Equitable Collaboration

LOADS works collaboratively with changemakers in diverse fields – from biodynamic agriculture and regenerative shepherding to small-scale heritage yarn production. Bringing their transformative work together, LOADS forms a net-positive textile system that incentivizes and supports craft preservation and ecosystem conservation.

 

Ecological Sensitivity

Transparent partnerships with shepherds and Demeter-certified farmers guarantee exceptional quality, natural fibres and plant-based colours, cultivated on a gentle scale in reciprocal, rather than extractive, relationships with the land.  The resulting biodynamic mono-fabrics for LOADS Collection are 100% traceable and biodegradable.

 

Expert Craftsmanship

An extension of Studio Claudy Jongstra in Friesland, The Netherlands, LOADS draws on 30 years of plant-based pigment research and textile fabrication expertise for the creation of each hand-crafted piece in LOADS Collection. Through workshops and masterclasses, LOADS also extends craft education and advocacy beyond the atelier.

 

Transparent Partnerships

LOADS Collection is expertly crafted in collaboration with our artisan partners. LOADS collaborates with shepherds and Demeter-certified farmers to guarantee exceptional quality, natural fibres and plant-based colours, cultivated on a gentle scale in reciprocal, rather than extractive, relationships with the land. 

 

Ecological Wool

Motivated by a desire to elevate the worth of locally sourced, ecologically raised wool, LOADS Collection endeavors to offer an embodied experience through its garments, with a focus on indigenous, Drenthe Heath and Spanish Merino wool. Our partner Maria Pia Sanchez carries on her family’s generational dedication to land conservation and the preservation of endangered Spanish Merino heritage sheep on her ranch; Dehesa de la Rinconada. There, her transhumant and ecological flock graze along historic seasonal migration paths forged by this breed over centuries across the countryside of Mérida Extremadura, revitalizing the pastoral lifestyle and raising resilient, net-positive, Spanish heritage wool.

 

Biodynamic Cotton

Since 1977, LOADS partner SEKEM has supported over 10,000 farmers in the northeastern Nile Delta of Egypt to convert over 40,000 acres of land from conventional monoculture to a more profitable biodynamic, regenerative farming model that supports community development. Reducing the use of pesticides on cotton fields by 90%, using 20% less water than generic cotton varieties, and absorbing 3 tonsof CO2 per hectare per year, SEKEM has transformed cotton farming practices in Egypt. In 2024, SEKEM and the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) were awarded the 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity for their joint efforts in advocating for the benefits of regenerative agriculture to communities, farmers, economies and the planet.

 

Regenerative Agriculture

The seasonal, plant-based colours used to dye LOADS fabrics are grown in partnership with a growing network of biodynamic farms across Europe, including De Beersche Hoeve in The Netherlands, Akelei and Fleur Couleur in Belgium, SEKEM in Egypt, Entheos in Spain, and Waltham Place Farm in the United Kingdom. The plant-based colour crops contribute to the revitalization of regional biodiversity and support rural economies. 

 

Plant-Based Dyes

Established as an extension of the atelier at Studio Claudy Jongstra in Friesland, The Netherlands, LOADS draws on 30 years of plant-based pigment researchband textile fabrication expertise to expand natural dye cultivation and knowledge on a gentle scale. Each LOADS collection textile is hand-dyed in the dye lab at Studio Claudy Jongstra with Demeter-certified pigments grown by collaborating biodynamic farms. By prioritizing the use of natural dyes cultivated without harmful pesticides or insecticides, LOADS underscores the interconnectedness between textile artistry and ecological stewardship. 

 

Artisanal Craftsmanship

LOADS works collaboratively with changemakers in diverse fields – from biodynamic agriculture and regenerative shepherding to small-scale heritage yarn production and ateliers with socially inclusive missions.  Bringing together the skills of artisanal partners like Cor Unum, Makers Unite, and Atelier Eykerdel for the detailing and fabrication of LOADS Collection products, LOADS forms a net-positive textile system that incentivizes and supports craft preservation and ecosystem conservation. 

LOADS also offers workshops, panel discussions, lectures, and masterclasses – inviting engagement with net-positive textile systems and drawing connections between the preservation of craft techniques and the conservation of ecosystems. 

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