www.montereycountynow.com SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 improved. The Guild, which started in 1948, claims to be the oldest fiber arts guild in the country, and many members have been active for decades. Now, it is drawing new members. “One thing I really love about the guild is the multi-generational factor,” Gould says. “I’m meeting people who are much older than me, people who are much younger than me and we’re all connected over this thing that we really love.”There are fiber art pieces that are functional—rugs, blankets, sweaters—and those that are decorative. Each handmade piece is unique. “One thing about fiber arts is I love the way it moves, the way it drapes,” says 33-year-old J. Kai Maeda of Pacific Grove, who got into crochet during the pandemic. He creates large tapestries that tell stories, many about birds. “It may be on a dowel, but it is still able to move. It looks delicate,” he says. “Although it has its limitations— painting has all the colors—the beauty of this is unmatched.” Maeda also makes wearable pieces such as sweaters. While every handmade fiber piece is different, crochet in particular stands apart because the stitching cannot be replicated by a machine. Factories can make knit sweaters at a dizzyingly fast pace but only humans with a hook (and some patience) can crochet, even with modern technology. That means every article of clothing that is crocheted is handmade. “That was one of the things I was drawn to with crochet,” Maeda says. “Especially as we are moving into an AI future, handcrafting is kind of a resistance to that—it’s slowing down, it’s being mindful, it’s not being so consumed with productivity. “If I were to charge money…it would be so much money because [it takes] so much time. But I’m not doing this to make money, and that’s the point. It’s kind of like fiber-punk.” Maeda sees this not just in the creation and the wearing, but also the mending and laundering of a garment. “When you create with your own hands, you learn how to take care of things,” he says. “You can tell when something has been truly cared for or crafted over a long period of time.” Unlike fast fashion that’s able to withstand a cycle in the washer and dryer, many handmade pieces need more delicate attention to maintain their color, shape and integrity. Focus even while laundering becomes an act of resistance, a reminder that objects can be art. “Slowing down is what I really appreciate about the craft,” Maeda says, “especially in a world that is trying to speed things up in a way that is unsustainable.” Slow fashion as an act of resistance to fast fashion has become a way of life—and a thriving business—including at Slowfiber in Monterey. Pushing back against fast fashion, Canterbury started offering “mend bars” and clothing swaps to upcycle garments and make them wearable for longer. She realized there was a demand and opened Slowfiber as a brick-and-mortar in 2020. For many people, sewing has become a thing of the past. But Canterbury says that in less than two generations people lost sewing skills, but along with other fiber arts—knitting, crochet, weaving, nalbinding, tatting and more—it’s making a comeback. She sees a wave of younger people motivated to learn a new skill, save money on clothing or to oppose the fast fashion trend that is impacting the environment. While Slowfiber is a shop where people can obtain craft items or enroll in a workshop, Canterbury says her clients’ main goal isn’t buying new supplies. Many people are seeking to build connections and memories while learning a new skill or sharing their hobbies with others. In a world where sustainable brands are having a tough time surviving and fast-fashion has taken over, Canterbury and others are betting on caring for the environment. “My ultimate goal is sustainability,” she says. “It’s the community that comes from removing the need for new as much as possible.” Beyond mending and upcycling existing clothes, many fiber artists are making new things from scratch—and a growing number are going even further, making the supplies to make the clothes, spinning yarn from wool and dying yarn themselves. Kris Nardello looks for Pisilothus Above left: Avery Gould teaches teens how to make a slipknot during the crochet club at the King City Branch Library. Center: The library offers crochet books in English and Spanish available for checkout, different colors of yarn, and crochet hooks for people to practice their skills. Right: Pamela Martinez, 9, and her twin sister learned how to crochet by watching YouTube tutorials. Martinez is shown making a blanket for her stuffed cat. One attraction of crochet (below left) is that it cannot be replicated by a machine, meaning all textiles made with this method are handmade. That’s one reason Kai Maeda is drawn to crochet. One of his tapestries of a Brandt’s cormorant is shown at right. CELIA JIMÉNEZ CELIA JIMÉNEZ CELIA JIMÉNEZ CELIA JIMÉNEZ KAI MAEDA
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