The best way to buy fabric ethically is to purchase fabric that is already in existence and does not use new resources to create and sell. Just like you would buy used clothes to avoid supporting the fast fashion industry, you can find places that sell previously owned fabric.

There are generally two types of “used” fabric you’ll be able to find (I use quotation marks because it technically hasn’t been used if it hasn’t been sewn into anything yet).

  • Destash fabric: This is what you instinctively think of as second hand fabric. It is unwanted fabric from people who no longer intend to use it or from fabric shops that are going out of business. For example, my grandma had a whole wall full of unused fabric in her basement. There is no way I could make space for all of it, so some of it got donated and sold to second-hand shops.
  • Deadstock fabric: This is excess fabric that is a byproduct of the fashion industry. In most cases, it cannot be used or sold because of some minor damage or because it’s leftover fabric from apparel companies. This can also include smaller scraps of fabric that are leftover from cutting out patterns. (learn more about deadstock fabric)

Many second-hand fabric shops also stock eco-friendly and certified organic fabrics as well to help them have some consistency in their wares. This will be included in the description of the individual fabric or line of fabrics.

StoreLocationNotes (deadstock, destash, sustainable fabrics)
A Thrifty NotionUSADeadstock, destash, sustainable fabrics
FabScrapUSAMostly deadstock fabric, some destash as well
Swanson FabricUSADestash fabric
FabCycleCanadaDeadstock
Our Social FabricCanadaMostly deadstock, some destash
Queen of RawUSADeadstock
Revival FabricsUSAVintage destash 
The Fabric StoreNew ZealandDeadstock, sustainable fabrics
Core FabricsCanadaSustainable fabrics, deadstock
Fabric MartUSADeadstock
NONAParis, France, LondonDeadstock
Merchant and MillsUKDeadstock, sustainable fabrics
The Remnant WarehouseAustraliaDeadstock