I previously visited the Laughing Goat Fiber Farm in January when it was snowy. Visiting in Summer is beautiful and it was great to see and interact with the fiber animals again. I’m currently hand-knitting a cashmere sweater from cashmere fibers of this farm. The cashmere is grey, a mix of black and white fibers from…
Author: Helen Trejo
Helen Trejo is a sustainable fashion advocate and co-founder of Fiber Novation Loops LLC, a social enterprise that explores the intersection of fashion, agriculture, and technology to support the long-term sustainability of US fiber farms. Helen received her B.A. in fashion design from UC Davis, and her M.A. and Ph.D in Fiber Science & Apparel Design at Cornell University.
www.helenxtrejo.com
Hand-Spinning with Meaningful Fibers
I am very excited about this post because it contributes to my interest in New York’s Fibershed. I am taking a spinning class and am very excited to make my first yarn from Spot Hollow Farm roving, which is in Trumansburg, NY. I think it is especially charming how Shepherdess Marie comments about the sheep’s names on her Facebook page and states…
From Watershed to Fibershed
“Fibershed” is a term coined by Rebecca Burgess, it represents regional fiber resources from plants and animals such as sheep, goat, or alpaca, manufacturing mills that process raw fibers into clothing, and a local market. To understand this term, it is helpful to consider better known watersheds, bodies of water that link up to larger bodies…
Nature in LA!
These are some photos of nature in Los Angeles: And our wonderful dog Tummy! ❤
Nurturing a Sustainable Design Aesthetic
I remember when I spent entire summer days drawing new designs alongside my twin sister, Nidia. The joy I took in drawing each “doll” as we called them, inspired me to pursue fashion design academically. This outfit was heavily inspired by the ’90s, and my interpretation of fashion as an art form. The “dolls” above,…
Women’s Capabilities in “I Love Lucy”
Although “I Love Lucy” was about 40 years old when I began to watch it, I still love it and treasure each moment that I am able to watch a re-run in Los Angeles. My home is just a few blocks away from studios that housed “I Love Lucy” as part of Desilu Productions. Living…
Development of a Sustainable Design Aesthetic
Developing a strong design aesthetic requires acknowledgement of the mind’s creative potential. It has taken my twin sister and I over 10 years to develop distinct design aesthetics. Both of our aesthetics are geared towards sustainability, but they are distinguished by the way we approach thinking about design. I will focus on communicating my sister’s,…
Basket Cases
Originally posted on Organikos:
What strange growths protrude from this tree? Photo by Seth Inman. There are birds around the world that use strands of different materials to craft marvelous woven nests that hang from tree branches — if you’re lucky enough to see them! Yellow-rumped Cacique in Avian Architecture by Peter Goodfellow © Princeton University Press…
Past, Present, and Future: Salvadorean Textiles and Clothing
The claim that there are no indigenous people in El Salvador led to wonder about what makes someone “indigenous.” Census information conveys that Lenca and Nahua (Pipil) indigenous people make up about 10% of the population in El Salvador. It is assumed that the indigenous population is much larger, but underreported based on the narrow…
Worth of Crochet
Crochet is a wonderful hand-craft that allows extensive creativity. Each inch of fabric is created with intention and care. The process of crochet generates no waste since only the fabric necessary to complete the design is created. Additionally, once the crochet clothes reach the “end of life” stage, the fabric can be un-crochet and re-used…
Value Farmers give to their Sheep, Alpaca, and Goats
Intellectual capital is defined as: knowledge, innovation, creativity, imagination that fosters the creation of new knowledge and discoveries -Yellow Wood Associates People who own farms with sheep, alpaca, goats, and other fiber animals have extensive knowledge about their animals. Farmers give value to these animals beyond just the fibers they produce for yarns and clothes….
nature: appreciation & excitement!
The complexity of nature is compelling. Trees themselves provide rich services to our ecosystem and contribute to our livelihoods by providing oxygen. Trees also carry their own personal histories that are shaped by their specific geographic location. They each encounter distinct experiences and no tree is alike. Similar to the notion that all people are…
Revisiting Ithaca’s True Spring!
Now that Spring is in full bloom, I thought I’d post photos of Ithaca’s spring! I expected flowers to grow on thin, expanding branches of trees, but I was surprised to see flowers growing directly on the tree. It was so charming to see this because it looks like the tree is offering a small…
Fixing our Apparel Industry
The global apparel industry has provided an influx of economic opportunities in developing countries. An issue is the disconnect major apparel brands have with workers in their supply chain. The complexity has led to neglect and limited action towards ensuring that human rights and social welfare are not violated. There has been a proliferation of news…
Ag Day! Celebration of Agriculture
Yesterday there was a wonderful event that celebrated the diversity of life in Ithaca. Animals and plants were brought to the Ag Quad on the Cornell campus and many students got the opportunity to interact with adorable animals. Lisa, a fiber farmer I visited in January was at the event and she brought three of…
HELEN TREJO 