New York Textile Lab is a textile design and consulting company that specializes in bioregional, regenerative textile and clothing development. We believe that the world’s textile production should grow out of abundant, regenerative systems that emerge from collective thinking, rather than centralized systems that rely on extraction, scarcity and competition.
Decades of outsourcing, agricultural revolutions, and trade policies in the US have given way to a textile industry that is centralized and highly reliant on extracted resources. A shift away from fibers reliant on petrochemicals and big agricultural systems to biodegradable materials like wool and other natural fibers that are cultivated on smaller farms can bring benefits. Some benefits include better farming practices that have regenerative outcomes, reduced consumption of resources, and a focus on local jobs. These strategies bring both environmental and economic diversity and better stewardship to our biosphere.
New York Textile Lab works with regional farms to promote the growth of climate beneficial fibers used in the production of our yarns and textiles. We assist designers in the sourcing of regenerative materials and help them connect to local mills and manufacturers for their production needs. Our goal is to encourage the growth of decentralized textile supply networks.
We are looking for a Holochain developer to help us to design and build a hApp that coordinates the networking of designers, farms, mills and manufacturers. We ultimately see this happ as a tool connecting participants of textile supply chains beyond our immediate bioregion, as it grows laterally and fractally. We are interested in integrating a non-fungible, reputational currency to the happ that incentivizes best practices within our textile supply network. These practices include:
• Foster climate beneficial production
• Build social equity and inclusivity
• Promote circular manufacturing models
• Divest from using oil reliant synthetic materials/ invests in natural materials
• Encourage bioregional economic development
• Foster interdependencies between humans, other species and natural systems
This project is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2021. It is a funded project with an affiliated organization. Interested parties should contact Laura Sansone at nytextilelab@gmail.com.