About Us
We are a global network of 60+ members. We are farmers, fiber processors, emerging manufacterers, natural dyers, designers, upcyclers, and artists. Our members work with natural / plant-based fibers, plant dyes, artisanal and sustainable textiles. Our members use regenerative agricultural and sourcing practices, as well as engage in other sustainable strategies. Our members are creative and curious about earth-based practices, as well as the variety of uses plants have. Among the issues that our members’ work addresses are: climate adaptation and mitigation, community skill-building, social and racial justice, community wealth creation, enviornmental justice and spirtual healing.
Current Work
Uplifting Our Vision Through Film
We believe storytelling is a powerful way to spotlight the impact of our members’ work. In 2024 we produced a short film, Woven From Nature, featuring six of our members. We believe in uplifting this inspiring sustainable work with wider audiences through short films, screenings, honest conversations and events about sustainability and equity.
Community Workshops
We collaborate with our members to provide and facilitate free community workshops. We believe skill-building, environmental education, and collective art-making should be accessible to our communities.
Resource Sharing & Members Collaborations
Resource sharing and technical assistance are important aspects of what bftn provides. Our virtual meet-ups connect members across the globe, creating a space to exchange knowledge, foster relationships, and develop collaborative projects. By providing these platforms, we nurture a community that uplifts one another and strengthens the impact of regenerative practices worldwide.
Image taken by Nyrie Benton, Harvesting Nature’s Rainbow workshop at Oko Farms
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We reclaim and celebrate the value of Black contributions to fiber and textile supply networks, promoting regenerative practices that respect the earth and build-up our communities.
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Collaborations is at the heart of what we do. We bring people together to co-learn, co-create, and produce collectively.
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We honor the rich traditions of African-descended lineages, embracing them as pathways toward a sustainable and equitable future.
We are a movement committed to advancing economic agency in our communities, supporting culturally relevant conservation, and centering holistic environmental stewardship.
Image taken by Sasha Kelley @ Seed2Shirt’s pilot farm in Whitakers, North Carolina