The Carbon Farm Tour is an event organized by the New York Textile Lab and the Carbon Farm Network as part of their mission to promote sustainable and regenerative practices in the textile industry.
It is an opportunity to explore and showcase carbon farming practices that contribute to climate-beneficial fiber production. These practices emphasize environmental stewardship, including carbon sequestration through methods like rotational grazing and sustainable land management.
The tour also serves as a platform for connecting designers, farmers, and other stakeholders. It highlights the importance of creating deep value in the production chain, from sourcing raw fibers to crafting finished goods, and focuses on collaborative and local approaches to textile production. Through this experience, participants gain a deeper understanding of how sustainable practices can address climate change and reshape textile systems.
2026
On September 19th, we co-hosted the 7th Annual Carbon Farm Tour in partnership with the New York Fibershed. This year’s tour returned to Faraway Farm Alpacas, a partner in our Carbon Farm Network producing regional, New York State Climate Beneficial™ fiber. Farm owners Steve and Leda generously hosted our community, sharing their farm’s history, their journey into regenerative agriculture, and demonstrating their on-site soil amendment practices.
The event featured presentations and showcases from leaders working to build a regenerative textile supply network:
Susan Easton, Product & Marketing Director at the New York Fashion Innovation Center (NYFIC), spoke on the state-wide NYFIC program.
Stephanie Seale Brown and Margot Becker, NYFIC grantees, showcased their handwoven textiles.
Clyde Carpenter, Lab Manager at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), discussed his work building the NYFIC Textile Innovation Lab and its capabilities in Troy, NY.
Ashlyn Kohler, our Carbon Farm Planner, shared insights on conservation planning and implementing climate-smart agricultural practices.
Photographs by Kevin Farley
Following the presentations, attendees explored Climate Beneficial™ textiles and goods from New York Textile Lab, Imperial Yarns, and Seed2Shirt, experiencing firsthand the materials that make our collaborative, local textile ecosystem thrive.
Finally, we engaged in a lively discussion about building a diverse, regenerative textile supply ecosystem with our esteemed panelists.
Moderator: Laura Sansone, Founder of NY Textile Lab, professor at Parsons School of Design.
Panelists:
Tameka Peoples - Founder & CEO of Seed2Shirt.
Lewis Cleale - Owner of Nobletown Fiber Works.
Melissa Conroy - Associate Professor at Cornell University.
Heidi Barr - Founder of PA Flax Project.
2025
On September 13th, we hosted the 6th Annual Carbon Farm Tour in collaboration with the New York Fibershed.
This year’s tour was held at Faraway Farm Alpacas, one of the farms participating in our Carbon Farm Network Program, producing regional New York State Climate-Beneficial fiber. Farm owners Steve and Leda were our gracious hosts, sharing the farm’s history, their journey into regenerative agriculture, and demonstrating their on-site soil amendment practices.
We were also joined by Mary Kate Randolph, Climate Beneficial Systems Director at Fibershed, who offered insight into carbon farm planning protocols. Additionally, Clyde Carpenter, Lab Manager at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, gave a live demonstration on micron fiber testing conducted right on-site.
After a short break, attendees explored climate-beneficial textiles and goods from New York Textile Lab, Imperial Yarns, and beautifully woven regional fabrics by Tuscarora Mills.
Moderator: Laura Sansone, Founder of NY Textile Lab, professor at Parsons School of Design.
Panelists:
Dave and Heidi - Owners of Tuscarora Mills.
Eric De Feo - Head of Operations at Made X Hudson.
Stephanie Virissimo - Alumni Coordinator at Custom Collaborative.
Susan Easton - Product & Marketing Director at NYFIC.
Mahdiyyah Muhammad - from the Black Fiber & Textile Network, fabric alchemist, regenerative fashion educator.
2024
The 5th annual Carbon Farm Tour was hosted by Faraway Farm Alpacas - One of our participating farms in the Carbon Farm Network program.
Steve and Leda, owners of Faraway Farm Alpacas, shared the history of the farm and their journey into regenerative agriculture, Toured us around their beautiful farm and presented their on-site soil amendment practices.
Later on we’ve had the pleasure to hear from Harmony Varner our carbon farm planner who shared some details of the carbon sequestration process.
Finally our panel discussion
Moderator: Laura Sansone, Founder of NY Textile Lab, professor at Parsons School of Design.
Panelists:
Mary Kate Randolph - Climate Beneficial Systems Director at Fibershed
2023
The 2022 CFT was hosted by Little Creek Alpacas. In this tour’s panel discussion we focus on sustainability in the fashion and textile industries. The event explored innovative approaches to reshaping textile systems, promoting climate-beneficial practices, and addressing issues like waste and overproduction. The panel discusses topics such as legislative initiatives, de-growth strategies, certifications, and the importance of collaborative approaches to creating systemic changes in the fashion industry.
Moderator: Laura Sansone, Founder of NY Textile Lab, professor at Parsons School of Design.
Panelists:
Stacie Chavez - Owner of Imperial Yarn.
Kristin Draper, Wendy Barrows, Bethany Pollack - Draper Knitting Company.
Liz Alessi - Advanced Sustainability Initiatives Consultant at Coach.
Leah D'Ambrosio - Founder of Woolhide.
Kirsten McCracken - Clean Cashmere.
Heather Sullivan- Founder of Vincent James.
Carolyn Butler - Founder of Manymoons.
2022
The 2022 CFT was hosted by Little Creek Alpacas. In this tour’s panel discussion we focus on sustainability in the fashion and textile industries. The event explored innovative approaches to reshaping textile systems, promoting climate-beneficial practices, and addressing issues like waste and overproduction. The panel discusses topics such as legislative initiatives, de-growth strategies, certifications, and the importance of collaborative approaches to creating systemic changes in the fashion industry.
Video Credit: Teagan West.
Moderator: Laura Sansone - Founder of NY Textile Lab, professor at Parsons School of Design.
Panelists:
Carolyn Priebe - Founder of Center for the Advancement of Garment Making
Liz Alessi - Advanced Sustainability Initiatives Consultant at Coach.
Leah D'Ambrosio - Founder of Woolhide, a brand focused on environmentally ethical practices and local agriculture.
Becca Poglin - Senior Accountability Manager at Remake.
Carrie Werner - New York State Assemblywoman.
2021
The 2021 the Carbon Farm Tour was hosted by Little Creek Alpacas.
Below you can enjoy a video of the tour, plus our CFT panel discussion.
Video Credit Teagan West
Moderator: Laura Sansone - Founder of NY Textile Lab, professor at Parsons School of Design..
Panelists:
Meris Butler - Borobabi.
Dana Davis - Mara Hoffman Inc.
Leah D’Ambrosio - Wol Hide.
Abigail George-Erickson - Waste No More, Eileen Fisher.
Jessica Corr - Plia.
Jessica Schrieber - FABSCRAP.