Recently, there has been a growing conversation in the fashion world about deadstock fabric and its role in the future of circular fashion.

But what exactly is deadstock fabric, and why does it matter? Deadstock refers to leftover fabric that often ends up in landfills or is incinerated, contributing to the fashion industry’s waste problem.

Circular fashion offers a sustainable solution by encouraging the creation of clothing that prioritizes longevity, recycling, and reduced waste.

By embracing circular fashion, designers and brands can reduce the environmental impact of their creations, ensuring that garments are made with the future in mind.

Deadstock fabric plays a crucial role in this movement. Instead of contributing to waste, deadstock fabric can be repurposed, upcycled, and incorporated into new designs, making it a key element of circular fashion.

As the fashion industry continues to evolve, deadstock fabric represents a sustainable, eco-friendly option for reducing pollution and waste.

Here are 5 reasons why deadstock fabric is the future of circular fashion and how it can help reshape the industry for a more sustainable future.

But, before we get started….

Did you know the term “circular fashion” was coined by Anna Brismar, owner of Green Strategy, a global consultancy.

Brismar thought the term best describes a circular textile system that addresses how innovating textile design can eliminate waste and pollution. Circular fashion values the 4 Rs.

Reduce, Rewear, and Repurpose 

While fast fashion has adopted a linear model of ‘take, make, waste’ that designs products to be disposed of after a few uses, circular fashion has paved a new way.

Well maybe not new…. In the 1800s, clothing was made in homes or from local dressmakers.

The clothing took a lot longer to make because the materials had to be sourced, fabric cut, and sewn to proper measurements. 

Even just a few decades ago, upcycling was a popular way to use old textiles. In the past 20 years we’ve seen a major rise in fast fashion.

Today, clothing manufacturers produce 10 times more textile waste each year than in 1960. The average American throws away 82 pounds of clothing every year.

The United States alone produces an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste annually. 

Circular fashion designs waste and pollution out of the equation so that materials are used for as long as possible.

Here’s 5 reasons why deadstock fabric is the future of circular fashion.

1. Less textile waste

Unused fabric from mills and factories is a sustainable alternative to producing more textiles. This fabric, also known as deadstock, can be salvaged and upcycled into new designs.

This keeps textiles out of the landfills for longer.

Globally, 100 billion garments are produced each year. 92 million tonnes of textile waste end up in landfills yearly. It takes 2,700 liters of water to produce one cotton t-shirt.

Deadstock is an opportunity for the fashion world. According to Queen of Raw, a global marketplace for deadstock, one yard of deadstock fabric saves 700 gallons of water. 

2. Reduces carbon emissions

Currently, there is over $120 billion worth of excess textiles sitting in warehouses worldwide, with much of it at risk of being sent to landfills or incinerated.

This staggering amount of waste highlights a critical issue in the fashion industry, which is responsible for a significant 10% of the world's carbon emissions.

The rise of fast fashion has made this problem even worse, contributing to massive environmental damage.

Fast fashion is not only incredibly wasteful of resources but also has a long-lasting negative impact on the planet. Most of the clothing produced today takes hundreds of years to decompose, further adding to the growing waste crisis.

This is where circular fashion comes into play. By embracing circular fashion, the industry can shift from its linear "take, make, dispose" model to a more sustainable, closed-loop system.

Circular fashion encourages the reuse, recycling, and upcycling of materials, significantly reducing waste and helping mitigate the environmental damage caused by fast fashion. It's time for the fashion industry to prioritize circular fashion and move toward a more sustainable future.

Deadstock is a more sustainable option for fashion retailers because it increases the life cycle of textiles and reduces carbon footprint.

Since deadstock is fabric that’s already been made, there’s a significant decrease in carbon emissions when producing garments from deadstock fabric. 

3. It’s cheaper!

Deadstock is an especially great option if you’re a small business looking to make it in the fashion world! Deadstock is significantly cheaper than new fabric. It reduces production time and volume of resources needed to make the clothing.

In other words, you can save a ton of money without the extra tonnes… (Pun intended!). Deadstock fabric is a cost-effective way to make your business more sustainable!

4. It’s trending

Historically, there has been no way to know where one can find and buy deadstock. But we have great news, deadstock fabric is trending!

There are many companies out there that are sourcing deadstock and selling it online.

Nona Source, a luxury fabric resale platform, has brought deadstock fabric to the world of high fashion. Nona Source gets their deadstock from the most exclusive French Maisons de Couture.

The company sells its deadstock up to 70% off wholesale prices. Along with Nona Source, other companies like Queen of Raw, Fabcycle, Reformation, Christy Dawn, and OhSevenDays are all paving the way for a more circular fashion world with deadstock fabric as the star. 

5. It’s time for us to consume differently 

The fast fashion industry has long prioritized speed and low-cost production, churning out thousands of garments each month to meet the ever-growing demand. However, this model comes with significant environmental costs, as fast fashion clothing is designed for short-term use, often relying on cheap synthetic fabrics that wear out after just a few washes.

As fast fashion brands race to create new styles at an increasingly rapid pace, it's crucial for consumers to rethink their approach to consumption.

The styles we buy today are often not meant to last, and the impact on the planet is undeniable. This is where the concept of circular fashion comes in.

Circular fashion offers a sustainable alternative by promoting the reuse, recycling, and longevity of garments.

By shifting away from the wasteful "take, make, dispose" model, circular fashion encourages brands to design products that can be recycled, repaired, or repurposed, reducing waste and environmental harm. But the shift to circular fashion can only happen if we, as consumers, demand it.

For the circular fashion industry to thrive, brands need to rethink their business models and move away from linear production processes.

The future of fashion lies in creating a circular system, and that change starts with us—the consumers who have the power to drive this shift toward a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry.

✍️ Written by Nimra Karamat