Students:Jaclyn Solomon; Alyssa Roberti; Isabella Amstrup; Athina Santaguida; Margeau Soboti; Kerrie Tandle; Lilah Horwitz; Rachel Young; Isabella Scott; Mary Handsaker; Hashel Al Lamki; Nicole Leon; Larissa Favier; Zachary Kay; Nicole Dewitt; Adela Castillo; William Vitiello; Danielle Schwartz; Ariel Patterson; Camilla Carper; Andrea San Buenaventura; Ryan Trapp; Nikol Basoglu; Jessica Celano; Paula De La Torre; Sarah Fenoglio; Carlos Yusitis; Maryam Hosseini, Monica Hofstadter
Description
Textile Lab is a research project that incorporates materials and resources found in the farming and handcrafting communities in The Hudson valley, NY. We work with local fiber farms, using traditional wool processing and construction methods as we design textile products. We also conduct research with our mobile kitchen and workstation that we bring to the neighborhood greenmarkets in NYC, where we create natural textile dyes from local flowers and vegetables that are grown in NYS. Textile Lab demonstrates the ability to create within and maintain community- based systems of production and commerce like: local farming, small fiber processing collectives, and neighborhood greenmarkets. As we work within the public arena of the community greenmarket, we draw attention to the critical role that the local market has for the livelihood of small business owners both in the city and in the greater State of NY.
Challenges
The largest challenge for the Textile Lab Project is the striving for acceptance into the upstate NY farming communities. It has been much easier and more productive to work within these communities rather than to be viewed as an outsider. I have been able to navigate within these farming and craft communities through business dealings; developing products and buying and selling materials. I have also been able to develop alternative methods of trade with these groups in the way of bartering. This has encouraged people within these farming and craft collectives to view me as part of their community.
Relationship to framing questions
The work being done with Textile Lab within Parsons has enabled long term community partnerships by connecting small businesses to the school. We have been purchasing materials from these local fiber processing studios for the students to use to develop their work. This has been a huge support for these struggling upstate economies. Students have also been ordering materials from these small farms, as they see the socio-economic value in incorporating materials from local sources.