What Is Deadstock Material? Is It Sustainable?

Final Up to date on Might 14, 2025

You’ll have seen deadstock material on a clothes tag earlier than. However what precisely does it imply? And is it sustainable? Compared to utilizing virgin supplies, it’s. 

Many of the garments we put on as we speak are made utilizing virgin supplies (actually textile manufacturing depends on 99.7% virgin supplies). Virgin supplies are uncooked supplies which have by no means been used earlier than, both for manufacturing or another objective.  

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It is a downside, contemplating the environmental affect as a result of useful resource extraction, power consumption, and air pollution. Virgin polyester manufacturing alone emits 119.59 kg of CO₂ per 100 kg of material.  

Choosing recycled supplies in our clothes is one resolution to this downside. Deadstock materials is created from recycled materials. Right here’s what you must learn about deadstock materials and which manufacturers use it. 

what does deadstock imply? 

Deadstock refers to leftover or unused material that was initially manufactured for a objective however by no means bought or utilized in manufacturing.

This could possibly be as a result of overproduction, canceled orders, or slight imperfections that forestall it from assembly a model’s customary.

As an alternative of being discarded, deadstock material is repurposed, giving it a second likelihood in trend, upholstery, and different inventive industries. 

Some examples of deadstock supplies embrace: 

• Surplus material: Extra material from textile mills or factories that can’t be used for different orders or collections.
• Cancelled orders: Cloth produced for a particular order that was later canceled by the model.
• Cloth samples: Unused material samples from designers or manufacturers.
• Finish-of-roll remnants: Small items of material left over from bigger rolls.
• Barely imperfect supplies: Materials that don’t meet stringent high quality requirements however are nonetheless usable.
• Designer extra: Unused material from designers or manufacturers that weren’t integrated into their collections 

Listed here are some sorts of clothes that make the most of deadstock supplies: 

• Bathing fits – Some manufacturers repurpose deadstock materials to create distinctive swimwear.  
• Clothes – Many sustainable trend labels craft limited-edition attire from surplus textiles. 
• Jackets & outerwear – Deadstock supplies are sometimes used for one-of-a-kind outwear. 
• Loungewear and activewear – Leggings and sweatpants will be created from repurposed materials. 
• Equipment – Scarves, tote luggage, and hats steadily incorporate deadstock textiles. 

is deadstock material good? 

Deadstock material is nice by way of sustainability as a result of it reduces textile waste. It makes positive material scraps that will’ve ended up in landfill get a second likelihood at life. 

It additionally reduces the demand for brand new textile manufacturing, which saves sources. This helps promote a extra round economic system and innovation by inventive options. 

Nonetheless, it’s price noting that simply because a model makes use of deadstock supplies, doesn’t make them fully sustainable. You must at all times examine an organization’s ethics and practices in-depth to see what different steps they’re taking to assist folks and planet. 

Additionally, deadstock materials will be man-made or natural – so preserve that in thoughts when buying. Pure materials usually have a decrease environmental affect in comparison with artificial materials. However using deadstock materials (be they artificial or pure) robotically cuts down on emissions merely for being recycled content. 

what’s a deadstock piece? 

A deadstock piece refers to any merchandise created utilizing deadstock material. Many manufacturers craft limited-edition clothes, equipment, and furnishings utilizing these supplies, providing customers one thing distinctive whereas contributing to waste discount.

Since deadstock material availability varies, items created from it are typically one-of-a-kind or produced in small batches. 

is deadstock material costly? 

Since deadstock textiles are basically extra, unused materials, they usually aren’t as costly as virgin supplies. Nonetheless, some deadstock supplies could make the most of high-end, uncommon designer materials, which can elevate the price of the completed piece.  

Deadstock items are normally made in small-batch manufacturing, contemplating the designer can solely work with the scraps they purchase. This makes them extra unique, which may additionally bump-up the ultimate price ticket. 

sustainable manufacturers that use deadstock 

Listed here are some eco-friendly clothes manufacturers that use deadstock materials in a few of their clothes. All of those manufacturers attempt to cut back their environmental footprint by utilizing natural supplies, low waste packaging, and/or reaching eco certifications.  

Take note deadstock items are typically small-batch and could also be more durable to seek out, even on these web sites. Looking out ‘deadstock’ on the model’s web site might help you slim your search. 

I’ve gone forward and highlighted a few of my favourite options of every model, but it surely isn’t an exhaustive listing. You should definitely take a look at their web sites for extra info. 

1. reformation

• Girls’s clothes  
• Makes use of deadstock materials, recycled supplies, and eco-friendly manufacturing strategies to attenuate waste 
• Deadstock gadgets: Clothes, tops, skirts, and two-piece units created from surplus textiles 
• 100% recycled paper mailers and compostable luggage for transport 

2. altar

• Handmade, ethically produced attire with a give attention to distinctive designs 
• Makes use of deadstock materials and pure dyes to create sweatshop-free clothes 
• Deadstock gadgets: Clothes, jumpsuits, and informal put on crafted from repurposed textiles 

3. christy dawn

• Girls’s clothes 
• They help regenerative cotton farming, restoring soil well being and selling moral sourcing 
• Deadstock gadgets: Restricted-edition attire, blouses and equipment 
• Each Christy Daybreak piece is made by native artisans in downtown Los Angeles 

4. all the wild roses

• Girls’s clothes based mostly in Australia  
• As much as 90% of their designs are created from recycled materials, together with deadstock
• Deadstock gadgets: Blouses + attire 
• Compostable packaging 
• Small-batch manufacturing, made-to-order 
• Licensed B-corp 

5. mud jeans

• Men and women’s denim 
• Makes use of deadstock denim + recycled cotton to make denims and jackets 
• Deadstock gadgets: Denims, denim jackets, + equipment
• Provides a denim leasing program, the place clients can return outdated denims for recycling
• Licensed B-Corp + Licensed by Cradle to Cradle 

So, would you give deadstock materials a shot? Let me know your ideas within the feedback!