Founded in March 2020 by natural textile dyer and educator Justine Aldersey-Williams, Northern England Fibreshed began with a mission to support the regeneration of local communities and the environment. The Affiliate seeks to reintroduce textile crops into British agriculture, creating opportunities for growers, producers, and educators. In March 2023, the initiative expanded, with Soil Association inspector and agroecological farming consultant Mark Palmer joining as co-founder. Together, they lead a community of 15 members, focused on identifying regional resources and overcoming challenges to sustainable textile production, such as the lack of commercial-scale natural dye facilities.

“I felt passionate about Fibershed principles out of deep concern for my children’s futures, and Covid amplified these concerns, also providing me the time to invest in setting up a community.”

Justine Aldersey-Williams, Northern England Fibreshed

A key achievement of Northern England Fibreshed is the Homegrown Homespun project, which brought together a prominent British clothing manufacturer, a TV personality, and a local community group to grow indigo linen jeans in the UK. This initiative gained significant national and international attention and led to the #WomanGrowsJeans project, resulting in the UK’s first prototype pair of homegrown jeans. These projects highlight the Affiliate’s dedication to promoting sustainable textile practices and raising awareness of the Fibershed cause.

As Northern England Fibreshed looks to the future, securing funding will be crucial to sustaining and expanding its impact within the local textile and agricultural industries.

Website: https://northwestenglandfibreshed.org/