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Textile arts and the crafting of sustainability

The social-ecological practice of textile arts

As a craftsmaker and textile enthusiast, I embrace the significance of craft as both a creative and cultural practice, deeply embedded in history and human experience. For me, textile work is not only an expression of personal vision but also a way to honor and preserve traditional techniques that have been passed down through generations. Craft is a process of slow making, where each stitch, weave, or dyeing technique carries intention, attention, and care, reflecting a mindful relationship with materials and the environment. 

Through textile crafts, I aim to transform the everyday act of making into a powerful form of storytelling, where each stitch, pattern, and material carries personal and cultural narratives. By weaving together artistic innovation with the rich, sustainable practices that define the craft, I create works that not only reflect my artistry but also honor the stories embedded in the materials themselves. Craft, in this sense, becomes a language—a way to communicate complex histories, experiences, and values—offering a deeper connection to both the process of creation and the cultural significance of the work.

 

Textile crafts as a pedagogical approach to sustainability

Textile crafts have long served as a powerful medium for expressing embodied knowledge and fostering sustainability. Through techniques such as weaving, embroidery, and dyeing, I invite my students to reflect on their own cultural traditions but also engage with materials in a deeply tactile and mindful way. As a pedagogical approach to sustainability education, my students engage in textiles practices that are rooted in a connection to place, people and nature, using locally sourced, renewable materials, and promoting skills that encourage both personal creativity and ecological response-ability. 

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Community-based research on textiles crafts and sustainability

Cultural sustainability is a key component of broader sustainability efforts, intricately linked to ecological, economic, and social dimensions, as culture shapes every aspect of sustainable development. In this context, community-based craft research plays a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage, languages, and artistic traditions, while also fostering innovative approaches to collaboration and exchange across diverse groups. As global systems continue to evolve, movements like Fibreshed, cooperatives, and land-sharing practices are redefining how we produce and consume, offering a model for sustainable, community-oriented economic practices. These grassroots initiatives not only diversify natural fibre markets but also encourage collective political action, highlighting the importance of social-ecological meshworks in local and global fibre systems. My textile craft and art are deeply connected to this broader conversation on sustainability, where I blend traditional techniques and open-source textile technologies with a commitment to local fibre systems. Through participatory, community-driven research and creative textile practices, my social practice engages with place-based knowledge, stories, and memories, exploring how social-ecological relationships between producers, consumers and the land can challenge dominant economic models and reshape our collective approach to sustainability. By intertwining craft, art, and research, I seek to contribute to a holistic understanding of sustainability that embraces cultural preservation, environmental responsibility, and ethical consumption.

 

I warmly welcome undergraduate and graduate students interested in conducting textile research creation that not only enriches their own craft practice but also contributes to sustainability.​​

Textile Crafts

Examples of my textile crafts and art practice

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©2025 by U of T's Environmental Science in Society Lab.

Meshwork Illustration by April Brust 

Photos: Chai Chen, Kateline To and Nicole Klenk

Website Design by Word Alchemy Inc.

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