Approved Textiles

It’s party time. Let’s give each other presents

Our fourth and final pack is what started this project.

One of my favorite Ben Jealous quotes goes something along the lines of: a room is only as diverse as the number of different definitions of justice around the table.

For those just joining: As we look to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we at Approved Textiles are looking at ways we can continue into the next 250 years with patience, love, empathy, collaboration, and understanding at the center of our work toward collective liberation from systems of oppression and discrimination.

For us, nothing epitomizes this more than Ben Jealous’ Never Forget Our People Were Always Free. Throughout his memoir, Jealous shares the ways collaboration and connection are key to social change, providing example after example of how building alliances—even in the most unlikely of places—creates change.

He should know. He served as the youngest President of the NAACP.

If you go back and listen to the songs over the previous posts in our feed for the 250 packs, you’ll hear different cultural interpretations of Amazing Grace, perhaps the most iconic of all gospel songs.

With this pack, we really leaned into that energy of collaboration, like gospel. Someone will still see these designs and think, perhaps, they’re only within one tradition. We’re excited to show the ways they’re more than that.

Because the hardest part isn’t that it’s this or that. It’s that it’s both.
Not either/or, but together.

We just have to listen.

All packs are now available online and in person. We’ll release the full set on Faire later this week. Make sure to use our Faire Direct link in our bio if it’s your first time with us.

We’re nearly two weeks out from our online offering of Bojagi + Patchwork, and we want to make sure materials arrive in time. Because of that, registration for this workshop will close next Friday, June 5.

Register in the link in our bio.

Bojagi + Patchwork is one of our favorite offerings because it helps people finally start projects with the fabric scraps they’ve been holding onto at home.

If you’re following us, there’s a good chance you care about fabric’s impact on the environment. So many of us hold onto scraps knowing we’ll eventually find a meaningful use for them—this workshop helps unlock the skills and confidence needed to make that happen.

While this class is centered around hand stitching, Matthew will absolutely show you how to translate these techniques onto a sewing machine for larger or more time-sensitive projects.

_____

If you’re in a bordering state, we have a little more wiggle room :) And if you’ve already registered, we’ll be shipping materials soon, so keep an eye on your inbox for tracking information.