Sustainable clothing refers toeco-friendly fabrics, such as fiber crops or recycled materials. Many fabric stores strive to sell eco-friendly and organic fabrics that are made from natural fibers, vegetable dyes, new hybrid fabric blends and are grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. These fabric stores get their fabrics from manufacturers in countries that practice fair trade. Fair-trade manufacturers pay their workers a livable wage, use adult and not child workers, use processes that do not pollute the environment and obtain their raw materials from organic farmers. Fabric stores that sell sustainable fabrics are becoming more common as the call for organic fabrics increases.

If you are a fashion designer, have a small business, or are an independent designer who makes clothing, household items, and crafts, consider buying organic fabrics from fabric stores. Here are some of the organic fabrics that you can currently buy in many online and local fabric stores: 

Organic Cotton Fabric:  Cotton fabric is in high demand because it is soft and comfortable to wear in clothing. Organic cotton is grown on small farms with natural compost as fertilizer.  It is grown on farms that alternate their cotton crops with other organic vegetation such as green clover and/or rye. Farm workers harvest and weed these crops by hand. Many fabric stores carry a variety of organic cotton fabrics. 

Organic Hemp Fabric:  Hemp has some of the strongest and longest fibers of any textile. Organic hemp grows quickly and has a natural resistance to insects and pests. Once harvested, organic hemp fibers can easily blend with other raw materials such as cotton and silk to make a hybrid fabric. Organic hemp fabric is light and comfortable to wear in many styles of clothing. Look for online fabric stores to find and purchase organic hemp fabric. 

Organic Bamboo Fabric:  Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that has many inherent qualities that make it sustainable. Organic bamboo does not have to be replanted every year as only the leaves and smaller branches are used to make bamboo fabric. When harvested, organic bamboo is pulverized into a woody fiber and spun into yarn. Organic bamboo is naturally antibacterial and hypoallergenic. Fabric stores often carry a range of light to heavy bamboo fabrics for clothing and upholstery. 

Organic Soy Fabrics:  Soy fabric is a durable fabric that is often used for sheets and home textiles. Organic soybeans are cultivated on small farms that use them to make tofu and soybean oil. The fibers that remain after those two products are made can be used to create soy fabric. Soy fibers can also be combined with other raw fibers to make stronger fabric blends. Soy fabrics are soft, drape well, and are often said to be warmer than wool. 

Look for online and brick-and-mortar fabric stores that sell sustainable organic fabrics and source their fabrics from fair-trade manufacturers. These sustainable fabrics (and the environments they establish) are beneficial to the farmers, pickers, mill workers, fabric manufacturers, small businesses, stores, fashion and independent designers, and the customers who use and wear them.