This past week has almost been entirely research based due to the fact that I was out of town and had to rely on books to keep me on task. It was a welcome change from the norm, though, because I was able to really dive into energy consumption and get an understanding of how much mills use and what that means converted into fossil fuels.
Unfortunately, what I found was a bit discouraging. I have definitely come to the realization that the only way to create affordable and ethically made products for the demand that the market currently sees is to mill – preferably milling on a small scale. What I found about the amount of fuel it takes to run a mill, however, was a bit staggering. I kept reading that fiber mills consumed huge levels of energy, but my understanding of how energy works was limited. Luckily, while researching, I found an article titled “What Is the Energy Profile of the Textile Industry?” that put the information into layman’s terms for me. What I found is that nearly all energy is created using fossil fuels, whether that is to create heat in order to power thermal energy or to convert straight into electricity.
This new information inspired me to look at mills that use alternative forms of energy. I began wondering if there are any solar powered fiber mills, and lo and behold! I found a solar powered mill for alpaca fiber called Shenandoah Fiber. This mill is located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, which, happens to be where I grew up and where I am visiting at the end of the month for a family wedding. So, I am planning to get in touch with the owners to try and schedule a tour. Before then, I’d also like to try and get a basic understanding of how solar-powered facilities operate.
Aside from my research into energy consumption, I also completed my silk vest! Since this is the main piece, it has been by far the most detailed and time consuming. I’m hoping to have purchased the next two garments within the week and begun the final steps of the construction process so that I can style and photograph the finished look in time for week 10.