
Alison Gauthier
Fibre Artist
SITE #5 |
558 Alma Street, Port Perry |
with Karen Neu Wideman & Gordon Reidt |
My expression is fibre, my joy is colour, my passion is creating wearable art. I am a fibre artist, using a knitting machine like a weaver uses a loom to intertwine texture, style, silhouette and purpose, and using colour to express joy, warmth & caring. It’s like making a wearable hug!


Alison has been a part of the fashion industry as long as she can remember, learning to sew from her mother at an early age, continuing to learn through her high school years in B.C. and eventually moving to Oakville, graduating from the Fashion Design/Knit Option program at Sheridan College. Alison continued to advance her knowledge of fashion and textiles through courses at local colleges and never one to sit on her laurels, she used her time during the Covid lock down to learn, with the help of YouTube, the art of fibre dying. Painting on her knitted textiles was something she had to figure out for herself as there was nothing out there to guide her.
After several years working in the fashion industry both for a private company and for private clientele Alison has left that part of her career behind and has embraced her new-found love of colouring outside the lines and the ‘slow fashion’ movement. She feels it’s both her duty and honour to share her knowledge of best practices in the garment industry. Alison believes in using natural, sustainable and environmentally sound fibres that are locally sourced from suppliers that support best practices in the fibre industry. She uses fibre dyes that are environmentally safe and non-toxic, sourced from a local supplier. These are some of the characteristics behind the choice of her business name, Ethos Makes.
Some of Alison’s inspiration comes from colour and the language it speaks. Earthy greens for comfort, saucy reds for a spark of heat, or honest yellows that bring bright and passionate vibes to a piece, they all have a special place in her work. Other times, she take her cues from the artwork she sees around her whether it is abstract, realism or something in between. For her, playing with colour is joyous, seeing what happens when one merges in with another, like watching magic happen! When designing her silhouettes for her knitted garments she takes feedback from her clients into consideration, always listening to what they find comfortable, fun and flattering.
You can also find Alison’s work at Scugog Arts Space at 268 Queen St in Port Perry and Preston Gallery in Uxbridge.
