A recent article from Slate deplored the effects of the slew of US tariffs that are upending many small-scale businesses that rely on low-volume shipments globally. The article focused on knitting (and, though left out, crocheting, needlepointing, felting, and many other fibre-dependent crafts) as an illustration of the widespread effects the tariffs are already having on consumers and businesses on both ends of the tax.
The article elicited many responses online. One recurring comment pointed out how quickly the article dismissed the US fibre industry.
There is no doubt that the US fibre industry (and that includes cotton!) has suffered from international competition. International competition, however, is not the only source of decline. The article omits the pressure that synthetics have exerted on plant- and animal-based fibres. The legacy of policies that have distorted our agricultural system, etc. The simplistic narrative does not create much space for elevating the tenacious small-scale fibre industry and the diverse ecosystem of independent producers. Sheep husbandry is a small-scale affair. Outside industrial producers like Australia, New Zealand, and China, most flocks have 50 heads or fewer. These flocks are present in every region of the world. In short, wool is, to this day, a local industry.
The US does not need industrial-scale production. It needs a network of small producers that have hubs that coordinate production, processing, and marketing. The foundations are there thanks to fibresheds and tireless farmers. The tariffs will be needlessly painful and hurt many small (and large) businesses, but, despite the uncertainty, this is also an opportunity to elevate and support the diverse regional producers in every part of the country and world. To that end, I have added to my small farm page a list of independent yarn and wool producers.
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