Summer 2007 is in stock! You can order it here today. $6.95 plus $2.70 shipping Winter 2007 is sold out! The features in every issue are terrific : 'Alice Cooper' and the Flock The Bactrian camel (the one with two humps!) is a stalwart creature and a dominant presence among nomads in the Gobi. This issue of Wild Fibers glances back to the days of Genghis Khan - from whence the Bactrian got its name, and how it has evolved into its current role in the global world of fibers. Not too surprisingly very little has changed, but as with many creatures (both man and animal) its ultimate sustainability remains precarious. A new cooperative of handspinners in Mongolia nomadyarns.com is a commendable project that benefits everyone, from farmers to FOF (fans of fiber.)
India’s Wandering Shepherd
Traveling through monsoons, mountains, and marijuana plants galore, many of India’s shepherds spend up to nine months of the year grazing their flocks in the mountains. The wool from most of these native sheep is too coarse for the garment industry, and in Kullu Valley, most of the traditional shawls are made from imported Australian Merino to satisfy the taste of the tourism trade. But the Himalayan lowlands are still rich with spinning and weaving traditions and the wandering shepherd is just another part of the "wild" mix.
A Life Unraveled
In the hills of Peru’s dry and dusty coast, more than 2,500 mummies have been rescued from vandals and urban sprawl. Recent studies by archaeologist Guillermo Cock indicate that at least one chapter in Peru’s weaving history made need revising based on “the story” of weavers who have long since gone silent.
An Eye for Indigo Denim clothing can be found on the backs and bottoms of nearly everyone around the globe. The “”blue” in blue jeans has long been dyed synthetically, but the ancient art of dyeing with indigo is still practiced by the Chinese Miao where the government still considers it a secret practice.
Buy a Possum – Save a Forest
Devouring roughly 20,000 tons of vegetation and forest canopy in a single night, New Zealand’s furry marsupial – the brushtail possum, is a popular target for casual hunters and is rapidly becoming a popular favorite among discerning knitters. Possum fiber has nearly the same insulating qualities as polar bear hair and when blended with merino – it makes for both toasty and eco-friendly wear.
Living in a Rustler’s Paradise
Not quite a century ago, Dudley Bright Ashford arrived in
Surviving a Massacre
Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, 
Meet Mutai Sayabai, a Chinese-Kazakh whose family managed to escape to Urumchi amidst the reign of terror only to return five years ago to his “homeland” – now that it is finally safe.
The Age of Discontent
The Industrial Revolution was more like an evolution that reshaped 
What Nomad Is This?
You can also read part two of Torie Olson’s exceptional interview with Navajo shepherds and the traditions they still use in raising their sheep. The story begins with a blessing ceremony at 9,000 feet and the ongoing hazards of the Wind People and a buck named Alice Cooper.
You will also meet Maria, the wife of a weaver in the Ecuadorian Andes. Not only is she a full-time mother of eleven but she awakens at three o’clock every morning to begin crocheting hats that she sells along with her husband’s magnificent rugs at the Otavalo market, a town with a textile tradition dating back to the obrajaes (weaving sweatshops) of the 1500s.
Fall 2006 Issue $6.95 plus $1.85 s&h
sold out!
Wild Fibers
Magazine is an exciting new publication for fiber enthusiasts of all kinds. From raising cashmere goats to knitting with yak, Wild Fibers provides a comprehensive look at all levels of fiber production from around the world.
