Our Initiative to Create a Jacket Made From New York Wool

At the heart of our brand is a commitment to creating stand-out, high-quality American fashion while supporting our local community. Our area, Upstate New York, is rich in agricultural diversity, home to nearly 800 sheep farms producing beautiful, high-quality fiber. These farms are within a few hours of our studio, but local wool is not readily accessible in woven form for garment production - yet.

We are proud to introduce the Local Wool Initiative, a project years in the making, dedicated to developing a jacket sewn from New York wool. Through this initiative, we aim to strengthen our regional supply chain, celebrate local agriculture, and create fashion that’s inextricably connected to the place it comes from.

A Lasting Foundation

The sheep and the farms that care for them are the epicenter of the Local Wool Initiative. We are privileged to be using some of the finest wool fiber produced in NYS by Anchorage Farm Romneys and Bear Farm Corriedales. Not only did these farms provide beautiful fiber for this project, but they welcomed us to meet their flocks, helping us to understand the challenges and rewards of responsibly raising sheep. Together, these partnerships are the cornerstone of the Local Wool Initiative and the foundation of what we hope will become a much bigger movement in the fashion industry.

We strongly believe in the sustainability of grassland agriculture and are thrilled there is another generation behind us with the same vision.
- Carole & Mark Harth, Bear Farm

The Next Steps

Over the next few months we'll share as we collaborate with local artisans and manufacturers to create this one-of-a-kind fabric. And we'll be revealing sneak peeks at the styles we're considering for the limited release. We're excited to show just how beautiful made-local can be! You can become part of the movement and help us promote local fiber in fashion by sharing this story with friends. Together, we can support local agriculture and economies by building a localized and transparent supply chain.

Special Thanks

We'd like to thank the Hudson Valley Textile Project, without whom this project would not be possible. HVTP is a thriving network of regional fiber farmers, processors, dyers, manufacturers, designers, and artisans who have come together to strengthen the textile supply chain in the Northeast. It is this network that enables such a large collaboration as the Local Wool Initiative.

Thank you to Mary Jeanne Packer of Battenkill Fibers and Lilly Marsh of Lilly Marsh Studios for giving their time and expertise to educate, mentor and facilitate.

A very personal thank you to Kristina's son, James @j_c_films, for capturing the beautiful footage at the farms.

And special thanks to the New York Fashion Innovation Center for support through their grant program.