, each facilitated by Fibershed staff and a local industry designer to explore the three Technical Design Focus Areas: Compostability, Longevity, and Zero Waste Design.

See the Agenda here!

Bios:

Lydia Wendt of California Cloth Foundry

Leading a discussion on Compostability

Lydia Wendt is the founder of California Cloth Foundry, a company that creates naturally innovative commercially scalable textiles and apparel solutions with regenerative materials. Their manufacturing formulas and products are designed and made clean and healthy for an ecologically-circular and Climate Beneficial cloth and clothing economy. Their fabrics and fashion are designed for the soil, from the soil, in collaboration with nature, and, most recently, they composted their production waste with the city of Los Angeles. Because of their soil-to-soil climate, and people, beneficial commitment in business practices, production protocols and compostable ingredients, the California Product Stewardship Council awarded them the prestigious Golden Arrow Award for overall excellence in product stewardship. This award recognizes a company that demonstrates the characteristics of CPSC’s Green Award, for product, Bow & Arrow Award, for ethics & supply chain, and Infinity Award, for circularity. Learn more at https://clothfoundry.com.

Alexandria (Alix) Vasquez of Herderin:

Leading a discussion on Longevity

Alexandria Vasquez works as an empathic designer and established her studio, Herderin, in 2019. She is trained as a sociologist and has gained experience in design from applying her perspective to clothing and home objects. She previously established two multi-disciplinary studios with architect Matt Fiely, and earned her PhD from Brandeis University in 2019. She lives in San Rafael, California, with her son, Julien. Learn more about Herderin on the Fibershed Blog: https://fibershed.org/2023/02/27/herderin-begins-with-the-body-and-soul/

Dan DiSanto:

Leading a discussion on Zero Waste Design

Dan DiSanto has 45+ years in the apparel industry as a pattern maker and technical designer. Some of the companies he’s worked for are Levi’s, Ralph Lauren, Nike, The North Face, and Ariat. His undergraduate degree is in Mathematics with an M.S. in textile science from NCSU. Dan has long advocated for and implemented Zero Waste Design practices, including the design for the Fibershed x North Face “Backyard Hoodie” project.