Friday Schedule: the Speaker Series in the Assembly Gallery

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Why does a small design company choose to use locally produced fibre and to work with local mills, weavers and dyers? Why does knowing the farmers matter?

Julia Gray and Connor Dudgeon will discuss why these considerations form an important part of their business model and design ethos, as well as how issues of sustainability, practicality and ethical husbandry influence the relationships they develop with their supply chain.

Grays was founded by partners Julia Gray and Connor Dudgeon to explore the possibilities of Ontario-made textiles and clothing using all-natural fibres. With Julia’s career in marketing and Connor’s background as a photographer and industrial designer, they bring an outsider perspective to fashion—privileging fit, material integrity and local production. Their discovery of 100% Ontario wool sparked a journey of building partnerships with farms, mills, and makers committed to preserving textile traditions. From their Toronto shop, they create, collaborate, and share the Ontario wool story while also curating a multi-brand clothing and home collection, prioritizing small makers focused on natural fibers and meaningful craftsmanship. 

Wave Weir from Wave Fibre Mill and Brenda Hsueh from Black Sheep Farm talk about the relationship they have developed while producing textile and yarn together.  They will touch on issues of communication and expectations as well as sharing how common values can help with the process.

Wave Weir  (Wave Fibre Mill) is a clothing designer, wool mill owner and operator in Seguin, Ontario, near Parry Sound on the shores of Georgian Bay. Her designs are simple, classic, unstructured pieces that are meant to showcase the fabric, last for years and accommodate body changes. Looking for a quantity and quality of local, natural fibre and materials for her clothing line, Weir came face-to-face with the limitations and bottlenecks in wool processing being felt by small sheep farms. Most are forced to sell their annual harvest of raw fleece to the wool grower’s co-op to be shipped off-shore, or to destroy it, if the cost of transport from the farm is more than will be realized by the sale. Living in an area in desperate need of permanent year-round employment, Weir decided to start a fibre processing mill in her small community. Purchasing vintage equipment from a retired business, Weir has established a semi-worsted spinning and weaving mill, providing added processing services for area farmers as well as purchasing raw material from regenerative farms to be used in an ever-growing possibility of product.

Brenda Hsueh (Black Sheep Farm)  is a Canadian-born Chinese agroecological sheep farmer, who left a financial career in downtown Toronto to start her own farm in 2009. She ran a 1 acre market garden, growing vegetables for CSA members in the GTA for 14 seasons, as the sheep flock and their meat and fibre products increased. Now she, her partner Skyler, and daughter Emma, rotationally graze a flock of Romney/Gotland/Shetland sheep for food and fibre. Brenda also works with Farmers for Climate Solutions to help more farmers convert to climate beneficial farming practices. She wants to see farming become the climate crisis saviour it should be, building soils, sequestering carbon, being a moisture sponge, and providing habitat for countless species.

Deborah Livingston from Upper Canada Weaving and Liam Blackburn from Iron Cauldron Colour Works talk about the collaborative work they have done producing and dyeing textiles for bespoke projects.  They will talk about their process, how they communicate visions and needs, and how they deal with the non-creative aspects of financial realities and timelines. 

Deborah Livingston-Lowe interest in traditional handloom weaving and spinning has grown into a small scale textile production business in Toronto, Upper Canada Weaving. She specializes in sourcing breed specific wool from local farmers to produce quality textiles rooted in the preindustrial textile tradition of Ontario. Deborah’s work in textiles is multidisciplinary as she works with designers to create textiles for fashion and interiors, with museums to reproduce textiles and provide consultation for their collection. 

Liam Blackburn is the owner / operator of Iron Cauldron Colour Works, a small batch dye and pigment company focused on custom projects and textile reproduction based in Toronto, ON. With the goal of helping to grow and support the Ontario Fibreshed, Liam works with natural and synthetic dyes as project appropriate but specializes in working with natural colourants.

During this conversation, attendees will explore how ancient cultural expressions, such as Nsibidi- a symbolic writing system originating with the Ekoi people and adopted by other cultures in Nigeria - and artistic mediums like Uli, can be revitalized through the sustainable use of natural fibres.  This presentation highlights the environmental and creative potential of natural fibres, showcasing how these materials can support cultural preservation and contemporary artistic practices.  

Knitted pieces inspired by Nsibidi symbols will be displayed, demonstrating the possibilities for integrating traditional motifs into modern fibre arts using eco-friendly materials.  Marvel will be emphasizing the abundance of natural fibres in Ontario, and their relevance to various disciplines, including art, design, fashion and sustainability.

Marvel connects the traditions of fibre use to pressing global concerns like environmental sustainability and cultural preservation, inspiring students and the public to view natural fibres as tools for innovation, creativity and ecological stewardship.

Marvel Ekwuribe is a passionate knit and crochet enthusiast with over fifteen years of experience crafting beautiful knitwear and delving into the world of design.  By day she works as a full-time Implementation Specialist, using analytical skills to help companies track and reduce their emissions. her love for problem solving and data drive her career where she combines technical expertise with environmental responsibility.  Outside of work, Marvel channels her entrepreneurial spirit into NONSO, a small business she's been nurturing for almost five years.  NONSO offers handmade, natural body care products including hair oils, body butters and roller perfumes ~ reflecting her dedication to high-quality and thoughtfully crafted personal care.  As a proud Hamiltonian, Marvel embraces her community, especially through weekly knitting sessions with friends.  Whether designing intricate knitwear or contributing to a more sustainable future, she balances her creative passions with her analytical mind.

In this practical demonstration, Donna will evaluate a number of fleeces and discuss what their best end uses could be.  Sheep, alpaca and mohair fleeces will be displayed. 

Donna Hancock is the owner/operator of Wellington Fibres Mill and a mohair goat farming operation. She is an experienced fibre artist and educator. 

A discussion on the exciting applications that natural fibres have in design, agriculture and environmental climate solutions.  The focus will be on "waste wool" - fibre that wouldn't be used in the commercial spinning stream of textile production. 

Jennifer Osborn began farming in 2007 on just over an acre and two sheep. Over the years, she has explored and experimented with the use of local waste wool, began the first international affiliate of Fibreshed, and spoken internationally about the value of waste wool. In 2022, the farm, All Sorts Acres transitioned from sheep milk gelato by adding a fibre mill dedicated to processing, utilizing, and creating products out of waste wool called EcoWool Canada. She now grows her own art supplies and specializes in felting with local wool. She can be contacted at hello@ecowool.ca, www. Ecowoolcanada.ca