News / Bristol Weaving Mill
Community ‘weave-up’ invites collective action on sustainable fashion
Bristol residents would be forgiven for not being aware of the local weaving mill on their doorstep.
But the Bristol Weaving Mill on Barton Road, behind Hannah More Primary and just down the road from the Barley Mow, has been operating since 2015 and supports a thriving local textiles movement.
Now the team behind the mill are launching a new initiative to upcycle leftover wool and get more people involved in weaving sustainable blankets.
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“This project exemplifies our commitment to sustainability and innovation,” said the Mill’s Juliet Bailey.
“By pooling resources and working together, we can achieve something truly special—both in terms of accessibility to the products we create and the impact we have on reducing waste in the textile industry.”
Inspired by the French wine cooperative model, the community weave-up invites participants to contribute their leftover yarns to a collective weaving – photo: Naomi Wood
Bristol Weaving Mill uses traditional craftmanship and local fibres to provide an eco-friendly alternative to environment-damaging fast-fashion.
The industry is significantly environmentally destructive, with annual global emissions from textile production – before transportation – exceeding the carbon footprint of international flights and shipping combined.
Cotton, which accounts for 40 per cent of global textile production, relies on more pesticides than any other single major crop, while 60 per cent of textiles are produced from fossil-fuel based synthetic fibres.
Bristol Weaving Mill, working in community with local fibre and dye growers, fabric processors, makers and manufacturers under the South West England Fibreshed umbrella, seeks to provide an alternative.
It sources fleece and fibres from the region’s sheep farmers, such as Fernhill Farm just 13 miles from central Bristol which takes a regenerative approach to its land use, herd-keeping and fleece processing. The wool is sustainably processed into items including woven fabrics, throws and cushions for home interior brands.
The Mill has also sponsored and helped to plant a mixed native woodland near Bristol, as part of a drive to become net zero.
Bristol Weaving Mill is a micro-operation but nevertheless serves leading clients including home interiors companies across the country – photo: Oliver Edwards
The Community Weave-Up – in collaboration with UK-based sustainable spinning mill the Natural Fibre Company – is designed to bring together individuals, textiles businesses and herd-owners with small quantities of leftover fleece and yarn.
Taking inspiration from the wine cooperatives model of France – where regional wine makers pool grapes and infrastructure and resources to serve local businesses and the community – Weave-Up participants will be invited to combine their leftovers with the Natural Fibre Company’s yarn produced from bobbin waste in a much larger production run.
The materials will be transformed into eco-friendly woven blankets that represent the collective effort of the community.
The collective approach minimises waste and helps to reduce costs, which can be intensive for micro-production.
“We’re calling on anyone who has small amounts of fibre left from previous projects or yarn quantities that don’t meet minimum order requirements,” Bristol Weaving Mill’s product development lead, Katherine Fraser, said.
“The more fibre producers, textiles companies and individuals we can involve, the more cost effective it is for everyone!”
For more information about the Community Weave-Up and how to get involved, contact Katherine at katherine@bristolweavingmill.co.uk
Main image: Jon Tonks
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