The Rust Belt Fibershed Symposium was this past Saturday and my head is still buzzing with excitement and inspiration.
Much like at every event where I find myself in the presence of these people, it was beyond energizing. We talked about some *huge* developments in the local fiber landscape—like a wool processing mill opening soon by Powers Acres, and the launch of Found Surface, a small-scale softgoods manufacturer in Cleveland.
And while all this exciting news is just another way textiles can breathe life into our lovely little Rust Belt, we also focused on breathing life into old textiles, too.
Enter: The Material Memories Project.
Project rules:
Material needs to currently live in our Rust Belt Fibershed (within 250 miles of Cleveland, Ohio).
Materials don’t need to originate from here, but must carry a memory tied to this place.
Materials do not have to be natural fibers or dyes—they can be any textile currently in our fibershed.
At the time this project was announced, my husband had just so happened to hand me a stack of his old, worn work jeans. And the next weekend, a lucky visit to my grandma’s house left me with a whole rack full of her clothes from the ‘90s. I knew I had options.
I call the bag Second Shift. Its body made from the jeans David laid bricks in, and its lining—a floral dress from my grandmother’s closet. A pretty stark contrast that simply fits. Work and leisure. Home and away. Yin and yang.
I drafted the pattern myself, and since it was such a tight deadline, I didn’t even test it once. Overall, I’m pretty pleased with the construction and honestly thrilled with the final silhouette. This bag is everything I’ve been looking for in a not-quite-tote, not-quite-shoulder-bag mashup. My favorite part: the waistband-turned-shoulder strap with added buttonholes for an adjustable length.
Thinking of refining this pattern and adding some elements to make it even more user-friendly. Perhaps the next Wild Reed Designs pattern release?
Stay thrifty!
Han
I love how you incorporated the ripped mend into the bag - it tells the story of the textiles even more!
Love it. Such talent and style. Amazing.🤍 (Willie! 🤍)