National Centre for Natural Fibers & Fiber Arts

National Centre for Natural Fibers & Fiber

Arts

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Natural Fibre Centre

Sustainable For thousands of years man has clothed

himself using natural fibers 200 years ago the industrial revolution

enabled mass production of cloth 80 years ago the first synthetic fibers

were produced from oil 50 years ago synthetics virtually

replaced natural materials Peak oil has arrived; the earth is

massively polluted; synthetics represent a significant portion of that pollution; a new initiative is required right now

And it has to be natural & sustainable

An ancient craft

Making cloth is a craft dating back many thousands of years. Yarn has been found containing fibre from wooly mammoths

Although machines have enabled mass production, yarn is still made in the same way

gather the fibre

convert the fibre into

yarn

convert the yarn into

cloth


Why Natural Fibre?

Why Now?

Why Here?

natural fibre is the responsible choice

Synthetic fibre is known to cause many health problems

Natural fibre is the right choice for the health of the people

Synthetic fibre is extremely harmful to the environment

Natural fiber produced in a responsible manner is completely sustainable and environmentally compatible

natural fibers

Natural fibers include wool, silk, mohair, alpaca, camel, yak, angora, coir, jute, hemp, sisal, cotton, cashmere, abaca, nettle and flax

Canada has excellent growing conditions for flax, hemp and nettle as well as for breeding sheep, goats, llamas and alpacas

huge demand for natural fiber

In the last 3 years the demand for alpaca fibre has risen significantly

The demand for alpaca fiber in China alone, outstrips global supply

Sports clothing manufacturers are returning to the use of natural fiber and alpaca fleece is being featured heavily

renewed interest in natural fibre fashion by today’s youth


What is the National Centre for Natural Fibre and Fibre Arts?


Purpose To promote the production

and use of natural fibers in BC through the establishment of a co-operative organization dedicated to developing and marketing the industry, as well as creating a processing and manufacturing centre for local natural fibre producers

Process

• Provide fibre handling and processing facilities for local producers

Promote

• Develop awareness of natural fibre and provide a centralized marketing platform for the industry

Educate

• Make natural fibre production and the fibre arts more accessible to both industry and artisans through dedicated education facilities


Mission

Fibre Mill & Yarn Production

Mills can be small, large or enormous


Industry A working fibre mill throbs at the heart of the centre

Visitors have the chance to view the multiple processes involved to convert a pile of dirty and matted fleece into brightly coloured yarn

The mill serves the numerous small scale farms throughout BC and can cope with large orders as well as small

Visitor & Educational Centre


Education

A broad spectrum of educational courses from animal husbandry to fleece processing; through spinning, weaving, dyeing, knitting, felting and the numerous arms of creativity that form the fibre arts

Artists both local and from afar demonstrate their arts and provide visitors with the opportunity to learn new skills

Education needs to be fun though!

naturally caring for our fibre producers

Education needs to extend to the care of the animals providing much of the fibre

Courses include: healthy living, feeding, grooming, shearing, obedience training and even showing

Commerce


Retail Fibre in various stages of processing can be purchased in the visitor centre store and globally via the online store

Batts, sliver and finished yarn, fibre art, finished knitwear and furnishings made by local craftspeople and from our own mill, are all available for sale


Manufacturing

The machine shop produces hardware articles used in the fibre arts: needles, frames, looms and spinning wheels as well as pickers, carders and tumblers for those people who love to do it themselves

Llama, Wool-Sheep & Alpaca Farm

Selecting and breeding animals especially for fibre production


Visitor farm

Visitors have the opportunity to learn all about the history, uses and production of natural fibre, whilst touring our own herds of fibre-producing sheep, llamas, alpacas and goats as well as our plant fibre operation

Promoting Organic Farm

ing

the only sustainable future


Organic Farming The farm produces a variety of

plants for natural fibre development and processing and operates entirely within organic principles

Fibre plants and hay for the animals are grown on the site without the use of chemical fertilizer

Local farms are encouraged to join the co-operative

An educational tour guides people to the understanding of why organic farming is the only certain route to a sustainable future for all

Animal Rescue & Retirement

Even with the best intentions there will always be animals in need of rescue and re-homing

A sanctuary catering for rescued and retired large animals operates as a charitable venture and is based on the hugely successful Redwings Horse Sanctuary in England

We have a duty of care

http://www.redwings.org.uk/index.php

Veterinary Services Caring for a large number of

animals requires knowledge and dedication

The ultimate goal is to have a large animal veterinary clinic on the premises serving the rescue centre, the Llama & Alpaca Farm as well as the local region


Tourism The pleasant location of the Okanagan;

the attractions of the education centre, fibre processing mill and visitor farm; as well as the focus on all aspects of natural fibre production and use; position this co-operative development as a unique tourist attraction throughout BC, North America and even the world

The waterside RV park and campsite allows visitors to spend several days exploring the region as well as discovering all aspects of the fibre arts industry

RV Park

Bring your RV and bring your family and make a holiday of it!

Mix education and fun and make it a visit to remember

Hosting Shows

& Festivals

Presenting Cultural Events


Outline From the animal to the

finished sweater, the centre guides visitors through the entire process of yarn and fibre production; reconnecting them with the origins of their clothing

Compare It took only 4 years from the

creation of the BC Wine Institute to install BC as a global niche-wine producer

It required leadership, co-operation and funding to develop the industry and the market

BC wine sales are now in excess of $180 million annually

British Columbia Wine Industry

a new generation of fibre artists is

waiting to get started

together we can make it happen

We all need fibre

Days without it are rare

National Centre for Natural Fibers & Fiber

Arts

The time is right

Documents

National Centre for Natural Fibers & Fiber Arts