The Who, What, Where, and Why...

Provenance Yarns and Textiles was started by me, Julia Lee, in 2016, as part of my mission to transform Ontario-produced fibres into beautiful and useful garments, household items, and works of art.

Provenance Yarns and Textiles offers four services: custom spinning, custom knitting, spinning lessons and workshops, and the Fibre Club.

I learned to spin in Toronto and subsequently completed the Ontario Handweavers and Spinners (OHS) Spinning Certificate course in Haliburton. After graduation I became a teacher and coordinator for the OHS Spinning Certificate course at the Haliburton School of Art + Design, and have seen many students develop an appreciation of good fibres lovingly transformed into unique yarns and products. I also teach private spinning lessons from my home in Toronto, and present workshops for fibre arts gatherings across Southern Ontario. I am a past Chair of the Toronto Guild of Spinners and Weavers, with whom I do many public demonstrations, and recently stepped down from the role of OHS Spinning Education Chair.

My custom spinning business has really taken off in the last couple of years, with a steady stream of clients wanting fur from beloved pets (dogs, cats, and rabbits) spun into beautiful and functional yarn.

I spin natural protein fibres almost exclusively: sheep’s wool, alpaca, mohair (from Angora goats), angora (from Angora rabbits), qiviut (from muskox), and dog fur. I try to source these fibres from Ontario whenever possible, obtaining most of my spinning fibres directly from the grower/shepherd/ farmer. I then wash and dye the fibres and prepare my own unique blends to perfectly meet the requirements for a specific project. Other natural fibres—camel down, cashmere, silk, ramie, cotton, and so on—are not produced in Ontario so must come from further afield. However, I purchase through Ontario distributors whenever possible. I also support local woolen mills and custom dyers by purchasing their fibres, yarns, and services.

The idea for a business based on locally sourced fibres came from the “hundred-mile diet,” the difficulty and expense of importing (and ensuring the quality of) fleeces from the U.S. or overseas, and the philosophy of Ontario Fibreshed. I choose local materials because

• doing so provides a market for local farm products, encouraging farmers and producers to continue to raise animals on the land;

• it reduces the carbon footprint for transportation; and

• I can interact directly with the farmer, selecting the best fleeces and providing feedback on their quality and production.

I also like to process the fibres myself to ensure that they are not exposed to harsh chemicals and that no pollutants are released into the environment.  

Provenance Yarns and Textiles brings together my concern for the health of the environment, my respect for local fibre producers, and my passion for long-lasting clothing made of beautiful natural fibres. I have spent years honing my design, spinning, and knitting skills in preparation for launching this venture.