Sustainable fabrics for SS22? If that means anything to you, I know you’re preeeety busy right now sourcing ethical fabrics for your slow fashion collections. If it’s simply yet another meaningless code – I get it!

When we flesh it out a little as Spring/Summer 2022, I’m hoping we’re all on the same page and can smile as we embrace the drop in temperature – in the north at least, because the sunshine of SS22 is ahead!

Many designers are well into planning their collections with ethical fabrics for SS22, and a number are using our beautiful handwovens. This stunning blue fabric is one such winner. In Bangladesh traditional sari weavers create deep bordered soft cottons with intricate motifs. And 100% Fair Trade of course.

The first in-person Fashion & Eco-Fashion Weeks since the pandemic are ON, and filled with encouraging responses to the intense criticism the fashion industry continues to face, especially over this last year.

For copyright reasons I can’t post pics here, but check out from London Fashion Week:

• Alexander McQueen’s liberal use of natural indigo dyes.
• Edeline Lee, who said, “It felt wrong to order new fabric so I decided to use up all the leftover fabrics in the studio – we ended up with 53 colours in the collection.”
• Isabelle Mann, already known for her reversible outfits is now also committing to zero waste, made in England, sustainable fabrics and seasonless clothes – as are many other designers.

Which is great news for all of us in the ethical, artisanal fabrics sector!

Sustainable Fabrics are 2 in 1

Fair trade fabrics, handwoven with eco-friendly fibres, are by far the most credible of all materials for ethical home & fashion brands. I know that’s a bold statement but apart from the very evident facts that landfill is reduced, production uses zero carbon and makers are respected, there’s the versatility!

Look carefully at the image here and you’ll see how both the stripe and check are woven on the same base warp of indigo ikat (tied & dyed) stripe. On 150 yards of warp, here’s how:

• STRIPE
  The warp on the loom has ikat stripes spaced 1/2″ apart.
  The weft of plain, natural dye indigo cotton is handwoven across the warp for 75 yards.
• CHECK
  The weaver stops weaving just indigo. Now they change the shuttle every half inch to weave just 2 threads of the ikat yarn across the fabric. As it crosses over the ikat stripe the mysterious disappearing check is created. After another 1/2″ of plain indigo the change is made again for just 2 threads. And so it continues for the remaining 75 yards.Yeah! 2 coordinating fabrics from a single warp and skilled weaver!Hopefully you can see why our checks are sometimes a little more costly than the stripes – it requires a LOT of concentration, time and expertise to keep the counting accurate.

  Design your own sustainable fabrics!

  So, if you’re into your SS22 planning phase let’s chat! With decades of experience designing artisanal fabrics I’m here for you. And a great team of professional hand weavers in Bangladesh are ready to show off their skills!

Do you have our 5 STEPS to Design & Produce Your Sustainable Handwoven Fabric ?  If not, join our list here and access your key to world of ethical fabric wonders!

Together, for the good of us all and our planet, we’re making fair trade, handmade fabrics go mainstream. Will you join us this SS22?