At the confluence of West Virginia’s Gauley and New Rivers, Blue Thistle Fibers runs a small-batch fiber mill and natural dye studio that turns wool and alpaca into prepared fiber, felt, and plant-dyed yarn. Clare and Sara build the family business around Appalachian making, sourcing ethically and using dyes grown on their farm, gathered locally, or foraged from the surrounding landscape. Their Gauley Bridge mill also welcomes makers for workshops, tours, and hands-on fiber processing.
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Genesee Valley WoolworksIn Western New York, Genesee Valley Woolworks turns regionally sourced sheep fleece into small-batch rug yarn, weaving kits, and hardwood peg looms. The working fiber mill handles each batch in-house—from skirting and washing through carding, spinning, and finishing—on traditional Belfast equipment. By processing wool from New York farms, including some in the NY Grown & Certified program, the company supports the region’s farmers and rebuilding domestic fiber infrastructure.EAST BETHANY, NY
LANDLAND makes small-batch knitwear by hand in its Rhinebeck, New York studio, using natural fibers sourced through U.S. farms and mills. Founded by Emilie Babinski to help renew the Northeast’s textile heritage, the label connects contemporary apparel with regional fiber farmers and traditional craftsmanship. Its wool garments are made with an emphasis on ethical production and local economies.
Green Matters Natural Dye CompanySince 2015, Green Matters Natural Dye Company has operated a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania dye house that colors textiles with plant-based ingredients for individuals, designers, and apparel businesses. Its four industrial dyeing machines bring botanical color to production scale, while the studio also makes room for workshops, consulting, and creative residencies. The company’s sustainability work includes collecting rainwater in a 60,000-gallon cistern and composting exhausted plant material for local farmland.
WE GATHERWhitney Crutchfield founded WE GATHER after more than a decade spent weaving, dyeing, and teaching, choosing an independent textile practice over mass production and fleeting trends. From its Brooklyn studio, the company creates handmade home textiles and teaches people to work with cloth through accessible, hands-on experiences. Its work centers on natural fibers, low-impact dyeing, and functional pieces intended to become heirlooms.BROOKLYN, NY