I met Nisha Blackwell almost a decade ago. She came into a Girls Maker Night at Assemble to teach a group of youth how to make their own wearable accessory. Nisha had only just begun her journey, having recently founded Knotzland.  

Nisha Blackwell Reinvents Discarded Textiles

During that event, Nisha shared her story of being a self-taught seamstress, and encouraged the youth that whatever their interest might be, they can find a way to bring their passions to life.  From that day forward, I’ve followed along watching this entrepreneur blossom and build upon Knotzland, which has been nothing short of inspirational.  

For Nisha, it all started with making a set of hair bows, but that quickly turned into what Knotzland is most well-known for today: bowties. Her work has dressed the necks of some rather famous people, and there are certainly a few local, avid supporters, whom you can find donning a stylish accessory from Knotzland on the regular. In addition to bowties, Nisha recently launched a line of lavallières. 

Making an Impact on People and the Environment

Beyond the absolute glorious fashion that Nisha is bringing into the world, she’s also working to improve the systems around us. As Knotzland has grown, Nisha has worked to bring together a network of sewing enthusiasts. She’s built a community and provides economic opportunities within it. Maybe most important is that Nisha has a dedication to sustainability. She often quotes that more than 10 million tons of discarded textile waste ends up in landfills every year. To reduce that impact, every accessory that comes out of Knotzland diverts fabric from going into a landfill. 

Story by Rachel Saul Rearick / Photography by Laura Petrilla

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