Arachne’s Weavers: Making Fiber Arts Accessible, Building Community, & Inspiring Change
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Adelphi University Student organization, Arachne’s Weavers, a fiber arts organization is dedicated to creating an inclusive, accessible space on campus where students can explore and share their love for fiber arts, regardless of level of experience, making these centuries old arts accessible while learning more about them from each other.
A central mission of the organization is to make fiber arts accessible by providing materials, resources, and workshops, ensuring these time-honored crafts are available to everyone. We celebrate and promote a variety of fiber arts from diverse cultures, acknowledging the cultural significance and social impact of these practices. Founded on the belief that fiber arts can foster community, creativity, and social change, this presentation highlights our journey, from our founding to the initiatives that use fiber arts as a tool for bridging cultural divides and inspiring positive social impact.
Speaker Bios
Wallie M.
Founder and President of Arachne’s Weavers, Wallie has a lifelong background in fiber arts, having grown up with a South Asian seamstress in the house, she learned how to sew by the age of 6 solely by using fabric scraps and borrowed needles/thread, spending countless recesses mending classmate’s stuffed animals and clothes. She learned how to crochet by the age of 9 after stumbling across an old crochet hook once belonging to her relatives and it made her wonder how many other arts she could be proficient at if she had access to more materials at that age. Inspired by the accessibility challenges of fiber materials and the cultural value of these skills, Wallie aims to make fiber arts more accessible & to educate the community on all the little ways they show up around the world and in our daily lives. Wallie is currently studying Psychology & Computer Science (Information Security) at Adelphi University, blending creative and technical skills to lead Arachne’s Weavers in meaningful projects.
Tahreem Shah
Treasurer of Arachne’s Weavers, Tahreem has self-taught herself many forms of fiber art such as embroidery, sewing, and crochet when she was young. However, throughout middle school and high school she mainly focused on 2D art. With her background in 2D art she is now re-teaching herself fiber arts alongside members of the club. Tahreem aims to show members of the club the beauty of the process of learning a new skill. She believes that the most important step is taking the courage to start, and hopes that with her learning alongside her peers, she can foster a supportive environment that welcomes mistakes. Tahreem is majoring in Computer Science (Software Engineering) and double minoring Graphic Design and Video Game Design at Adelphi University. She hopes to blend technology and art to help create and support new projects in Arachne’s Weavers.