Join Mallon Linen, Lunan Bay Farm and Fibreshed Ireland to hear about their approaches to sustainable fibre and textile production.

Explore:

• Opportunities for collective knowledge-sharing and unique market opportunities
• How to boost local nature-friendly fibre production and demand
• How we make a sustainable fibre sector a reality

Hear from Helen Keys (Mallon Linen) who diversified into the production of high-quality fibre on her farm in Northern Ireland. Helen will share her business approach across production, processing and marketing.

Jillian McEwan (Lunan Bay Farm) will discuss their regenerative approaches to producing homegrown cashmere, which is grown, processed and spun in Scotland.

Kit and Malú will discuss Fibreshed Ireland’s mission to craft a regenerative textile system based on local fibre, local dyes and local labour. Last year, Fibreshed Ireland started a knowledge transfer group of fibre and dye farmers and growers who focus on regenerative land management practices, with the aim of co-creating a regenerative verification for Irish textiles.

The webinar is part of NFFN's wider Rethink Farming series where we'll be showcasing farmers' journeys with Q&A sessions in the months ahead. Become a free member of the NFFN to stay in the loop: https://www.nffn.org.uk/join-us/

Helen Keys, Mallon Linen

Helen farms alongside her husband, Charlie, in Northern Ireland and they are the first commercial producers of Irish grown linen in forty years. Helen is a co-founder of Source Grow, an online platform to help farmers decide what to grow to suit their soil and local market demand. She is also an Entrepreneur in Residence at Queen’s University Belfast and an Innovation Broker for the Water Innovation Network, working to create nature-based solutions to improve water quality. Helen is Vice Chair of NFFN NI.

Jillian McEwan, Lunan Bay Farm

Jillian runs Lunan Bay Farm in partnership with her husband in Angus in the North East of Scotland. They are specialists in goats running a 350-head herd of Cashmere, Boer and Pygmy Goats for Scottish Cashmere fibre production, stud and commercial breeding and farm education services. They have experience in farm diversification in other niche products, such as asparagus and sunflower seeds. The farm is managed using regenerative principles, focusing on producing nutrient-dense food and ethical cashmere, while increasing biodiversity, enriching soil health and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Kit Christina Keawwantha and Malú Colorín, Fibreshed Ireland

Kit and Malú are behind Fibreshed Ireland, a growing network which works to support Irish natural fibre and dye production, while providing new economic opportunities for farmers and producers. Through their work, they spark collaborations with verified provenance, support farmers in implementing beneficial practices, and catalyse communities to facilitate regional fibre processing facilities.