Sustainable Sewing: 3 - Fabrics

In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the topic of sustainable fabric choices.

Choosing a good fabric makes a big difference when sewing, especially concerning sustainability. High-quality fabrics ensure that your handmade clothes are not only comfortable but also last a long time – without losing shape, even after many washes. Quality fabrics are also particularly resistant to pilling, so your favorite piece retains its beauty and brings joy for a long time.

As always, every small change, e.g., when buying fabric, is a step towards more sustainability.

How much fabric do I need?

You might have (like so many of us) more fabric than you really need. Maybe the fabric was a bargain, or a gift, or the pattern was just too tempting...

If this applies to you, one way is to buy less fabric, or more consciously. For example, you can:

Buy project-based: Before shopping, consider exactly what you want to sew (and realistically: what you can manage). Only buy fabric and materials for that project. Our sewing patterns always include a fabric chart to help you buy the right amount of fabric.

Impulse purchases: When buying online, it can help to leave a fabric in your shopping cart for two days. Even at a fabric market or in a store, you can first look at all the fabrics, then have a coffee or go for a walk, and only decide to buy later. This way, you avoid impulse purchases that you might regret later.

Limit quantity: Let's be honest, there is always more beautiful fabric than we can actually use. So only buy the amount you need and not, for example, several meters too much. You will certainly find another great fabric for your next project.

If you already own a large amount of fabric, you can also go shopping in your own fabric stash. "Sewing from stash" - meaning using up your already purchased fabric - can be a great, sustainable goal.

Which fabrics are sustainable?

There are a variety of sustainable organic fabrics and fabrics that are produced environmentally friendly and are often biodegradable. Here are some examples:

Organic cotton is grown without artificial pesticides or fertilizers and requires less water than conventional cotton. Cotton is biodegradable.
Hemp is a sustainable fabric, as it requires little water and is biodegradable.
Linen is made from flax, requires hardly any pesticides, and is durable.
Wool is a natural product and decomposes naturally without leaving microplastics. When buying, pay attention to animal welfare (e.g., organic quality).
Lyocell (Tencel™): An environmentally friendly alternative to viscose, as it is produced using a closed-loop process.
Recycled fabrics: Materials like recycled cotton/wool help reduce waste.

Pure cotton, hemp, linen, and wool last for many years with good care and can be recycled.

Synthetic fabrics are often considered environmentally unfriendly: most synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, or acrylic are made from petroleum. Toxic chemicals and high temperatures are used. This causes greenhouse gas emissions and destroys the environment.

When washing synthetic clothing, tiny plastic fibers (microplastics) are released, which enter rivers and seas via wastewater. Synthetic fabrics are not biodegradable and often remain in the environment for decades. In landfills or in nature, they decompose very slowly – if at all.

Detailed information on the sustainability of individual fabrics can be found in our blog post "Which fabric is the most environmentally friendly?".

Fabric quality: how to recognize good fabric?

Do you know this too? After the first wash, the side seam of your shirt twists – annoying! With self-sewn clothing, this doesn't happen if you use high-quality fabrics. But how do you recognize good quality?

Pay attention to a uniform structure and a cleanly printed pattern. For example, you can check along the selvage to see if the pattern is distorted.

Test the fabric on sensitive skin areas, and do not buy scratchy fabric.

Smell: if the fabric smells chemical, it could have been treated with undesirable additives.

Material composition: Natural fibers are generally of higher quality than synthetic fabrics.

Quality seals like the GOTS seal can help when shopping.

With high-quality fabrics, your sewing project will not only be more beautiful but also more durable.

If you want to read more about fabric quality, check out our blog post on fabric quality.

Overproduction/ Deadstock fabric

Deadstock fabric refers to unused or surplus fabrics from overproduction, cancelled orders, or production errors. Instead of being disposed of, they can be reused, which saves resources and reduces textile waste.

BUT: not all deadstock fabrics are sustainable and/or biodegradable.

More detailed information can be found in our blog on Deadstock Fabric/Overproduction.

Seals - a shopping aid

Buying sustainable fabrics can take a lot of time and effort. Seals can help make sustainable decisions.

The GOTS seal is one of the strictest seals worldwide. Fabrics with the GOTS seal must consist of at least 70% organically produced natural fibers. Ecological standards include that the use of harmful chemicals is strictly regulated to minimize environmental impact. Social standards guarantee fair working conditions, including minimum wages, prohibition of child labor, and protection of workers.

The OEKO-TEX Made in Green seal focuses on chemical freedom and transparency for customers. This certificate checks for the presence of approximately 1,000 harmful substances. Social standards must be met through fair wages, regular working hours, and safety at the workplace. Transparency: traceability and transparent supply chains.

The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 seal does not verify ecological sustainability but merely guarantees that the fabric is free of harmful substances. Environmental and labor protection in fabric production play no role. It is expressly NOT a certificate for organic fabrics!

Fairtrade Certified Cotton is a seal for fairly traded cotton. It ensures that cotton farmers receive fair prices and can work under better social and environmental conditions.

More details can be found in our blog.

Conclusion: buying sustainable fabrics

Sewing your own clothes is a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. A conscious fabric choice plays a decisive role in this.

The quality of the fabrics plays a major role in how long your sewn garments last. Sustainable materials such as organic cotton, hemp, linen, and recycled fabrics are environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Surplus fabrics from the industry (Deadstock / overproduction) can be reused to reduce textile waste.

When it comes to fabric quantity, we can shop more consciously – excessive fabric purchases can be avoided by buying project-based and reducing impulse purchases.

Certificates such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX Made in Green, and Fairtrade help identify sustainable fabrics.

Every small change in fabric purchasing contributes to more sustainability!