by Beth Buczynski

Those that are dedicated to a completely local diet try to eat food that was grown no more than 100 miles from where they live. Obviously this makes it difficult to get some exotic foods, like bananas or avocados, but many say it helps them become reconnected with the foods that are native to their region.

But what about fashion? Could you commit to only wearing clothing that was spun, dyed, or knitted within 150 miles of your front door?

Author, educator, and textile artists Rebecca Burgess was up to the challenge. And what started as an experiment ended up launching a new online storefront called the Fibershed Marketplace.

Ecouterre reports:

Burgess started the Fibershed project to “swing the pendulum of our production and consumption” to a happier medium by integrating organic fibers, natural dyes, and local economies. “In my community alone, thousands upon thousands of pounds of wool are composted or thrown into the landfills each year,” says Burgess. “We have a 13 percent unemployment rate, all the while if you go to a store to buy a wool undershirt, the raw material is from New Zealand and the production from China.”

If you’re interested in learning more about how to build a “bioregional wardrobe” that celebrates the colors and textures of the local landscape, you can also check out Burgess’ new book, Harvesting Color: How to Find Plants and Make Natural Dyes.

Reprinted with permission from Insteading