Two years ago—at the big 6-0—I requested that, in lieu of birthday gifts, anyone who felt called to honor me with presents would instead donate to causes that are near and dear to my heart. In 2021 I started a design scholarship at my alma mater, North Carolina State University College of Design, because I believe that design matters. Thank you for overwhelming support in this action through 2022. Read more here.
This year, I ask that you raise a glass and join me in supporting the work of Project Threadways as we begin to expand the work of advancing our mission. Supporting this important work can be as simple as spreading the word, donating a dollar, or becoming involved in any way that feels appropriate.
Our mission:
Project Threadways is a 501(c)(3) organization that documents, studies, and interprets history, community, and power through the lens of fashion and textiles. From raw material to finished goods, we seek to understand the impact of textiles on our community, nation, and world. In partnership with Alabama Chanin and The School of Making, we connect people, places, and materials through design, making, and education—with cultural heritage and craft preservation at the core of our work.
In June of 2023, we were humbled and fortunate to receive an anonymous donation, gifting us the time and space to explore the future of textiles and fashion through the lens of our newly crafted mission statement. This generous gift funds a year-long Viability and Constituent Study, which is expected to conclude in April of 2024. Look for updates about this work in the coming months.
Thank you to all who have contributed to Project Threadways in 1,000,000 different ways.
xoNatalie