TM

Helping you rebuild your natural fiber wardrobe, one piece at a time

Traveling the world in search of natural-fiber beauty — supporting artisans, celebrating heritage textiles, and helping you build a wardrobe that feels as good as it looks.

Kilim Bags: Where Ancient Weaving Meets Modern Style

Handcrafted from vintage kilims, each bag carries a story woven generations ago.

SHOP

The Journey Begins: Istanbul Collection

Back from Istanbul, hearts full.

While we didn’t find all the organic cotton clothing we were searching for, we did uncover so many beautiful things. Shop what came home, and take part in the journey as we continue helping you build your natural-fiber wardrobe, piece by piece.

Travel with me, piece by piece

Subscribers get first access to every drop

If you loved the Sultan’s robes from Topkapi Palace, you’re going to love this. These hand-embroidered Suzani jackets are available through a designer I work with — and here’s the story behind them.

These Jackets are crafted from authentic, hand-embroidered Central Asian suzani textiles.

Some are richly woven of wool and silk, perfect as full-length coats for the colder weather, while others are lighter cotton and silk hand-embroidered jackets, ideal for layering through the seasons.

The flowing floral and medallion motifs carry deep cultural meaning, symbolizing love, vitality, prosperity, and protection.

These garments are not mass-produced — they’re art pieces to be worn, collected, and cherished, and no two are ever the same. Each one has its own story, and requires weeks or months of meticulous craftsmanship.

If a Suzani jacket speaks to you, message me. I’ll connect you directly with the artisan in Istanbul.
.
.
.

#suzaniembroidery #handcrafted #suzanijacket #textileart #arttowear #silkandcotton #artisancrafted #GlobalSourceress #centralasiantextiles

Introducing the Butterfly Cape ✨️

100% pure silk, bordered with hand felted lambswool.

Incredible movement.

Each one a unique piece of art.

Hand dyed with all natural dyes. Hand felted. Hand made.

Perfect for holiday events, special events, anywhere you want pure elegance.

Link in bio to purchase.

Don't see the color you want? DM me for special orders
.
.
#handmade #puresilk #globalsourceress #wearableart #bursatextiles #turkishsilk #luxurylifestyle #luxurywrap #artisanmade

Did you ever wonder what stories are hidden inside these patterns?

Kilim is one of the oldest weaving traditions in the world — a flat textile made by interlacing wool, cotton, or silk into symbols of protection, love, fertility, and prosperity.

For centuries, kilims have been used as carpets, wall hangings, and heirlooms passed through generations.
Each pattern was once part of a home, a dowry, or a family story.

Some of these vintage kilims are now transformed into kilim bags — preserving both the craftsmanship and the soul of the weaver.

I brought home a handful of bags — some are the only one of their kind. You can find them on my website, link in bio. Carry a piece of Turkish history with you.
.
.
.

#kilimbags #kilimtextiles #kilimweaving #vintagekilim #globalsourceress #handwoven #artisanmade #handcraftedstyle #bohofashion #naturalfibers

I was blown away by the display of the Sultan's robes through the centuries. Some of these pieces are over 500 years old - carefully preserved kaftans of cotton, silk, velvet, satin, and fur, some woven with gold and silver thread. After his death, a Sultan's clothing was carefully labeled and stored at the Palace Treasury. They were regularly inspected, repaired, and aired out seasonally for hundreds of years. Today, we're able to view them, well-lit and displayed behind glass, exquisite pieces of textile history right in front of our eyes.

A Sultan's robes were not simply clothing - they were statements of the wealth, global reach, power, and opulence of the Ottoman empire. Fabrics came from many places: important textile-centres of Bursa, Turkey produced fine silks; some velvets and brocades were of Italian origin; international trade imported textiles from Persia, India, and China - threads that linked Istanbul to the rest of the known world.

Some of the robes themselves, stiffened with gold and silver, shaped the posture of the person wearing them, reinforcing his power and presence. Some were larger than life - in particular, the kaftans of Sultan Osman II had me wondering if this man was actually a giant.

The patterns woven into the clothing each carried meaning: the pomegranate symblolized fertility and abundance, the tulip symbolized paradise and imperial splendor, tiger stripes symbolized power, authority, and protection, and clouds linked the wearer to celestial harmony. Gold and Silver threads woven into the kaftans added an ethereal quality, as if light was shimmering from the clothes themselves. Sable and Ermine fur lined winter robes for warmth and signified elevated rank.

There were also kaftans of the Sultan's children, his celebrated daughters and princely sons. Can you Imagine the kids running around the palace grounds wearing these kaftans?

It felt like a privileged experience to see these garments in person - the fact that they still exist is a nod to natural fiber clothing, it's resilience, it's durability, and it's ability to last long, long after we've passed.
.
#globalsourceress
#TopkapiPalace
#SultansWardrobe
#OttomanEmpire

From Istanbul.. this is the Basilica Cistern, an enormous underground water reservoir built in the 6th century, at the height of the Byzantine Empire. It stored and supplied water for the Great Roman Palace of Constantinople and surrounding buildings, and later, the Sultan's Topkapi Palace, whose stunning, sprawling grounds are open to visitors to this day. The water was carried into the city through an underground network of gravity-fed stone and brick aqueducts from places as far as the Belgrade forest, over 12 miles away.

Stepping inside feels like entering an underground cathedral—it’s nearly the size of two football fields, supported by 336 marble columns, each 30 feet tall. Many of these columns were recycled from earlier Roman temples. The styles vary — some Corinthian, some simple, some carved. This example of ancient Roman water engineering had me in awe.

We explored the cistern late in the evening, near closing time. The only sounds we heard were the occasional water droplets falling from above into the reflective pools, and the quiet murmur of just a few other people in the cavernous, undergound space.

And...slide 4... my personification of someone's review of the space... "Beware - you WILL get dripped on" 😂

Reminiscent of my stepfather's saddlery workshop, when he taught me to braid leather like this...

The weave is called a Mystery-Braid, or Magic Braid, because it is crafted from a single strip of leather, braided without cutting the ends. The braid essentially “locks” into itself.

Part 90's throwback, part classic style. Hand made, amazing quality. Unisex.

Supple now and made to soften with wear, this is the belt you’ll reach for with denim, dresses, and linen layers alike.

Available in two hues — caramel and deep dark brown — both designed to age beautifully.

Makes a great gift.

🔗 Link in Bio ● Priced at $55

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow along on Instagram

@globalsourceress

Join us on Instagram for artisan stories, market moments, and travel inspiration

The Source

Many of you know me from Wolfe Lane Wellness, where I’ve spent the past years creating and sharing handmade, naturally rooted goods with my local community.

Now, I’m beginning a new chapter: Global Sourceress. This project is born from my love of travel, and my desire for real clothing made from natural fabrics. I’ll be traveling in person to open-air markets around the world, hand-selecting natural fiber clothing free of synthetics — flowing cotton, airy linen, and gauze garments that feel soulful, timeless, and alive.

This isn’t fast fashion. It’s small-batch curation, chosen piece by piece, for those who want a wardrobe with meaning.

I invite you to join me on this adventure — follow along, explore, and claim the treasures that speak to you.

- Kristin Albrecht

Why Istanbul?

Istanbul feels like the perfect beginning for Global Sourceress.

Turkish cotton is world-renowned for its incredible softness, durability, and quality — the kind of fabric that gets better with age and feels timeless on the skin.

Beyond cotton, Istanbul has been a crossroads of trade and textiles for thousands of years, standing at the very end of the Silk Road. For centuries, merchants and makers have gathered here, bringing treasures, craftsmanship, and stories from across the world.

For me, this isn’t just about sourcing clothing — it’s about stepping into a place with layers of history, culture, and soul. I feel a deep personal connection to Istanbul and can’t wait to wander its markets, discover its treasures, and share those finds with you.

This city, with its blend of East and West, past and present, feels like the most magical place to begin this journey.

Subscribers get first access to every drop

Helping you rebuild your natural fiber wardrobe, one piece at a time

The Journey Begins: Istanbul Collection

Your passport to natural-fiber fashion -- sign up and travel the world with us, one market at a time.

Join the mailing list!

Follow along on Instagram

The Source

Why Istanbul?

Your passport to natural-fiber fashion -- sign up and travel the world with us, one market at a time.

Join the mailing list!

Helping you rebuild your natural fiber wardrobe, one piece at a time

The Journey Begins: Istanbul Collection

Your passport to natural-fiber fashion -- sign up and travel the world with us, one market at a time.

Join the mailing list!

​

Follow along on Instagram

The Source

Why Istanbul?

Your passport to natural-fiber fashion -- sign up and travel the world with us, one market at a time.

Join the mailing list!