Hi Reader,

I sometimes think fabric gets treated rather unfairly in fashion, often the garment gets all the attention first. A designer sketches an idea, chooses the silhouette, imagines the final look … and only afterwards begins searching for a fabric willing to cooperate.

But every now and then I meet a designer who works very differently, there's somehow a 'fair trade' between the fabric and the designer's creativity.

Fabric as partner

They begin with the cloth: touching fabrics before drawing anything, playing with yarns, and becoming curious about texture, weight, movement, and more.

And honestly? These are often the designers who create the most interesting work. Like Angela Aeschliman, whose very chic resort collection - 100% made with our handwoven fabrics - is wowing runways in a flurry of recent Chicago fashion shows.

It's for this reason I'm excited for the Chicago Popup Garment District - 19/20 May. Why?

Because, over the years, I’ve watched beautiful things happen when designers allow the material itself to guide the process, at least a little, and when it's in their hands I can see the creative sparks flying! A slubby recycled yarn suddenly suggests a softer shape. A weave structure creates movement no sketch could have predicted. A colour combination changes the entire mood of a collection. The fabric starts speaking first.

If you're in the Mid-West make it a destination and meet your people! I'll be presenting both days, so be sure to stop by and say hi!

Fabric as guide

It's just one of many reasons I love working with handwoven textiles so much. Handmade fabric has personality, surprises, and sometimes even opinions! As with any creative relationship, it takes working together for a while to bring the best out in each other.

And perhaps that’s part of why people respond to it emotionally. I hear the 'ooo's and 'ahhh's before our conversation even starts! In a world overflowing with sameness, cloth that still carries the marks of human decision-making feels refreshing.

This philosophy sits at the centre of Kind Fabric.

Whether someone joins the course to design their own fabrics, or works with us through the done-for-you service, the goal is never simply to produce another textile.

It’s to create something with story, integrity, and genuine connection between designer, artisan, and material. Which all begins by slowing down enough to really notice, and engage with fabric in the first place.

Here's to making things, all things, better together! 🙌🫶🙌