RISING SHED

Josef, Ruth, Shirley and Riva Bryn standing proudly outside of Wearbest Weaving in Passaic, New Jersey, 1959.
 

The term rising shed refers to a movement in weaving where threads are lifted to create space for others, forming the foundation of new fabric. It reflects how we rise from our past, using its lessons to build something meaningful.

My grandfather, Josef Bryn, was born in Pabianice, Poland—a town once known for its thriving textile mills. This vibrant community was decimated by the German invasion in 1939.

At 14, he saw his parents and four sisters for the last time. He survived unimaginable hardships during the Holocaust and eventually found refuge in a displaced persons camp in Munich, where he met my grandmother. Together, they immigrated to the U.S. and rebuilt their lives. My grandfather’s work in textiles became the foundation of their new beginning—a legacy of resilience and determination.

He didn’t just weave fabric—he built a business from the ground up, driven by skill, resourcefulness, and pride. I still remember walking through his factory as a kid, seeing how much it meant to him.

All four of my grandparents were Holocaust survivors, each with their own powerful story of survival. Their journeys remind me that storytelling is a privilege—a way to honor and preserve the human spirit.

Weaving and filmmaking both start with raw materials carefully shaped into something meaningful. That’s why I started Rising Shed—to pay tribute to my family’s story and the creativity that defined them. Instead of weaving textiles, I chose to weave stories that celebrate the strength and triumph of the human spirit.

— Beverly Chase
Founder, Rising Shed