FELT
Sourcing the Future: A Soil-to-Soil Exploration of Native British Wool
Starting January 2027.
”Clothing ourselves is an agricultural act,” Rebecca Burgess.
Curated by South East and South West England Fibresheds, this 12 month part-time programme invites designers, makers and activists to rediscover the connection between wool and landscape. It cultivates both hands-on practical learning and systems thinking needed to align your creative practice with the seasonal rhythms of our native landscape.
Using British wool as a restorative medium; one capable of repairing relationships between soil health, animal husbandry, craft knowledge, and local community, FELT sets out to restore the connection between land, maker and material. Following the Fibreshed ‘soil-to-soil’ cycle, participants will be taken on a journey from the macro to the micro, from the agroecological
frameworks and regional economies that sustain our landscapes, to the technical and tactile study of native sheep breeds and their fleece. Together, these frameworks offer a coherent, vision of an alternative textile system that goes beyond reducing harm to actively regenerate what has been lost through extractivist fashion and farming practices.
Takeaways
A Material Portfolio: A curated professional archive of native British wools, documenting the technical and regional qualities of the fibre.
A Rooted Network: Peer connections and the foundations for equitable partnerships with the farmers safeguarding our landscapes.
A Regenerative Methodology: The practical skills to design and source through the lens of local fibre, local dye, and local labour, ensuring your practice supports the wider ecosystem.
Enrolments are now open and places will be offered on a first come first served basis.
See below for practical information and guidance on how to apply.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Practicalities
Cohort: 10-20 practitioners / activists
Format: 12 sessions (9 x online, 3 x on-farm)
Location: South of England
Commitment: 1.5 days + 2-3 days recommended for integration and reflection
Fee: £1950 inc. deposit of £300 to secure place
SAVE THE DATES
Session Schedule 2027
Jan 16: Grounding & Fibreshed Foundations (Online)
Feb 13: Sheep as Landscape Steward: Native Breeds (Online)
Mar 20: Soil, Water, & Life: The Invisible Architecture (On-Farm)
Apr 17: The Terroir of Wool: Landscape & Fibre (Online)
May 22: The Harvest & The Hand: Grading & Processing (On-Farm)
June 19: Mills (Online)
Jul 10: Rhythms of Production & Sustainable Design (Online)
Aug 21: Open Space
Sep 18: Living Color: Local Botanical Dyeing (Online)
Oct 16: Open Space
Nov 13: Returning to the Earth: Compostability (On-Farm)
Dec 11: Storytelling: Communicating Value (Online)
How to apply
Please express your interest in applying for the course by contacting us ateducation@southwestenglandfibreshed.co.uk with a short paragraph or recorded voicenote describing your practise and motivation for joining the course, after which we will share an Enrollment Form for you to complete. Click below for pre-enrolment info.