Elizabeth Boesel — Textile Artist

My art practice is centered on the idea of creating my personal wardrobe slowly with my own hands by weaving, knitting, and sewing heirloom garments made from natural dyes & fibers.
I believe that how we clothe ourselves can have a greater impact not only within ourselves, but for our communities and the betterment of the environment. We have a choice of where our clothes come from: whether they are bought, thrifted/reclaimed, or made by hand. What they are made of: natural plant & animal fibers, or man-made regenerated & synthetic fibers. My goal is to bring further awareness about the harm of fast-fashion consumption and the damage synthetic fibers have on the environment from non-biodegradable micro-plastics that sheds into ground soil, water systems, and seeps into our bodies.
Do you know what your clothes are made of or where they were made? All clothing is made by hand — it’s just a matter of by who, how well, and for how much? My aim is to spread knowledge about heritage hand-skills and bring the power & freedom of making clothes back to our own hands.
I care deeply about cloth itself and its longevity: how to take care by proper washing & drying methods, mending when torn, and storing safely when not wearing. Most importantly, I believe that clothes should be worn over & over again until they can either go back to the earth and decompose naturally, or hopefully be passed to the next generation and beyond. The most sustainable clothing choice we can make is to wear what we already have. The next time you want something new, think about what you already own or what you could learn to make for yourself instead.
My clothing pattern designs are meant to bring comfort & spark joy, inviting you to bring your curiosity and imagination, play with customizations, and find your own beautiful individual style. With my patterns, I aim to provide clear instructions on how to create a garment for yourself, as well as notes on how to alter and tailor the fit to your personal measurements and life.

Embrace life through cloth.

BACKGROUND:
I hold a BFA in Fine Art with a concentration in Fibers from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where I graduated summa cum laude and have taught as a Fiber Arts Lecturer.

PRESS:
My work has been featured in Warp and Weft Online Magazine and on PBS Charlotte's Carolina Impact.

Previous work under: Elizabeth Hammock.