January 2025
Prompted by concerns about synthetic fabric’s microplastic shedding and general nastiness, I’ve started a research project using exclusively natural fibers to build apparel and equipment for backcountry travel.

I’m building a complete kit for summer backpacking in the American mountain west. It’ll use only metal and natural materials, and nothing petroleum-derived. Due to the amount of processing needed, I’m skipping cellulosic synthetics on this one - just plain cotton, wool, silk, and linen. I’m including thread, which is tough, and all waterproofing (so no paraffin-based waxes allowed).

The goal is not to claim that naturals perform better than synthetics, but to explore what compromises are needed to use lower-impact gear and clothing, and to show that in our bioregion, hardcore synthetic materials aren’t always necessary.

This summer, I’ll test and photograph the kit on a backpacking trip along a section of the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon.

This fall, I’ll show the kit at Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, and also at the Functional Fabrics Fair in Portland, Oregon.

Project Sponsors:
Lavalan Wool Insulation