Announcing the First Fibers Fund Grants

We are happy to announce the first set of five grants our fund is awarding for business technical assistance and capacity building. We are excited to begin executing the vision of this fund, which is to support U.S.-based, small to mid-scale regenerative and sustainable natural fiber and dye businesses. This first set of grantees represents an array of entrepreneurs and businesses who are part of expanding soil-based natural fiber ecosystems—across supply networks and domestic bioregions.

Catalytic Grants

Two grants were awarded to businesses profiled in the SAFSF Fibers Roadmap Case Studies: Seattle-based Botanical Colors and Oregon-based Fibrevolution. Botanical Colors offers natural dyes sourced from regional organic and regenerative farmers. They also provide natural dye education to textile and fiber artisans. Fibrevolution has a vision for the revival and establishment of regional fiber manufacturing hubs for bast fiber located in strategic growing regions around the U.S. These grants will help Botanical Colors and Fibrevolution unlock other sources of capital. Learn more on our Portfolio page.

Black Fiber Cohort

We are thrilled to introduce the inaugural Black Fiber Cohort. Envisioned and facilitated by Fibers Fund Co-Managing Director Teju Adisa-Farrar, the Cohort will provide tailored support to early-stage and emerging Black fiber entrepreneurs as their businesses grow. Environmental and cultural equity requires meeting Black entrepreneurs where they are at by recognizing historical and current disenfranchisement, and responding with nuanced support. Having a dedicated cohort prioritizes access and attention for each of the businesses’ particular needs. This inaugural group of amazing entrepreneurs and brands represents the possibilities for creating sustainable and equitable fiber ecosystems:

Kept Studio: Brooklyn, NY. Kept Studio by artist Kesiena Onosigho is a textile studio, natural dye processor, botanical pigment + ink producer, and knit development processor. This grant will provide technical assistance for business structure and set-up, along with planning support to obtain a permanent studio with garden space.

ROOLE: Durham, NC. ROOLĒ by Gordon Holliday is an upcycle and bio-fashion brand focused on reworking natural fibers. This grant will support the development of a local regenerative supply network for ROOLĒ—including partnering with a local Black organic cotton farmer—to produce a bespoke collection for NYFW 2024.

MAHDIYYAH: New Jersey. MAHDIYYAH by Mahdiyyah Muhammad is a circular fashion brand with a focus on upcycled apparel exclusively using natural fibers. This grant will facilitate sourcing of soil-based textiles and natural dyes from small regenerative farmers for the purpose of creating a research-based collection, and doing free community workshops.

You can find out more about the Black Fiber Cohort here.