Wool for the People Strengthens Regional Wool Production

In the Pacific Northwest, sheep have long been part of the landscape. But for many ranchers and fiber artists, turning raw fleece into usable, high-quality fiber hasn’t been easy. Limited regional processing capacity has created long wait times, production bottlenecks, and the need to ship materials out of state.

Mer Stevens and Kasteyl Lukes saw these challenges firsthand. With decades of combined experience in fiber arts, dyeing, and mill work, they understood both the technical side of the industry and the strain placed on producers and makers.

Together, they founded Wool for the People, a Portland-based mill and dyehouse designed to expand regional processing capacity while creating a gathering space for fiber artists, producers, and community members. Their business offers custom wool processing, dyeing, and their own line of yarn and fiber products—all under one roof.

Mer reflects on the gap their business fills:

“We're joining a community of mills that are reviving sheep-to-consumer wool production in the US. Our experience as indie dyers and consumers allow us to bridge knowledge gaps so shepherds can bring products to market and get into the hands of local crafters who value transparent sourcing.”

As a small-scale startup for a niche industry, accessing traditional financing to start their business wasn’t possible. But their deep industry knowledge, strong relationships, and clear vision stood out. After working with our Business Services team to refine their financials, Craft3 provided an equipment loan to help purchase and install the specialized machinery needed to launch the mill.

“We really enjoyed the experience of working with Craft3,” Mer says. “We moved from a space of believing it could be done to understanding what it would take for us to actually do it.”

When Wool for the People opened in February 2026, they threw a grand opening party, hoping for 75 attendees.  Instead, “more than 200 people came,” Mer shares. “We've been truly humbled by the community response to our project. The fiber arts community values hard work and they crave chances to peek behind the curtain.”

Behind the curtain at Wool for the People are two fiber artists, dyers, and mill operators with a deep love and passion for the arts. Mer reflects on how this passion keeps her going: “It's still a thrill to open bags of wool we've never seen before and learn more about the people who raised it.”