Announcing the North American Linen Association (NALA)!!

We're so excited to announce that the North American Linen Association (NALA) is officially open for Membership!
JOIN HERE: northamericanlinen.org/

Connecting over the shared challenges of building a fiber flax to linen supply chain in North America, a group of agricultural growers, brands, businesses, researchers, and representatives from community projects in emerging regions came together and identified the need for an industry association to align efforts at building the domestic flax to linen supply chain.
 
In September 2022, the North American Linen Association (NALA) was formed as a 501(c)(6) organization with headquarters in McMinnville, Oregon, to serve members throughout North America.
 
NALA brings together interest groups from all stages of the supply chain to share in infrastructure development, networking, best practices, and marketing campaigns to promote fiber flax agriculture, bast fiber processing infrastructure, textile manufacturing, and co-products in North America. NALA also serves to connect regional fiber flax industry clusters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, the Pacific Northwest, Nova Scotia, Victoria, Manitoba, and beyond.
 
Please join us in rebuilding the linen supply chain in North America and become a Member of NALA today!
​JOIN HERE: northamericanlinen.org/

​An exciting step forward for the Fibrevolution team! We are scaling up our fiber flax trials and will be utilizing a mechanical flax puller to harvest this crop. Fall planting allows us to grow fiber flax in our region without the need for irrigation. This field will be harvested in June 2022. We have partnered with the Yamhill County Historical Society to restore a flax puller that they have in their collection, for use on our fiber flax trials. We have dug hard to find one of these machines in the USA, and this is the only flax puller we have found still in existence in America. Thankful for the support from our community as we all believe in the viability of linen production in Oregon, and together envision it's revival in our region. Stay tuned for more...

Listen to PODCAST here: podcast.ausha.co/roots-routes-of-linen/fibrevolution

"Welcome to ROOTS & ROUTES of LINEN, the podcast which pass the mic to actors and lovers of the linen industry in Europe. Today I welcome a special guest, Shannon WELSH, co-founder of Fibrevolution. Fibrevolution’s mission is to bring flax and linen production back to the state of Oregon (and really the United States!).

For 4 years Fibrevolution’s team has been immersed in all things flax and linen - and you know what? Flax grows beautifully in Oregon! From the time of the early settlers until the 1960’s fiber flax was a dominant crop in Oregon. During this period Oregon developed the only flax industry in the United States.
Shannon Welsh and Angela Wartes-Kahl, co-founders of Fibrevolution, vision is to build an economy that values people, work, plants and the land at every step of the process. They have teamed up with farmers, textile professionals, manufacturers, seed breeders and university researchers in their community, who are as much as inspired as Shannon and Angela to participate in the revitalization of flax and linen in the Pacific Northwest.
​
Enjoy the episode!"

Fibrevolution is thrilled to be one of the 12 businesses chosen for a Case Study for this project!

"Funders, impact investors, and integrated capital practitioners currently have the opportunity to catalyze momentum and reform in the U.S. fiber and textile industry. A coordinated, strategic roadmap is critical to make the best use of integrated philanthropic and investment support.

This research project drew on more than 60 interviews with fiber farmers and ranchers; processing businesses along the supply chain (mills, tanneries, etc.); brands and other supply chain experts; and funders and investors.

Findings from these interviews have been synthesized and distilled into a seven-year financial Roadmap identifying five key Gaps and Levers where integrated philanthropic and investment capital would have the greatest impact in rebuilding the “missing middle” of the supply chain. " -SAFSF team

Read more about the 'Fibers Roadmap' and 'Case Study' businesses here: 
www.agandfoodfunders.org/featured-work/sustainable-fibers-and-textiles/fibers-roadmap/
​www.agandfoodfunders.org/featured-work/sustainable-fibers-and-textiles/case-studies-from-the-roadmap/

Fibershed has developed an initiative to coordinate and implement a manufacturing strategy that will regionalize the production of textiles and contribute to climate solutions. The Regional Fiber Manufacturing Initiative will:

• Address the gaps in regional infrastructure to support producers and brands
• Help garner resources and capital for existing supply chain partners
• Identify and cultivate supply chain entrepreneurs
• Educate and attract investors who are interested in supporting a regional fiber manufacturing ecosystem

The Initiative is made up of committees of local and international experts to focus on core issues of Material Production (from soil to fiber), Manufacturing (from fiber to fabric), Consumer Connections (from fabric to wearer), and Business Services (supporting financial structures to help the efforts above).

Fibrevolution co-founders Shannon Welsh and Angela Wartes-Kahl have both been asked to serve on the Board for the RFMI. Angela will serve on the Material Production committee and Shannon will serve on the Manufacturing committee, with the Stewardship committee and Chiefs of Staff as the backbone of the Initiative.

You can learn more and follow the work of the RFMI here:

• https://fibershed.org/programs/textile-economy/the-regional-fiber-manufacturing-initiative/
• 3 Maps Show How We Can Unlock Local Clothing Industries

YarnStories - A podcast telling the tales behind our favorite fibers

"Fibrevolution’s mission is to bring flax and linen production back to the state of Oregon (and really the United States). We’ll talk a little today about what happened to the industry there and what challenges Shannon and Angela face trying to bring it back."

Listen to Podcast here: Episode 215: Fibrevolution with Shannon Welsh