Grants

NYFIC Grant Awardees

Twice each year, NYFIC awards $10,000 grants to fuel innovation at the intersection of agriculture, materials, and design. These awards support New York–based farmers, researchers, manufacturers, and designers who are advancing sustainable textiles and strengthening supply chains to meet the needs of the fashion and interiors industries.

Below are the recipients announced to date. This page will continue to be updated as new rounds are awarded through 2027.

Round Two Awardees

Announced September 2025

  • Michael Battaglia, Lignix (Troy, NY) – Refining a novel, low-impact degumming process for hemp and flax fibers to enable high-quality, New York–grown bast fibers to enter the textile market at scale.

  • Laura Foos, Uqnatu (Brooklyn, NY) – Creating a capsule collection of handmade felt garments from New York wool, developed with regional farms and presented in a showroom during New York Fashion Week to highlight local fiber supply chains.

  • Rabbit Goody, Thistle Hill Weavers (Cherry Valley, NY) – Introducing a collection of finely woven drapery crafted from New York wool and alpaca for the luxury interiors market, creating new applications and value for regional fibers.

  • Daniel Kelleher, Adirondack Field (Lake Placid, NY) – Expanding its line of Climate Beneficial™ New York–grown and –knit apparel with new women’s farm-to-fashion sweaters and ponchos.

  • Lynn Mordas, Dashing Star Farm (Millerton, NY) – Launching Project Sheepskin, a design challenge with Marist and Parsons students to turn tanned pelts into sustainable apparel and home goods.

  • Karuna Scheinfeld and Mae Fatto, Four Objects (Brooklyn, NY) – Developing a fully New York–sourced and produced carryall bag with Hudson Valley tannery Pergamena, as the foundation for a future capsule collection of New York–made leather accessories.

  • Tom Stringham, Genesee Valley Woolworks (East Bethany, NY) – Developing and launching a core-spun rug yarn line using 100% New York wool, with naturally dyed options and DIY kits to open new markets for underutilized fiber.

  • Melissa Ventosa Martin, Old Stone Trade (Manhattan, NY) – Producing a fully traceable New York capsule collection with garments handmade from NY-grown fibers in partnership with regional farms, mills, and artisans.

Round One Awardees

Announced March 2025

  • Kristina Collins, Kristina Collins, LLC – Researching efficient processes for finishing New York woven wool, creating a farm-to-fashion roadmap to scale production and expand opportunities for local wool growers and manufacturers.

  • Jon and Kelly Shultes, Yarn Designs Unlimited, LLC – Implementing a water recycling system for their hand-dyeing fiber studio in Schoharie, NY. The system will reduce water consumption by up to 60%, increasing sustainability and production efficiency.

  • Teju Adisa-Farrar, Black Fiber & Textile Network (bftn) – Developing regenerative home décor in collaboration with New York-based Black farmers, natural dyers, and emerging manufacturers. The collection—featuring an accent chair, lamp, and pillow—will be crafted from regeneratively grown fibers and upcycled materials, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and circular design.

  • Nick Coyle, Nick Coyle, LLC – Creating handmade carpets using New York State–sourced fibers and natural dyes. This project connects agriculture and design, emphasizing sustainability and craftsmanship.

  • Melissa Conroy & Paige Tomfohrde, Cornell University – Building a farm-to-fashion school supply chain for knitwear by developing yarn suitable for industrial knitting machines in NYS fashion schools. This project aims to educate and inspire future designers around local fibers.

  • Laura Sansone, New York Textile Lab, LLC – Developing Climate Beneficial™ yarns and woven textiles by blending NYS carbon-farmed wool and alpaca with upland cotton from Black-owned farms participating in Seed2Shirt’s Climate Beneficial™ farming programs. These yarns and textiles will help bolster regional manufacturing and support regenerative agricultural practices on the lands of participating farms.

  • Mari Stefano and Karen Oddo, Graze Woolens, LLC (D/B/A Graze) – Launching a farm-to-closet initiative to create high-quality wool sweaters using New York–sourced and manufactured yarn. This project highlights the potential of local wool in sustainable fashion.

  • Jessie McNaughton, McRea, LLC – Establishing a sock knitting mill in Rochester, NY, to address supply chain gaps and empower fiber farmers by transforming raw fleece into finished, market-ready products.