About
Montana Fibershed
Montana Fibershed exists to support and promote the growth of a regional fiber and textile economy across the state of Montana. This will be accomplished by outreach and education targeted to producers, consumers, artists and makers, manufacturers, and the general public with the goal of building connections across the state that bring together the producers and users of Montana’s diverse natural fibers..
Our Board of Directors:
Co-Chair
Barb French is a maker with a life-long devotion to natural fibers. She learned to sew and knit from her mom, a fiberista of amazing prowess, received a Singer treadle machine at 14 and began making her own clothes, knit a first sweater in high school, took tailoring classes at MSU, studied design at FIT, went off the deep end with spinning, weaving and dying in the early aughts, has co-owned a yarn shop, is active in local guilds, and her fiber obsession continues unabated. As a fourth-generation Montanan, Barb is delighted to be a part of Montana Fibershed, and the work to strengthen Montana's wonderful textile community.
Born and raised in the mountains outside Helena, MT, Alayna earned her undergraduate degree in Geography from the University of Oregon in 2010 and her MFA from Montana State University in 2020. Always a passionate maker and tinkerer, Alayna’s formal textile training began in 2015 when she was awarded a yearlong residency at New York City’s Textile Arts Center where she focused on handweaving and natural dying. Alongside her fine art practice, Alayna has worked as a designer and production coordinator for a wide range of apparel and softgood labels and has her own line, Absorka which releases small collections of handmade garments as well as custom pieces. She is most well known in the local fiber community for her sculptural dye gardens and her work with milkweed floss, championing the ‘new material’ as a renewable, pollinator-friendly, plant-based alternative to goose down or synthetic insulation inside winter jackets. She is currently based in Livingston, MT and teaches at Montana State University.
Treasurer
Teema grew up in an agricultural family dedicated to working collaboratively with local agencies and fellow producers to steward the land and make the health of the whole central when determining all priorities. MTFS' mission speaks to the values she was taught as a child and continues to foster to this day. She believes dedicating to and focusing on her local community is the best way to effect change.
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MTFS has a built-in region that makes this local mission-driven purpose central that she appreciates immensely.
Elizabeth has always been interested in the relationships between humans and animals, particularly as they pertain to the food we eat and, as she studied more, the fibers we wear. While farming, she became fascinated with the many purposes of sheep and livestock on the land, from fuel reduction to incredible fibers.
She took a sheep shearing course and fell in love with the art of wool harvesting; from there she got a spinning wheel, started dying natural fibers and can be often found weaving and crocheting.
In her free time she can be found hiking around with her dog and drawing inspiration from Montana's incredible landscapes, or traditionally tanning hides. She is excited to be on the board and bring her background in community advocacy and love of natural fibers.
Beth grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, one generation removed from the family’s farming history. Her mom, a 4H alumni, taught her to knit, sew, and tend a vegetable patch.
Today, Beth is a multi-crafter with a special interest in knitting and weaving. As she learns new crafts, she tends to get very curious about the smaller parts that make the whole. So learning to weave lead to spinning and spinning led to foraging nettle and extracting the fiber (or attempting to, anyway). Hand work and traditional crafts feel like threads of ancestor connections, as well as connections to the land.
Beth is looking forward to a deep connection with the smaller parts that make up the whole of our fibershed.
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Jon Moore was born and raised in Helena. He spent his childhood enjoying the outdoors. His love for animals started with training obedience and bird dogs. Jon graduated from Carroll College with a degree in Education. After 20 years living in Billings, he and his wife decided to return to Helena and start a small farm. The farm started with 2 goats; however, Icelandic sheep soon captured Jon’s interest. He currently teaches in East Helena, manages a mixed breed flock of sheep, and runs a fiber business with his wife, Molly.
Molly was born in Helena, Montana and spent much of her childhood on a ranch doing 4H. She raised pigs, steers, and sheep. She has always had a love and admiration for animals. After spending 20 years teaching and away from the agriculture life, her and her husband Jon returned to Helena to start a small farm. It all started with a couple goats and has escalated to a large herd of fiber, sheep, and a herd of milking goats. She has one milk cow, six dogs, chickens, and cats.
Molly recently retired after 25 years of teaching to spend more time on the farm taking care of the animals and working to grow their farm business.
Lillian grew up right where the mountains meet the plains in Livingston, Montana. In her early twenties, she took a leap from the standard grind and dove headfirst into full-time sewing, starting her own seamstress business while living in Missoula. She found a passion for natural fiber in the intersection of sustainability and fashion. Upon returning to her hometown, she started a research project on the process of turning flax into linen in Paradise Valley. In addition to sewing, Lillian works in the non-profit field with makers, students, and growers alike. She values MFS greatly for their emphasis on connection and commitment to building reliable, meaningful fiber systems in our state.
Are you interested in joining our Board of Directors? We hope to welcome three new members in 2026
Annual Report 2024
Read our organization's 2024 annual report to inform our members of our activities.
Annual Report 2023
Read our organization's 2023 annual report to inform our members of our activities.