The symposium will be hosted in-person at 78th St. Studios in Cleveland (you can purchase a virtual ticket if you can’t make it in person! Note: you will not be able to see the speakers on stage, but you will be able to hear their audio and see their presentation slides)

SPEAKER SERIES / CONNECTING DOWNSTAIRS!

8:15-12:20 bottom floor 78th St. Studios: Speakers, fashion show, mingling, refreshments
Registration begins bright and early at 8:15 on Saturday morning at the beautiful 78th Street Studios in Cleveland. Come early and mingle! Opening begins at 8:50.

We'll hear from soil and water experts, including farmers and researchers, designers and manufacturers, creatives, and more. We will close out the speaking portion of the morning with a celebratory fashion show showcasing our One Year, One Outfit project.

Pastries, fruit, coffee, and tea will be served in the morning. 

12:20- 1:00 New this year! After the fashion show, we'll take some time to connect over light lunch bites (hummus, pita, cheese, veggies, fruit)*. You can spend this time casually connecting over food, circulating through to some of our activities we'll have planned, and dreaming up what textiles have to do with our future together before heading upstairs for the hands-on portion: clothing swap, seed swap, learning tables, vendor stations. The swaps, vending, and hands-on work is open to morning ticket-holders only for the first hour. 

*If you plan to stay all the way through to the end of the afternoon and tend to have a very hefty appetite, please consider bringing a sandwich or other brown-bag lunch.
VIRTUAL OPTION: 
If you are out of town or unable to make it in person, we will be streaming the audio (and any presentation slides) via Zoom like we did last year! Please note we do not have the capacity to offer live-stream VIDEO of this event, just audio and any slides presenters share.  The Virtual Ticket to livestream the morning speakers is $15.

SCHOLARSHIPS:
We do offer student and farmer discounts, available if you head to our registration and scroll to the bottom of the options. (Volunteers, speakers, learning table hosts, and more, please see see the codes sent to your email)

VOLUNTEERS:
If you are seeing this, we are still in need of volunteers! Volunteers must report early (7:30am), and it would be great if you’re open to staying until 4:00 to help clean up! If you’re interested in volunteering, please use the code VOLUNTEER at check-out, and Sarah will connect with you.

Please note that if you are in need of a full scholarship, email sarah@rustbeltfibershed.org. No one is turned away for lack of funds.

AFTERNOON UPSTAIRS! (1-4pm)
After we have some light bites and connection time downstairs, we'll head upstairs and check out the hands-on demonstrations, shop local fiber and clothing vendors, connect more with people you heard from during the symposium, learn about aligned organizations in the area, and have the opportunity to participate in a *clothing swap (if you'd like, bring a few well-loved items to drop off in the morning before the symposium and our volunteers will organize!). Like last year, there will also be a seed/dye-stuff/fiber-things swap this year as well!

• 1:00- 2:00 second floor 78th St. Studios: This first hour of the afternoon is a special time for morning-only attendees with first access to clothing swap, vendors, and learning stations.

• 2:00-4:00pm: learning stations and vendors are FREE and open to the public!!!
  The learning stations and vendors will be open to symposium ticket holders only from 1:00-2:00 , and then open to the public for free from 2:00-4:00.

Clothing Swap: morning ticket holders only so we have time to organize donations. Folks who come to the open-to-the-public portion after 2:00 may take home leftover clothes without swapping.

WHY WE'RE USING ZEFFY THIS YEAR:
In the past years we've used Eventbrite. While we really appreciate the bells and whistles of Eventbrite, as a grassroots org, we'd like more of the money you donate and/or spend on tickets to go towards the event and less to fees. Zeffy is an amazing platform that allows us to cut the fees. We might not be able to offer things like a video preview of the event or some other flashy features, but we know our community is on board with excellent stewardship of your hard-earned dollars. Thank you!!

• Morning Speaker Series, Fashion Show, and Connection Time HERE

• Afternoon Learning and Connecting: Demos, Vendors, Swaps HERE
  

DOWNLOAD OUR FULL SPONSORSHIP INFO PACKET

For over 7 years, the Rust Belt Fibershed has been building something special: a thriving community of makers, farmers, educators, and conscious consumers who are committed to sustainable, regional fiber systems.

Our annual symposium brings together hundreds of passionate individuals who care about more than just textiles. They care about where things come from, who makes them, where they go after their use, and what impact their purchases have both locally and globally.

If you’re still reading, it’s likely that these are your people! And they're probably looking for you!

Here's How It Works

1. Choose Your Sponsorship Level

Select the package that fits your goals and budget. Everything from logo placement to being the featured Presenting Sponsor.

2. Get Featured Throughout the Event

Your brand will be visible to every attendee through signage, programs, our website, and social media before, during, and after the symposium.

3. Make Meaningful Connections

Connect with engaged customers, collaborators, and community members who want to support businesses like yours.

Plus, every dollar you invest directly supports local, circular fiber education, sustainable farming practices, and regional economic development.

Don't Miss Your Spot

Some sponsorship spaces are limited. Last year, we had almost 600 attendees from across the region, and this year's event is already generating excitement.

The businesses that sponsor early get the best visibility, the most engagement, and first choice of sponsorship benefits. We’d love to help you do that!

Find Your Perfect Fit

We've created sponsorship opportunities for businesses and organizations of every size because building a sustainable regional fiber system takes all of us.

Whether you're a small local shop or a regional leader in the industry, there's a way for you to be part of this year's symposium while connecting with the customers and collaborators who share your values.

Our Sponsorship Tiers:

Presenting Sponsor | $7,500 (Only 1 available)
For the industry leader ready to be at the forefront of the sustainable fiber movement, with exclusive presenting rights and maximum visibility