A Q&A with Fiber Artist Heidi Braacx
Heidi Braacx is the owner of VeganYarn.com, a wonderland of hand-dyed (and sometimes handspun) yarns made of bamboo, linen, tencel, organic Fair Trade cotton, and other plant fibers. She writes, “We’re not here to judge other people’s yarn choices…our goal is to be a positive presence in a wool-dominant yarn world, where people who want awesome artisan yarn made from plants can enjoy knitting again…even dedicated wool-people enjoy a change of pace from time to time.” Heidi lives with her family in British Columbia.
You were only seven when you learned how to knit. What sorts of things did you enjoy making as a child (knitting and otherwise)? Do you come from a family of crafters?
When I first learned to knit, I realized how many awesome things could be made with a rectangle. I loved my stuffies and had a ton of them, so my first projects were hats, capes, blankets, and scarves for them. My family is not crafty at all but definitely creative in their own ways. My parents encouraged my natural curiosity in reading and music and were happy to support my craftiness with plenty of supplies.
As you point out on your website, when a knitter walks into a yarn shop and asks for vegan yarn options, usually they’ll be directed to the “Acrylic Wall of Shame.” How did you get started developing your line of animal-free yarns? How do you choose which fibers, yarns, and dyes to work with?
I started out by buying any yarn I could find that was plant-based in retail stores. After a while I’d earned enough from sales to get a wholesale account with a distributor, and now I buy mainly from mills directly. Sourcing is still the most challenging part of my work, but over the years I’ve found some good ones. That was a long, slow process, actually.
How do you respond to knitters and other fiber artists who believe there are compassionate and sustainable ways to work with wool? I know of several textile artists who eat plant-based but weave and stitch with fiber they say comes from animals who aren’t ultimately killed for meat.
Mainly I don’t engage with that unless someone genuinely wants to know why wool isn’t ethical or sustainable, because when people don’t want to know, they’re completely closed off. The belief that wool is both ethical and sustainable is so strong in the fiber arts community that most are unwilling to reconsider, and evidence alone won’t convince them, at least not all at once. As with other moves toward a more compassionate lifestyle, I think it ultimately needs to come from within. When we connect our personal values with our actions, we start to see what needs to be done. I feel that by being present in the marketplace, I’m gently encouraging people to reconsider their views and supporting those who have.
What are some of your favorite materials for natural dyeing?
It’s deeply satisfying to get colour from plants I’ve grown and harvested, or wildcrafted myself. Wildcrafting is a style of harvesting from nature that means considering the needs of plant and animal life in the area, and responsibly collecting only what will allow them to continue to thrive, and no more. Wildcrafting can also double as invasives removal, so it’s great to be able to use invasive plants that don’t belong in our area.
Libertas Lace (60 percent organic cotton, 40 percent linen), dyed with wildcrafted or garden-grown plants.
Is there a part of the dyeing process that’s most pleasurable for you?
I think it’s all pretty even. I enjoy having some quiet time to myself to work, and to enjoy the pleasure of a daily rhythm. I’m not naturally task oriented, but I’ve learned over time the satisfaction of a day well spent getting things done. It helps knowing that I’m doing work that I find meaning and value in.
You’re also a musician. How long have you been playing the violin? Tell us about The Cranky Molluscs! Do your creative practices inform each other in any way?
I’ve been playing violin since I was ten, which was late for most kids while I was in school, but now that I’m an adult it doesn’t matter so much, and it’s simply for my personal enjoyment and catharsis. The Cranky Molluscs was a fun project for my best friend Karina and I to hang out and visit together while doing something we both enjoyed. We’re both big time fans of Yann Tiersen, so we learned a bunch of his music to play together. Karina also got me into Astor Piazzolla. The combination of violin and accordion lends itself so well to tango music, and I just love tango! I don’t know if they tangibly inform one another, but together they’re the most significant forms of personal expression that I have.
What effect did going vegan have on your physical and emotional health? Have you noticed any link between these changes and your creative output?
I didn’t have any dramatic physical changes apart from decreased menstrual pain and a little weight loss. Emotionally, I felt like I was doing something significant and lasting to help others. Feeling inner peace that comes with living in line with my values is huge for me.
Do you have any other thoughts as to how a vegan lifestyle may have enhanced your creativity?
Having a greater sense of peace and less tension or fear cultivates curiosity. Curiosity and creativity are closely tied in my mind, and I’m more curious when I’m mentally and emotionally well.
When life gets stressful, how do you create some space and ease for yourself?
To an outsider, I’m sure it probably seems like I have it made, so why would I ever feel stressed in the first place? Well, I’m partly in this career because I haven’t really thrived in any other. I have Anxiety Disorder and OCD. These things make it difficult for me to be in a traditional work environment on a regular basis. I’m truly introverted, so I do best when I have long periods of solitude to recuperate from social interaction. The flexibility in hours allows me to take breaks when I need them or to work longer hours when I want to. Running a business does come with stressors for sure! There’s never a guarantee that I’ll sell anything from day to day, but luckily, I do. I can’t rely on a regular paycheck, so all I can do is do the work, and hope I’ll do well.
For my self-care, I have a “toolbox” of favorites that ease stress. I enjoy listening to audio books or music while I work, I’ve found a few forms of exercise I really like (hiking, cycling, and powerlifting), and occasionally I go to a Korean family-style spa. For ten dollars an afternoon, I can soak in the hot tub, the sauna, chill in the salt room, and enjoy the many other simple luxuries there. It’s nothing fancy, but I always leave feeling like a wet noodle!
What advice do you have for someone who wants to start an ethical vegan business?
Do it! Ha ha! This world needs more ethical vegan businesses and businesspeople. Apart from that, try to find ways to surround yourself with a community that helps you feel supported, that shares your values. Unfortunately, when you run a business based on certain values, like veganism, some people will feel like they have to tell you you’re wrong and all the reasons why. By having support from others, you’ll have a consistent reminder that you’re on the right track, and those negative opinions are not the only opinions out there.
Last and most important question: fave vegan treats??
Probably the hardest question here since I’d have to narrow it down! I’m super lucky to have Vegan Supply, a vegan grocery, nearby, so I have access to some pretty amazing treats. I really like Primal Strips’ Hickory-flavor jerky and Denman Island Chocolate Mint bars. It’s really hard to get now since they don’t seem to sell in Canada anymore, but Tartex vegan pâté is incredible.
@veganyarn