The Piedmont Fibershed Story
Throughout the rolling farmlands of North Carolina’s Piedmont region, a movement is growing—one stitch, one dye bath, one fiber at a time.
We believe that what we wear, what we make, and how we connect to the land matters.
Piedmont Fibershed is more than an organization—it’s a community of farmers, artisans, makers, retailers, manufacturers, and dreamers working together to rebuild a regional fiber system centered on local fibers, local dyes, and local labor.
By strengthening the connection between the soil, the sheep, the spinners, and the weavers, we are bringing back traditions that sustain both people and the planet.
Our Mission
We seek to support and develop a regional fiber economy that benefits the environment, workers, and the local economy.
Piedmont Fibershed is part of a larger movement—one that envisions a future where textiles are not just things we wear, but part of a living system that regenerates the land, supports local economies, and connects people to the materials they use every day. As an affiliate of Fibershed, a nonprofit based in California, we are one of many regional fiber communities working to bring textiles back home—growing fiber, dyeing with plants, and strengthening the ties between soil, makers, and wearers.
Our journey began in 2015 when Diana Cathcart, a Durham-based textile artist and educator, laid the groundwork for Piedmont Fibershed. After a brief hiatus, the vision was rekindled under the leadership of Courtney Lockemer, and today, we’re actively working to build the foundation for a thriving regional fiber economy.
This is just the beginning. We’re working to build a community—farmers, artisans, educators, and advocates—who believe in the power of local fiber. Whether you work with your hands in the soil, at the loom, or simply want to support a more sustainable textile future, there’s a place for you here.
Join us as we weave the next chapter of Piedmont Fibershed.