Tips for Sourcing Sustainable Fabrics

Part of creating a Fashion brand with purpose and value means ethical and sustainable practices are key and many of you want to find sustainable fabrics to work with.  But where to find them?  Here are a few places you can start your search.

1. Common objective

Common Objective’s mission is to support fashion people to do better. Very easy to navigate to find suppliers that are right for you and your brand.

2.Tech style solutions

To get around the problem of high minimums the Tech style solutions platform has a Crowd-source option that allows you to "co-purchase" with other brands by first pledging the desired amount with no MOQ limit

3. Future fabrics

The Future Fabrics Expo is the largest dedicated showcase of globally sourced commercially available sustainably and responsibly produced fabrics and materials. Their next virtual expo is in May.

4. The London Textile Fair

I really hope the London Textile fair in July will go ahead! Many fabric mills exhibit here, covering all fabric areas. It is a great place to network and discuss your needs with the mills.

5. stocks

Have you considered stock fabrics? I understand this isn’t necessarily considered sustainable BUT you will get small minimums and you can buy as little as a meter. I do have a list of stock mills in London, head to my contacts page and get in touch to find out more.

6. Mills and Agents

I do work with many fabric agents and mills and if you have something specific in mind maybe I can help you further. Book in for a free discovery call and let’s chat!

7. Questions to ask a fabric Mill

If you like a fabric ask for a fabric hanger so you can refer back to the fabrics you like
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Fabric MOQ - (minimum order Quantity)the minimum amount of meters you can buy. Price per metre
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Fabric lead-time - how long does it take to make the fabric for your order
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Who else they do supply to? Get an idea of the clients they work with.
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You can ask the mill for test reports so you can check the fabrics performance, ensure no harmful chemicals are used and the fabric is colourfast, doesn’t shrink and performs to a standard. This will help inform you what to put on your care label.

One last thing! If anyone wants to learn more about Fashion and Sustainability I did a really great free course during the first lockdown with the Kering group x Future learn which covers a lot on this topic.