The 2025 State of the South Report gives us a recent snapshot of the South. It also encourages us to reflect on the policies and actions that have led us to this moment and allows us to imagine a future where all people thrive. By reflecting on our collective history, we can see where we have been and give ourselves room to dream about what is possible through intentional and collective action. 

As we release our newest State of the South report, we want to connect to the history of Southern textiles that so closely mirrors our Southern history. Much like the overarching history of the South, the story of fiber and textile production in the South is fraught. It is a history of oppression, violence, resistance, resilience, and beauty. The textile industry, historically one of the major economic engines of the US economy, has relied on forced labor of enslaved people and, more recently, the devaluing and exploitation of skilled crafts persons. At the same time, fiber arts like spinning, weaving, quilting, and dyeing have also been a refuge for people across the South. These creative and practical skills have kept people warm, documented our history, connected communities, and sparked resistance. 

Just as the State of the South Report asks us to reflect on our past and envision a thriving future, we are inviting the community to engage in a collective weaving project to deepen our connection with the past and engage our creativity as we consider how to shape what’s next for our region. At our March 7th celebration of the report, just as voices and experiences of Southern leaders, artists, and community members are woven together on the pages, we invited attendees to add to a weaving to represent their own resourcefulness, resilience, and brilliance in our collective work towards a South where all people thrive. Over time, we will continue to add to the weaving, inviting people across our region to contribute.  

Detailing the history of textiles and textile art in the US South is beyond the scope of this project. While some on our team are quilters, weavers, and textile enthusiasts, we are not experts. To continue to explore the deep and vibrant history of fiber and textile production and art, we encourage you to explore the resources listed below. We also hope that as you explore some of the contemporary fiber artists working in the US South, and across the US, that you can tap into your own passion and creativity that will allow us to collectively envision and establish a thriving South.  

For now, we will leave it at this: the creation and manipulation of textiles has connected people across the US South (and across the world) for centuries. The lessons are stitched and woven in, and we can return to them as we chart a way forward. 

Resources to Explore: 

• History of Textiles: https://textileheritagemuseum.org/textiles-ancient-times-to-modern-day/  

• Future of Textiles: https://uncpress.org/book/9781469683706/southern-cultures-the-future-of-textiles/ 

• Intersection of Labor Interests and Textiles with the Atlanta Washerwoman Strike (GA): https://aflcio.org/about/history/labor-history-events/atlanta-washerwomen-strike 

• African American Quilt Circle of Durham (NC): https://aaqc-durham.com/ 

• Gees Bend Quiltmakers (MS): https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/gees-bend-quiltmakers  

• Exploring Identity and History through Weaving with Diedrick Brackens (TX): https://www.craftinamerica.org/artist/diedrick-brackens 

• Building Community with Choctaw Textile Artisans with Jennifer Byram (OK): https://textilesocietyofamerica.org/10253/member-monday-with-jennifer-byram  

• Coverlet Weaving in Southern Appalachia: https://www.canvasjournal.ca/read/looming-large  

If you have other resources to add to this list, please leave them in the comments or share them by email: stateofthesouth@mdcinc.org