The Debut of the Angel Vessels
An Artist’s Journey in Fiber, Form, and Faith
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a seamstress—working with my hands, shaping fabric, and telling stories through stitches. For years, my artistic path has centered on wearable art made from 100% cashmere. In the beginning, I used recycled sweaters, giving them new life through thoughtful design. As my work evolved, so did my sourcing. I discovered a small collective of organic, sustainable cashmere farmers in Mongolia—where the harsh climate is ideal for Kashmir goats and the resulting fiber is among the most luxurious in the world.
Since 2020, I’ve proudly supported this collective, valuing not just the quality of their fiber but the traceability and ethics behind it. And in early 2025, faced with the uncertainty of shifting trade policies and the looming possibility of a 145% tariff on Chinese imports, I was forced to pause and re-evaluate my path forward.
I looked around my studio, surrounded by years of saved “snips”—small pieces of cashmere too beautiful to discard but never quite finding their place. At the same time, my husband (a wildlife photographer) and I began reading The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. His words stirred something in me. I saw these remnants not as waste, but as potential.
With careful research and experimentation, I developed a new process that transformed those treasured fragments into sculptural fiber vessels—each one a testament to resilience, reverence, and renewal. These pieces carry not just the warmth and softness of cashmere, but also the story of reinvention.
Out of this moment of uncertainty and inspiration, the Angel Vessels were born. They remain a creative outlet when taking a break from the wearable art form.
With deep gratitude, Sue Fleming