The Textile Society of America is pleased to announce the three participants selected through The Lab’s Warp Speed Showcase to present at the 2026 TSA Colloquium, (re)Generation: Fiber Futures, Community Knowledge, and Creative Renewal, on October 8, 2026.
The Lab is TSA’s mentorship and professional development program designed to support emerging textile scholars, artists, makers, and researchers. Over the past several months, participants worked closely with mentors to develop research projects, refine ideas, and strengthen their presentation skills.
The program culminated in the Warp Speed Showcase, where participants shared their work with peers and TSA leadership. Following a combined vote of participants, TSA committee, and TSA Board representatives, the following presenters were selected to advance to the Colloquium:
Sheryl Saly Touré is a Bronx-based textile artist. She works with natural dyes, especially indigo, to reveal suppressed histories of exploitation and colonization. Touré’s research centers on textile transformation in the Sahel. She is a recipient of the Pepatián Home-Based Visual Arts Residency grant, a textile artist-in-residence at the Bronx River Art Center, and hosts mixed-age textile workshops in the Bronx.
Jasmine Sears is a textile researcher and consultant passionate about applying indigenous knowledge to advance textile industry sustainability. She studied environmental studies at the University of Southern California and started her fashion career with internships at Urban Outfitters and Los Angeles Apparel. She has since focused on regenerative agriculture and circularity-focused textile projects. As a Fulbright-Nehru Research Scholar, Jasmine researched cotton, silk, and wool production across India. She most recently studied natural indigo with Watanabe’s in Japan.
Virginia Ellyn Melnyk is a computational architectural designer and researcher specializing in knitting, lightweight structures, and transformable architecture. She is currently an assistant professor at Iowa State University. Her teaching and research explores the interplay between deployable and lightweight structures, utilizing the fabrication methods of CNC knitting to develop structural membranes. Her designs focus knit pattern arrangements using elastic yarns, and connecting them with transformable frameworks to create deployable structures to stretch and interact with both their environment and users.
The quality of this year’s projects made the selection process especially competitive, reflecting the strength and diversity of emerging textile research and practice.
We are especially grateful to our mentors for the time and expertise they shared. Each pairing was thoughtfully made based on alignment of practice, project goals, and experience. We hope these relationships will continue beyond the program.
- Jasmine Sears mentored by Sonthia Coleman
- Virginia Ellyn Melnyk mentored by Dr. Kruti Dholakia
- Helen Liene Dreifelds mentored by Maggy Fragoso
- Sheryl Saly Toure mentored by Nader Sayadi
- Kate Klein mentored Anna Boutin-Cooper
- Shelby Seier mentored by Kira Dominguez Hultgren
TSA extends its sincere thanks to the International Quilt Museum for sponsoring this year’s Warp Speed Showcase and helping create opportunities for emerging voices in the textile field. Support from organizations and individuals makes programs like The Lab possible and helps TSA invest in the next generation of textile leaders.
Join TSA for Textile Talk on September 16
Before the Colloquium, TSA will participate in Textile Talk on September 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT, a free online program presented by the Surface Design Association, International Quilt Museum, Quilt Alliance, and Studio Art Quilt Associates.
During the program, TSA will introduce The Lab, share insights from the mentorship experience, and feature presentations from Lab participants. The event will also offer a preview of the themes and ideas shaping TSA’s upcoming Colloquium.
Textile Talk provides an opportunity for the broader textile community to learn more about The Lab and engage with the next generation of textile researchers, artists, and practitioners.
Thank you Surface Design Association for this opportunity!
Support Emerging Textile Voices
Additional sponsorship opportunities for The Lab, the Colloquium, and other TSA programs are available. Organizations interested in supporting mentorship, research, and professional development within the textile field are encouraged to contact TSA to learn more. Email hello@textilesocietyofamerica.org.
Congratulations to all of this year’s Lab participants and mentors for their dedication, creativity, and contributions to the field.
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