One Year One Outfit
2024 Cohort

A COMMUNITY-BASED COLLECTION OF STORIES AND FIBRE BASED PIECES THAT EXPLORE AND CELEBRATE OUR LOCAL MATERIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES.

Over 12 months, OYOO participants will design, source and create an “outfit” of 3 wearable garments, accessories or adornments made with fibre sourced from within the Pembina Fibreshed.

Project Goals

Provide a structure for imaginative, slow fashion to thrive
Celebrate the incredible amount of local talent and production in our Fibreshed
Connect folks to each other through monthly virtual check-ins and in person meetups to share projects, progress, hang-ups, techniques, connections, etc. (this is not a competition).
Create and share a body of work reflecting the unique resources of the Pembina Fibreshed.

Our definition of an outfit: Three pieces of clothing, adornments, or accessories.

The 3rd iteration of the One Year One Outfit Challenge runs from April 2024 - April 2025. The finished works and stories will be displayed at the 2025 Manitoba Fibre Festival.

Registration for the 2024 OYOO Cohort is now closed.

Follow along with the project on Instagram: #oyoomb

Questions? Contact the organizers at oyoo@pembinafibreshed.com

Three Parameters for Participation:

Participants reside within the Pembina Fibreshed, and be supporter members of the Pembina Fibreshed.

Our fibreshed is defined as anywhere within approximately 200 miles of the Pembina River in Manitoba.

OYOO is possible through the funds and volunteer effort of Pembina Fibreshed. We ask all participants to become supporter members of the Pembina Fibreshed through a $5 donation. Become a Supporter Member.

2. All fibre and dye colours must be sourced and processed within the Pembina Fibreshed bounds.

Notions such as thread, buttons, etc. are the exception. Protein fibres such as wool, alpaca, and angora are the most readily available in our region, but we also encourage the use of plant fibre. Skins and furs harvested from animals within our area are also accepted. Examples of materials used by past participants: wool and alpaca fleece, birch bark, ash wood, nettle, milkweed, flax, pine needles, sweet grass, iris and lily leaves, tanned buckskin and the pelts of rabbit, coyote and beaver.

If dyes are used, they must be natural and not synthetic. If you will be naturally dyeing your garments, the dyes should come from within our fibreshed. Mordants (example: alum) and scouring agents from outside of the fibreshed are allowed.

3. Participants must document their process and source materials throughout the project.

Documentation of fibre sources and the creative process is essential for sharing this project and local fibre craft with the wider community. We ask participants to document their outfit through photos, note-taking, sketches, etc. throughout the making process. Participants will submit photos of their finished pieces and process, documentation of their sources and methods used, and a short write-up about their outfit at the end of the project (April 2025). This information will be included in the final display at the 2025 Manitoba Fibre Festival, and shared through Pembina Fibreshed’s website and social media.

One Year One outfit
Q&A

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Whether you’re fibre curious or a seasoned artisan, this project is a great opportunity to build new skills, new connections and a truly local wardrobe.
Participants are welcome to work independently or to form a team to co-create with. Working with others with complementary skills grows community and can lessen the investment of time and expenses.
Participants must be residents of the Pembina Fibreshed, defined as approximately 200 miles from the Pembina River in Manitoba.
Monthly check-ins will be hosted online with recordings made available afterwards. These check-ins are optional, but do provide motivation and a platform for participants across the fibreshed to connect about their projects. A few opportunities to gather and learn together will also be offered throughout the year. A schedule of meetings and deadlines for the year will be made available to participants at the start of the project.
Our fibreshed contains a wealth of fibre producers! Check out the Producer Page on the Pembina Fibreshed website and the list of vendors on the Manitoba Fibre Festival website. Inquire at your local yarn shop. (If you are purchasing yarn from a local yarn store, please be sure you can identify the source of the fibre and processing as within the Pembina Fibreshed.)
Ask friends, friends of friends, and artists/crafters/makers that you know. Surf Etsy shops and see if there are local artisans you haven't discovered yet. Reach out to local farmers' organizations and market vendors or organizers. Help build the demand for local resources!
If you’re new to natural dyes, we can point you to introductory materials for foraging, growing and using dye plants. Our list of Natural Dye Resources is a great place to start. Keep in mind that you do not need to dye your work.
That is completely up to you! Knitting, crochet, weaving, felting, tanning and sewing are some great options. Consider trying a new skill!
After a year of research and work, participants will have a local outfit of their own design, new or further developed relationships with local makers and community members, a deeper understanding of the challenge of creating clothing, a deeper sense of place, and time and space to share their work. The work of the 2024 Cohort will be displayed at the Manitoba Fibre Festival in September, 2025.

The 2022 OYOO Cohort culminated in a beautiful display at the Manitoba Fibre Festival in September 2023, where over 2000 people could admire the creations, engage with the participants, and get inspired.

Read the full story of the people and projects HERE

Check out the incredible creations of the 2021 OYOO cohort below:

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