Crispina Ffrench

Crispina Ffrench discovered recycling textiles while at Boston College and made it her life’s work. Today, she leads the next generation of recycled textile entrepreneurs from her studio in the Berkshires. Ffrench founded Stitcherhood, a community of 600 textile upcycle entrepreneurs reusing discarded textiles, many retrieved from local waterways. She also hosts the Rags to Riches textile upcyling podcast and started “the region’s most spectacular handmade craft fair,” Holiday Shindy in Pittsfield. Says Meg Whilden, former executive director of Berkshires OLLI, “She is passionate about recycling and reusing to help save this beautiful world she loves so much.” Ffrench also runs her family’s Dolphin Studio hand screen printing company with sister Sofia. The fanciful calendars spread joy throughout the Berkshires and beyond.