Writing a New Story With Upcycling: What Is Deadstock Fabric?

   Almost everyone has clothes that are tucked in the back of their closets or the bottom of drawers, no longer fit, outdated, or even never worn. These clothes, which are discarded after a certain period of time, easily find a place for themselves in the 92 million tons of textile waste generated every year, even if they cannot be found in our lives. The fast-fashion system continues to use non-renewable high-volume resources, including petroleum, to produce garments that will only be used for a short period. As trends change rapidly, every piece that is produced without considering its environmental and social impact and is discarded after a short time is tried to be destroyed by either burying in the ground or burning. In addition to having major social impacts on a global scale, this system puts pressure on valuable resources such as water, pollutes the environment and disrupts ecosystems.

   One of the types of waste in textile is fibre and fabric wastes that emerge during the production phase. The fabrics that the textile manufacturing factories sacrifice for various reasons during their production or that remain unused in their warehouses for many years are called ‘’deadstock fabrics’’. Different factors, such as ordering more fabric than needed, colour errors or having a few minor flaws can cause deadstock fabrics to be evaluated as waste. Therefore, deadstock fabric can be defined as waste that is not planned to be reused for now or future, regardless of the reason. By using these fabrics, we conserve the resources that were once needed to produce these fabrics which would be wasted if the fabrics were forcibly destroyed before they reach the end of their ‘’life’’, and we do not waste the resources that would have to be used to produce new materials.

   We refuse to see these fabrics, which are produced with the precious resources of nature and unfortunately undervalued, as waste, and we turn these recyclable materials made of completely natural fibres into timeless and versatile garments for long-term use. Our preference to use deadstock fabric makes it necessary to work with new fabrics for our collections every season. We believe that this system is the most accurate system for both our environment and for the cycle to continue in a healthy way. Deadstock fabric gives us the power to create sustainable original designs in the face of the destruction of fast fashion. In other words, the choice of deadstock fabrics brings with its uniqueness. These materials, which do not have a repetitive production by nature, join the cycle as the only example of their kind if they are eliminated from minor flaws and used within the framework of the idea of ​​upcycling.

   Giving a second chance to the deadstock fabrics also allows us to lower our carbon footprint. The production of fabric, from the dyeing process to weaving, from weaving to sewing, requires a lot of energy, consumes resources and creates waste. The use of ‘’waste’’ fabrics eliminates the environmental impact of reproducing these fabrics in factories. The measures taken against the climate crisis and the transformation movement in the industry are not a fashion trend, but a big problem that we are exposed to every day. Circular fashion offers a great opportunity to protect our planet and all living things. With the sustainable and slow fashion values ​​we believe in, we give a second chance to the deadstock fabrics through upcycling, and we try to prevent these fabrics from going to the landfills, which is increasing day by day. With the belief that we are an absolute part of the planet we live on, we continue to produce with the awareness that we have to take responsibility. Because we know that even the smallest step to be taken in the fashion industry will accumulate and pave the way for a great sustainable awareness.