ATW80F is a multi-media educational non-profit fostering connections between plastic-free fabrics and planetary health.

The Quilt that started it all.

Can you imagine what you feel as a scientist when you see your study sites be taken over by micro plastics? You can’t turn a blind eye to it…and this is what launched ATW80F co-founder and marine biologist Tierney Thys into the world of fabrics.

After learning that over 60% of our clothing is made from petroleum and is a major contributor to the microfibers and micro plastics found everywhere in our world, Tierney assembled a team to find solutions.

In 2019, she first stepped into this world of fabrics with an intrepid group of middle-schoolers from Carmel, California to participate in a National Geographic Geo Challenge, Tackling Microplastics, to understand the real-world problem of plastics. Together, they decided to construct a teaching quilt showcasing all sorts of non-petroleum fabrics from local second-hand stores - from cotton to silk to wool and more.

This quilt started the search for the most fascinating fabrics and their makers - launching Around the World in 80 Fabrics.

60% of our clothing today is manufactured from plastic-based fabrics. Every day these items shed trillions of plastic microfibers and chemical pollutants into our living ecosystems. It doesn’t have to be this way. From the wisdom of cultural traditions and cutting-edge innovations in recycling and biofabrication, ATW80Fabrics reveals a wealth of biodiverse alternatives.

Background image, Samia ricini (Wm. Jones 1791) & Samia canningi (Hutton 1859) Sri silk worms. 7WEAVES, Assam India. Photo credit Alisha Vasudev.

OUR WORK

DOCUMENTING A GLOBAL COMMUNITIES OF MAKERS

Behind every fabric is a face…people and communities dedicated to keeping traditions alive and innovating new materials. We share their work through our social media, website, digital fabric library, and an upcoming book (Insight Publishing).
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND COLLABORATIONS

Through strategic partnerships with communities, museums, and international organizations, we create engaging exhibits and outreach programs that promote deep ecological and cultural wisdom in the creation of plastic-free fabrics.
TEACHING QUILTS AND FABRIC COLLECTION

We weave together and showcase the fantastic wealth of textile diversity and maker communities: from heritage cotton growers and Mongolian yak herders to high-tech biofabricators and recycling trailblazers.
THE BOOK

Our upcoming book will invite readers to join a wild ride in search of alternative natural fibers. In collaboration with Insight Publishers. Look for it in 2024!

As leaders in the field of eco-friendly fabric materials, we offer invaluable insights to investors, corporations, and brands. Our expertise not only connects brands with sustainable fabric makers but also emphasizes a shift from plastic fabrics to materials that naturally degrade into nutrients, not pollutants. This approach accelerates innovation and enables teams to fulfill their commitment to reducing plastic usage.

Wondering how we can assist you?

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The Team Behind The Seams

Tierney Thys, Co-Creator

Dr. Tierney Thys is a National Geographic Explorer, biologist, author, filmmaker and Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences. As a scientist, veteran storyteller and Nat Geo Expedition expert for more than 20 years, she is committed to catalyzing biodiversity conservation through art and science. She serves on the science advisory boards for Think Beyond Plastic, Plastic Pollution Coalition and was a member of the TED Braintrust. Fascinated with fabrics since a young age, she roams the globe continually impressed with the wealth of ingenious makers and textile communities creating renewable, ethical alternatives to fossil-fuel-based fast fashion.
Carroll Dunham, Co-Creator

A medical anthropologist, Buddhist chaplain, and social entrepreneur, Carroll has called Nepal home for thirty years and is founder of Wild Earth, a company that promotes Himalayan plant wisdom and provides work for women. National Geographic Expeditions leader, author of four books, she has worked on over 12 film projects for National Geographic, BBC, PBS, Channel 4. Fascinated by the natural history of textiles, with an anthropological storytelling lens, Carroll is interested in the relationship of nature, culture and people in the creation of fibers as we look to what we might wear as a species post-petroleum. Here, she marvels at her new best friend: Antheraea assamensis, a prized Muga silk worm only found in the Indo Brahmaputra eco system.
Lesli Robertson, Outreach Director

Lesli Robertson is an interdisciplinary textile artist and educator. She has developed an array of globally based education programs and initiatives from higher education, to short term international engagement projects, and museum based community initiatives with partners such as the Smithsonian, Bhavana World Project, and Fulbright Specialist Program. Her passion for handmade textiles has led her to work with artisans across the globe. With a special place in her heart reserved for Ugandan barkcloth, she founded and runs the company Mekeka Designs.
Priti Thapa, Social Media Manager

A research and creative strategist with years of experience working with Photographers & Film Makers as their Post-Production Manager, Priti is a part of a team behind the seams that creates a digital presence for ATW80Fabrics with marketing campaigns and engaging visual social content designed to raise awareness of the environmental, climate, and social impacts of our petroleum-based fast-fashion lifestyles. Besides she is also a founder of Think Aloud, an all-women team of virtual assistance companies based in Nepal.