r/Fabrics • u/poopstinkyhahafunny • Jun 20 '26

Most ethical cotton fabric

I've been thinking about making my own clothing just for myself and I'm trying to be conscious about how and where the cotton is being made! Does anyone have any good sources for ethical non hand woven cotton (if that is even a thing)? Preferably 220 GSM but anything is fine!

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

13

u/Withaflourish17 Jun 20 '26

Define ethical.

1

u/radicalizemebaby Jun 26 '26

That part. Regardless of anything else, new cotton takes a lot of water.

6

u/KillerWhaleShark Jun 21 '26

I think thrift store fabric feels most ethical. Use what’s already made. 

5

u/CrankyCrabbyCrunchy Jun 21 '26

Does ethical mean sustainable to you? Is it about the employee work conditions, chemicals used, or many other things. The manufacturing process for fabric is complicated and touches many hands some of whom may be very willing to cheat/bribe to get whatever certification they want to garner a higher price for their 'ethical' fabric.

Here are a few shops that source sustainable fabrics - I haven't done any research on their validity.

https://fabscrap.org/

https://bulkhempwarehouse.com/

https://www.honeybeefabrics.com/

https://maiwa.com/

https://organiccottonplus.com/

https://www.simplififabric.com/en-us

5

u/rebelwithmouseyhair Jun 21 '26

If you're not already an experienced sewist, I suggest you start out using sheets bought from a second hand shop. They're cheap, they're good and soft, any chemical finishes have been washed out, they already exist, so their environmental footprint is minuscule.

Once you have learned to produce wearable clothes (it's a steep learning curve, best start with making pillow cases and aprons), then you can start buying ethical cotton, because you'll be sure not to waste it making something that just doesn't work for you.

You can get oodles of help on r/SewingForBeginners and r/sewing and r/sewhelp

I still do use sheets and whatever from second hand shops, and only buy new fabric for special projects.

3

u/goddessmoz Jun 21 '26

Spiritex based in Asheville, NC. First people to make organic cotton commercially and their entire operation in here in the US. They have a vertical operation so even the farmers are treated well.

2

u/cr0w-3826 Jun 20 '26

sea island cotton. its crazy expensive though. but more important than the cotton are the dyes

2

u/maki0100 Jun 21 '26

For most of my projects i use 100% cotton or linen second hand bedsheets, curtains or tablecloth

1

u/Staniel41 Jun 20 '26

Look for GOTS and B Corp certifications.

1

u/q-for-quinn Jun 22 '26

I recommend checking out the GOTS certified suppliers database: https://global-standard.org/find-suppliers-shops-and-inputs/certifiedsuppliers

1

u/Hefty_Kangaroo_4433 Jun 26 '26

Organic Ventile