Deadstock fabric refers to excess or unused fabric that was originally intended for production but never used. Fabric mills and clothing companies are left with vast amounts of fabric scraps that they no longer use. Deadstock fabric is often discarded or incinerated.
There are many reasons why overproduction occurs: Fabric factories offer large discounts the more fabric is ordered (volume discounts). Or they only produce above a certain quantity. Thus, it can make economic sense for companies to order more fabric than they need. Deadstock fabric can also be canceled orders (e.g., collection/design changes), test production, or production errors. A production error can be even a minimal color deviation from the planned shade in a solid-colored fabric.
Environmentally conscious companies try to avoid surpluses and, where possible, reuse surplus production rather than burning it.
Especially with luxury and upscale brands, you can find special materials that are hard to find in regular fabric stores. These include cashmere fabrics for coats, wool jersey, or the finest silk fabrics for blouses and dresses. You can also find special patterns and prints : if you've always wanted to have an expensive designer dress in your closet, you'll find it at Deadstock Fabric.
It's important to note that the fabrics are not reproduced . Once sold, they're sold and cannot be reordered. Therefore, the required fabric should be carefully calculated before purchasing.
Furthermore, there may be quantity restrictions when purchasing online. For example, some vendors only sell deadstock fabrics in quantities of several meters or whole rolls. In fabric stores, however, deadstock fabrics can be purchased in precut pieces.
Deadstock fabrics can be a sustainable alternative to newly produced fabrics, as they reduce textile waste and conserve resources. However, it's important to look for biodegradable materials and, if possible, purchase certified fabrics (GOTS, etc.).
