Dye + Fiber Field Guide: Pacific Northwest

The Dye & Fiber Field Guide: Pacific Northwest Edition is a regionally focused, research-based publication that documents native and naturalized plants and creatures historically and currently used for textile dyeing and fiber-making in the Pacific Northwest. This guide will serve as both an educational tool and creative resource for artists, educators, natural dyers, foragers, and fiber enthusiasts seeking to engage more ethically with their materials and ecology.

Drawing on my background in environmental anthropology, the project combines ethnobotanical research, fieldwork, and visuals to highlight the deep relationships between plants, place, and traditional textile practices. It includes information on plant identification, historical uses (especially by Indigenous communities), fiber and dye applications, harvesting notes, and ethical foraging practices. Each entry will be paired with original field photography and presented in an accessible, beautifully designed digital format.

The guide centers the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and adjacent regions), where the lush, seasonal climate supports a diverse and often under-recognized ecosystem of fiber and dye plants. While much of the region’s textile history has been overlooked due to preservation challenges in wet environments, the cultural and ecological knowledge embedded in these plants is vast—and still alive.

This project aims to bridge the gap between academic research, community knowledge, and hands-on practice. It encourages a slower, more localized approach to making; one rooted in respect for land, people, and the cultural legacies of cloth. In doing so, it promotes greater textile literacy, ecological awareness, and connection to place.

The tentative launch date is October 2025. It will be self-published as a downloadable digital guide (PDF), with a limited print run available for institutions, educators, and supporters.