Dream Weavers
Did I mention how much I love a bold stripe? That’s what instantly drew me to these hand-woven totes— and the price point was a wallet-friendly surprise. But when I found out that every item Arlington Weaves sells is made by local artisans with disabilities, and that all proceeds go directly to the artisans, I wanted to buy out the store.
Luckily for you, I didn’t. Now you, too, can shop local and support the good work of your neighbors. Arlington Weaves, Etc. is a county program that teaches technical and social skills to adults with developmental disabilities and encourages their independence.
“Our participants are textile artists who have learned the technique of weaving to produce handcrafted woven art,” says program spokesperson Sharon McDaniel. “[Their] products fuse innovation with unique weave structures that are practical and functional.”
Previously known as Woodmont Weavers, the program has been around since the 1970s. It now operates out of a spacious studio on Washington Boulevard in the Sequoia Plaza building, where the artisans use software to conceptualize and design products that they then create by hand on the studio’s looms. Customers can visit the studio and commission pieces. Some of the more popular items—tote bags, small pouches, table linens—are in stock in the on-site shop, while a smaller selection of goods is also sold at the Arlington Courthouse Library.
Arlington Weaves, Etc. is open weekdays at 2110 Washington Blvd., Suite 301. Artisans are available to discuss commissions between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.