Every Fabric Has a Past
When I’m digging through bolts of pre-loved fabric, I’m not just shopping, I’m listening. These textiles often come with a quiet history: a discontinued mill run, a designer’s surplus, or fabric rescued from being discarded altogether. There’s something deeply inspiring about giving these materials a second life. Unlike newly manufactured fabrics, pre-loved textiles already exist in the world. They’ve used their resources. Choosing them means I can focus on transformation rather than extraction, turning what might have been waste into something wearable, useful, and loved again.
Why I Don’t Source the “Easy” Way
It would be simpler to order fabric by the bolt from a catalogue. Same colors, same yardage, same restocks. But that kind of sourcing doesn’t align with how I want to create. Pre-loved and deadstock fabrics invite creativity. Limited yardage means I design thoughtfully. It means garments are often one of a kind or produced in very small runs. It means I can’t rush. Each piece asks for problem-solving, adaptability, and care, and that’s where the magic happens.
Sustainability Without Perfection
I want to be honest: working with pre-loved fabrics isn’t about being perfectly sustainable. Perfection doesn’t exist in fashion. Instead, this is about better choices. By sourcing what already exists, I’m reducing demand for new textile production, keeping usable materials out of landfills, and supporting a slower, more mindful approach to clothing. It’s one small part of a much bigger picture, but it’s a part I can stand behind.
How This Impacts the Garments You See
This sourcing method directly shapes the pieces I make:
- Limited quantities – once a fabric is gone, it’s usually gone for good
- Unique color stories and textures you won’t find in mass-produced clothing
- Thoughtful design details that work with the fabric, not against it
It also means that when you wear one of my pieces, you’re wearing something truly special - something that can’t be easily replicated.
Slow Fashion Is Personal
Choosing pre-loved fabrics is as much an emotional decision as it is a practical one. I love the idea that a textile can move through multiple lives, each time becoming part of someone’s story. My hope is that the garments I make become keepers - pieces you reach for again and again, repair when needed, and maybe even pass on someday. That’s the heart of slow fashion to me: care, connection, and longevity.
Thank you for being here for Slow Stitch Sunday, and for supporting a way of making that values intention over speed. I'll be taking a little break for the holidays, so I'll see you 2 Sundays from now to learn about designing for longevity. 💛
Until Sunday in the New Year,
