Cases

Across the fiber arts world, workshops in natural dyeing, spinning, and weaving techniques draw heavily on traditions rooted in Indigenous, African, and Asian communities - yet many classes teach these skills without naming where they come from. Proponents say acknowledgment is a basic ethical practice and a step toward decolonizing craft education. Opponents argue that skill-sharing should transcend cultural boundaries and that mandatory crediting creates gatekeeping and stifles creative exchange. Where is the line between appreciation and appropriation in the teaching studio?