2026 The year for wool

Dear Friends and Supporters of Texas Make It With Wool,

As we look ahead to 2026, it is clear that we are standing at a meaningful crossroads for wool, natural fibers, and the slow fashion movement. Across Texas and beyond, farmers and ranchers are raising their voices, sharing their stories, and reminding us that fiber begins long before it reaches our hands. At the same time, society is responding—seeking authenticity, sustainability, and a renewed connection to what we wear and how it is made.

Natural fibers such as wool are not only renewable and regenerative, they are also healthier to wear and kinder to the earth. Wool breathes, insulates, endures, and returns to the soil at the end of its life—qualities that feel especially relevant as we reconsider fast fashion and its impact. Choosing wool is a conscious act, one that supports land stewardship, animal care, and thoughtful production.

We are also witnessing a powerful return to handcrafting. Sewing, knitting, weaving, and other fiber arts are once again being practiced not only out of necessity, but out of intention. People are rediscovering the satisfaction of making for themselves, while also developing a deeper appreciation for the skill, time, and care behind handmade garments and textile art.

Texas Make It With Wool is proud to stand at the intersection of these movements. Through our long-standing sewing competition and our expanding fiber arts contests, we celebrate creativity rooted in natural fibers and foster meaningful connections between makers and the farmers who raise fiber-producing animals. Together, we honor tradition while encouraging innovation—ensuring wool remains relevant, valued, and worn well into the future.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support helps sustain not only a program with deep history, but a vision for a more thoughtful, earth-friendly future—one stitch, one garment, and one fleece at a time.

As we move toward 2026, we invite sewers, knitters, and fiber artists of all backgrounds to join us. Whether you work with needle and thread, yarn and needles, reclaimed wool, or raw fleece, your hands and your voice matter. By participating in Texas Make It With Wool, you become part of a living story—one that honors farmers, values craftsmanship, and shapes a future where natural fibers once again have a place in our everyday lives. We encourage you to make, to experiment, to tell your story through wool, and to stand with us as we carry this legacy forward.

With gratitude,

Jennifer Nimmrichter
Director, Texas Make It With Wool