Sustainable Fabric Guide
All new fabric takes energy and resources to produce. The most sustainable fabric is fabric that already exists. I encourage you to use fabric from your collection, upcycle your closet, or visit a thrift store. That being said, some projects require specific materials. For those times, this is a collection of sustainable fabric alternatives.
Second-Hand Fabrics
This collection of deadstock fabrics is absolutely gorgeous. The prices are affordable, allowing designers to create with a dedication to sustainability and quality.
https://evaresource.com/
The fabric sales is an online retailer that specializes in deadstock fabrics. They have an extensive collection with discounted options to help reduce waste even further.
https://thefabricsales.com/en-us
Leather alternatives
$34/120cm x80cm
This is a material made from bacterial cellulose, grown on agricultural waste sourced from the coconut industry in Southern India. Malai is a flexible, durable material comparable to leather or paper. It is water-resistant, vegan and hypoallergenic.
https://malai.eco/
€72/1m
LaVeg is a vegan alternative to traditional and synthetic leather. it is a biomaterial made from natural rubber and cotton. This biodegradable leather comes in a smooth or texturized finish with a variety of colors.
https://www.amadeumaterials.com/laveg
€72 / 21cm X 38cm
This leather alternative has a suede-like touch and is made from a large parasitic fungi.
https://lifematerials.eu/shop/muskin-cruelty-free-and-oil-free-vegan-leatherette/
Wool Alternatives
€75.5/1m
This wool alternative is grown with the Calotropis plant. This plant takes less energy and water to produce than traditional cotton. It is naturally antimicrobial and uses a chemical-free process. The fabric is woven with a satin weave
https://lifematerials.eu/shop/weganool-woven/
Geneus Biotech has developed a stem cell-based technology that makes it possible to cultivate real fur in a lab setting. Overall this process has a lower carbon footprint than traditional farming methods.
https://geneusbiotech.com/
Cotton Alternatives
This is a biobased, biodegradable polyester substitute. This fiber is manufactured with traditional PET polyester machinery, but using a lower heat, allowing for lower emissions. This is a strong, soft, and stretchy fiber.
https://www.kintrafibers.com/
$13/1y
Bamboo grows faster than cotton while needing less water and energy to produce. This makes it a widespread sustainable alternative for traditionally grown cotton fibers which can use water-intensive processes.
https://bamboofabricstore.com/
$19/y
Lyocell is made using cellulose wood pulp. It is a soft, strong, biodegradable fiber. This fiber is known for its breathability, durability, and sweat-wicking properties.
https://corefabricstore.com/collections/tencel