In this week's conversation, LaChaun is switching roles to be interviewed by Michelle Brooks. LaChaun gives and update on her fiber and farming journey as well as some insights into her experieces in fiber and how they relate to Michelle's experiences as well.
In this week's episode, LaChaun speaks with Melvenea Hodges. Melvenea creates clothing and accessories using traditional techniques such as block printing, sewing, weaving, spinning, knitting, crocheting, and embroidery. On a small scale, Melvenea grows processes and spins naturally colored cotton that she weaves with.
Maud is the founder of Behind The Hill, a textile company based in Brooklyn, New York. Behind The Hill creates unique and contemporary pieces for home decor using a variety of heirloom cotton which grows wild in shades of pink, terra-cotta, green, beige, and white in Mexico and Guatemala.
Kendall talks about her “How to Grow Denim Project” where she works with salvaged raw cotton and indigo in order to document the steps required to create a 40-yard bolt of denim.
Sharon along with small farmers and hand weavers in Louisiana are working towards reviving Acadian Brown Cotton. Sharon talks about creating the documentary film Cotonjaune", Acadian Brown Cotton, A Cajun Love Story”, which dives into the fascinating and little-known history of hand weaving and brown cotton in Louisiana.
Sally is an organic bio-dynamic farmer located in the Capay Valley of Northern California. In addition to her climate beneficial wool Sally Fox has made a huge contribution to the genetics of cultivating and bringing naturally colored cotton to the market.
Julius is a cotton farmer from Northampton County in North Carolina. He grows cotton on his multi-generational family farm, and uses his Black cotton decor and accessories business as a tool to educate on the plight of rural black cotton farmers as well as a means of working towards his dream of turning his cotton into clothing.
LaChaun is an artist and weaver, an entrepreneur, a farmer, and so much more, and I’m excited to have her on the podcast today, and to have her producing the podcast for us.
Irene is the founder of Cotton Clouds, a cotton weaving yarn and spinning business which has been beloved by our fiber community for decades. Irene started her business in 1978 - the era of polyester! - and has been going against that grain and supplying beautiful high quality cotton and other natural fibers ever since.