Climate Beneficial Fashion Gala

On September 23, 2017, our Fibershed community showcased the explorations, developments, and garments that transform our clothing into a means of building soil and reversing climate change.

Held at the beautiful Big Mesa Farmstead in Bolinas, California, the Climate Beneficial Fashion Gala presented a runway of climate beneficial fashions along with a generous spread of farm-to-table foods and distilled beverages sourced from local farmers and ranchers, as well as a silent auction and marketplace of artisanal and bespoke goods made by Northern California designers.

Download the event program: program-2017-gala

Photos by Paige Green Photography

Many of the garments created by the designers in the evening’s show were made with the first finely woven Climate Beneficial Wool that our state has ever produced. Bare Ranch is the source for the Rambouillet wool that was woven by our region’s first mechanical weaving mill—Huston Textile Company opened their doors in May of 2017. The project represents a strong potential for how we can grow value for protein fiber producers in our state with a material that has for too long been disregarded as an economic by-product. This project to create a fine wool cloth not only restores economic value to regionally produced and raised fibers, but addresses the land management associated with those fibers.

In 2016, the first large scale Carbon Farm Plan was completed for Bare Ranch—the plan outlines that the greenhouse gas impact for implementing Carbon Farming practices will sequester 111,581 metric tons of CO2e over the 20-year span of time required to see many of the projects into maturity, which is equal to offsetting the emissions produced by 23,740 passenger vehicles in a year. The increase in soil water holding capacity at the ranch was measured at over 520 acre feet, or 169.5 million gallons, this amount of water holding capacity is equivalent to the amount of water used by 1,730 California households in a year. Once each practice is implemented (and that is underway now), the green house gas mitigation and carbon sequestration impact would be 4,068 metric tons of CO2e annually—this annual draw down rate would effectively offset 6 to 9.3 times the green house gas emissions associated with the ranch’s wool production each year.

By pooling demand from a community of like-minded artisans we can support moving our local material through higher minimum mills—leveraging economies of scale by working together. The current production will be around 700 yards, and with your help, the program can be scaled up in upcoming years. To learn more about ordering Climate Beneficial Community Supported Cloth, please visit the Lani’s Lana website.

		LOOK 1: Victoria’s Shoulders Capelet designed by Marlie de Swart of Bo-Rage Yarns & Designs  |  Felted Wool Vest designed by Theresa Markwood of Treehouse Felt  |  Whitecap Tee Dress designed by CA Cloth Foundry
		LOOK 2: Gaucho Style Wrap Pants & Cropped Apron Top Set designed by Rachel Kulinski of Running River Designs |  Yerba Buena Hat designed by Carol Frechette of 2Nfrom |  Wool Felt Backpack designed by Matt Katsaros of Matt Katsaros Studio
		LOOK 3: Irma Jumpsuit designed by Geana Sieburger of GDS Cloth Goods |  Clogs designed by BRYR Studio
		LOOK 4: Persephone Tunic designed by Sally Fox of Vreseis |  Capsaicin (pepper) Spray Lace Collar designed by Amy Keefer |  Waxed Cloth Tote designed by Matt Katsaros of Matt Katsaros Studio
		LOOK 5: Riverbend Reversible Halter Top and Riverbend Skirt designed by Karen Hess of Local Dialect
		LOOK 6: Men’s Casual Dress Chambray Shirt, Men’s Casual Dress “Union Cloth” Trousers and Men’s Climate Beneficial Wool Bomber-style Winter Jacket designed by Laurie Berliner of Madge & Me |  Cali Wool Beanie designed by The North Face
		LOOK 7: Nikki’s Coat designed by Daniel DiSanto |  Whitecap Tee Dress designed by CA Cloth Foundry |  Nepeta cataria (catnip) Lace Collar designed by Amy Keefer
		LOOK 8: Phoenix Kimono Duster, Bralette Crop in Ginkgo and Kiki Shorts in Ginkgo designed by Andrea Plell & Myrrhia Resneck of Halcyon Love
		LOOK 9: Shepherd’s Pinafore designed by Carol Lee Shanks | car Shepherd’s Jacket designed by Carol Lee Shanks |  The Sophia Hat designed by Carol Frechette of 2Nfrom
		LOOK 10: River Trees Top and Celeste Skirt designed by Kori Hargreaves of Ecotone Threads/Dawn Creek Farm
		LOOK 11: Ponja winter pants designed by Industry of All Nations  |  and Drewster Hand-Knit Sweater designed by Industry of All Nations, knit by Lily Reid of Apprentice Studio
		LOOK 11: Sport Coat designed by Victor Kali of Kali Made Garments |  Porteños Saddle Loafers designed by Industry of All Nations
		LOOK 12: Above/Below (worn as top) and Hand Loom Short designed by Prairie Underground
		LOOK 13: Sleeveless Mini Dress and Shawl Collar Vest designed by Heidi Iverson of HIJK |  ‘Jess Brown for Fibershed’ Doll designed by Jess Brown Designs |  Wool Felt Tote designed by Matt Katsaros of Matt Katsaros Studio
		LOOK 14: Oak Cloak designed by Ashley Eva Brock |  Red Tail Hawk Striped Tank and French Terry Joggers in Oat designed by CA Cloth Foundry |  Waxed Cloth Tote designed by Matt Katsaros of Matt Katsaros Studio
		LOOK 15: Fall Sunset Shawl designed by Robin Lynde of Meridian Jacobs |  Red Tail Hawk Striped Tee Dresss designed by CA Cloth Foundry
		LOOK 16: Phyllis Coat, Estelle Halter Top, Annabel Pants, Patchwork Bento Bag and Wood Sandals designed by Molly de Vries of Ambatalia
		LOOK 17: Wool Moth Coat, Handloom Tank and Above/Below (worn as pant) designed by Prairie Underground
		LOOK 18: Strata dress designed by Cassidy Wright of The Moon |  Gathering Cloak designed by Cory Gunter Brown of The Moon

Photos by Paige Green Photography