Maine has a long tradition of craftsmanship at the highest level. Today, the state is home to artisans ranging from fiber artists to fashion designers, metalsmiths to jewelers and beyond who share a commitment to sustainability in their work.
Photo from Purls of Wisdom. Photo: Emily Delamater.
What do you get when you combine primordial materials, searing heat, immense skill, artistic vision and a sprinkling of alchemy?
Sustainability and social mission are front and center for these Maine apparel and footwear designers.
We spoke with five remarkable local handknitting designers about their backgrounds, design processes and inspirations.
From modern heirloom quilts to striking floor coverings, these made-in-Maine home textiles are all made with a commitment to sustainable materials and processes.
For generations now, Maine has been a center for ceramics. A unique blend of community, tranquility, and natural assets help support creative efforts in the ceramic arts.
Maine is home to an large population of artisan jewelers, who draw on a tradition that’s rooted in New England small-scale manufacturing and Maine’s centuries old status as a place where people make beautiful things with their hands.
There’s a good chance that your next blanket or sweater wasn’t just made in Maine—it was born and raised here, too. Take a short drive into farm country, and you might even get to meet the sheep, goat, alpaca, llama or rabbit that produced it.
A Maine-based natural fiber system could nourish our soil, protect land and provide an alternative to resource-intensive fast fashion.