How to Buy Fabric in 2025: A New Vision for a Changing Fashion Landscape
Jun 30, 2025
3
min reading
Fashion has always been tactile. Feeling the weight of a twill, seeing the sheen of a satin in daylight, holding a swatch up to sketches…That physical interaction is undeniably, part of fashion creation.
That’s why, even today, for many brands, sourcing fabrics still means visiting trade shows, traveling to mills, or turning to trusted local fabric stores. And there’s a reason for that. Trade shows are often where creative sparks fly, mill visits build the kind of trust that can’t be replicated online, and those nearby shops may represent familiarity, culture, and relationships that hold real value.
In other words, these aren’t options that need to be discarded or seen as outdated. But it also doesn’t mean they are irreplaceable, or impossible to combine with new methods.
The key point is: the market flow is changing, and new moments and realities demand new systems, new ways—better ways.
Relying solely on what’s available at the local textile store or the seasonal trade shows can limit both creative potential and operational scalability, especially in a time where apparel sourcing diversification is becoming more crucial then ever.
This doesn’t mean leaving the tactile side of sourcing experience behind. It means building on it, with tools that reflect the realities of today’s fashion economy.
It means shifting the mindset around online fabric sourcing - from a perceived shortcut or last resort to a vital part of a new, more resilient system. And for that to happen, digital options today need to be reframed and supported by a stronger, more integrated sourcing infrastructure.
But the good news? It’s already being built.
Keep reading to understand why fashion, as an industry, need a new vision for sourcing one that’s more inclusive, more connected, and more strategic—and how that vision is already taking shape.
The Case for Modern Fabric Sourcing: What In-Person Buying Can’t Solve
The entire fashion industry – we can have say, the entire world – collectively faced a moment where sourcing materials in person wasn’t a possibility anymore.
COVID-19 supply chain disruptions made physical sourcing almost impossible for a while. With that, a new sourcing necessity emerged: online.
And ever since, digital sourcing adoption among brands has risen, and it continues to prove strong recently.
A late-2024 survey of 1,000 U.S. small-business procurement executives indicates that 59% reported online B2B marketplaces are more important to their sourcing strategy than a year prior.
In early 2025, 44% of U.S. SMEs planned to find new suppliers, reflecting a strong interest in digital procurement channels over traditional intermediaries.
However, sourcing fabrics hasn’t – until this point – gone fully online.
Many industry players still prefer the in-person experience of buying, and many businesses or designers still only source a fraction of their materials online.
In other words, they prefer to rely on in-person channels and a longer time-consuming process for most of its sourcing needs.
That reliance became even more visible recently when, earlier this year, Joann Fabric Store (a specialty retail chain that focused on fabrics, arts and crafts supplies) announced it was closing all it’s stores.
This news sparked widespread concern across media outlets, social media platforms, and within the industry, as people voiced their anxieties about the implications for the market.
Articles were released with alternatives for fabric stores, and people began discussing where to source fabrics after Joann closed. In addition, many fashion players, like designers, started creating videos about what this closing means and the future possibilities that lie ahead.
Timothy Totten, a business owner and material designer, was one of the fashion designers who created content on the matter. In his YouTube video, he says he believes Joann is moving toward a new journey—a journey of selling fabrics online. After stating this belief, he goes on to express his disappointment:
A lot of creativity, crafting, and sewing for me has always been about going to a store and seeing what’s around, what’s new, what’s going on. And you just don’t get that experience by browsing on the internet.
This proves that the fashion community still values the physical presence experience highlighted earlier. It also reflects the many challenges that online textile platforms and marketplaces still present when it comes to sourcing fabrics digitally.
Trust and quality assurance: While marketplaces provide photos, descriptions, and even 3D draping simulations, there is still a leap of faith when ordering fabric sight-unseen. Many platforms mitigate this by offering sample swatches and easy returns, but these extra steps can demand more patience and trust from brands.
Price and cost transparency: Cost is a critical concern for small brands, with some perceiving online marketplaces as having higher prices or less room for negotiation compared to traditional sourcing. Additionally, not all platforms display prices openly; some require logins or RFQs (Request for Quote), which adds friction and uncertainty.
Logistics reliability: Factors like tracking, return handling, and delivery schedules also play a major role. Unlike the immediate tactile experience at a trade fair, where people can physically carry samples home, online orders introduce uncertainty until the package actually arrives.
Technology and onboarding: SMEs often have limited time and may find certain online sourcing platforms less intuitive or convenient than consumer-facing e-commerce platforms. Uploading tech packs, managing communications through a platform interface, or navigating complex material databases can overwhelm users and discourage adoption.
These hurdles are real, and not to be dismissed. However, they can also be viewed from another perspective. In the context of physical sourcing dependence, SME brands often face similar or other challenges:
Travel Costs and Time Commitment: Sourcing fabric and materials in person means committing to travel, whether it’s attending trade shows or visiting multiple suppliers across cities or countries. This adds significant cost in terms of both money and time, which can be a substantial burden for smaller brands.
Limited Supplier Access: Depending solely on physical sourcing means that brands are limited by geography. While some fabric suppliers may be accessible within certain regions, global sourcing opportunities might be missed unless the brand travels to multiple destinations, which isn't always feasible.
Inconsistent Product Availability: When depending exclusively on physical sourcing, product availability can be hit or miss. A desired fabric might be out of stock during a visit, or the vendor might not have the right material or color on hand, leaving brands to either settle for substitutes or search elsewhere. While online sourcing isn't immune to stock issues, it tends to offer more consistent access to a wider variety of options, reducing the likelihood of delays or compromises.
Information Gaps: In-person sourcing often comes with a lack of detailed data on materials. Without digital catalogs or transparent information, brands may struggle to verify quality, material composition, and sustainability details. This can lead to rushed decisions or costly mistakes when they return to their home base.
Ultimately, both online and physical sourcing come with their own unique challenges. But what if online sourcing underwent a transformation, offering a fresh, innovative approach that stands apart from what the industry is accustomed to? Keep reading to find out how.
The Future of Online Fabric Sourcing: A Complete Solution, Not Just Middlemen
The industry needed a platform that could do what trade shows and traditional fabric shops never could: cut costs, compress lead times, and break down the walls between brand and supplier. Not just another online directory, but a connected, verified, aggregator of sourcing intelligence — built to help brands navigate a changing landscape with clarity and speed.
This isn’t about replacing physical sourcing. It’s about making it smarter, more seamless, and more resilient — a system that empowers brands to source directly, bypassing unnecessary intermediaries, and reducing the barriers that have historically slowed progress.
In the next section, we’ll break down what that system looks like — and why it’s the future of sustainable, scalable sourcing.
Global Variety and Unique Fabrics
The new way of sourcing fabrics online involves unparalleled variety and access to global textiles. Designers are no longer limited to what's available at the local fabric store or an annual trade fair - and also not to the usual, limited range found at standard online fabric stores.
Instead, global diversity of materials is just a click away, connecting buyers with renowned mills and artisans from every corner of the world, offering fabrics that wouldn’t be easily encountered otherwise.
This breadth of choice fuels creativity and innovation, giving brands a sense of uniqueness and authenticity, all while ensuring greater traceability and trust.
Endless Options, Curated Smartly
Regular online fabric stores often bring an overwhelming amounts of not-curated options, with questions around sustainability, certifications, and quality lingering with every click.
For designers and small brands, that doesn’t just make sourcing harder and less qualified, but it also eats up precious time. It’s a challenge we heard time and again in our conversations with emerging labels. As one fashion brand founder told the World Collective team during a research on supply chain management:
“I literally spent a year looking for the right supplier with the right fabric.”
A year spent scrolling, emailing, waiting and still not finding what she needed. Because fabric choices made during the early stages of building a brand play a deep role in shaping both the supply chain and the reputation that follows.
Modern online sourcing solutions address this by offering smart search and curation to help buyers find the perfect match - filtering by fiber, color, weight, price, certification, and more, plus curated collections based on trends or use cases. This means designers get both quantity and quality in their options.
Resilience Through Supplier Diversity
In today’s volatile landscape—marked by trade disruptions, new ESG regulations, and heightened compliance demands—sourcing from multiple regions reduces risk. The new way of sourcing online helps mitigate these risks by connecting the buyer to vetted suppliers across the globe.
Think about it: not putting all the eggs in one regional basket is simply smart business. A diversified online network “de-risks your sourcing by offering suppliers across Asia, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and more... helping you build a more resilient supply chain with just a few clicks.”
Moreover, it provides everything that SMEs need:
Low Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs)
Budget-Friendly and Scalable Solutions
Concierge Support and Guidance
Vetted Suppliers and Certified Materials
Why The New Way is More Than Just An Online Fabric Store or Supplier Directory
The real shift comes from the full integration of a system that supports the entire supply chain, not just a simple product catalog.
Traditional online fabric stores and supplier directories leaves brands stuck with basic transactions. This new system offers end-to-end support, from material discovery to procurement to logistics, and more.
In one part, buyers get what online sourcing typically promises: discovering materials, requesting samples, placing orders, tracking deliveries, managing payments, and accessing documentation.
But that’s only the beginning. A new sourcing system goes further:
It means working with vetted suppliers whose materials meet real standards of quality, performance, and impact.
There’s a team of experts stands behind the platform, supporting every material and supplier added, and ensuring each one is qualified, vetted, and aligned with responsible sourcing standards.
The search is designed to help brands discover unique textiles, from certified circular blends to heritage materials and emerging innovations.
Brands will not just buy products, they will build connections. The new way of sourcing fashion materials facilitates direct engagement between buyers and suppliers, opening up long-term collaboration.
Offers the tools to manage traceability, compliance, and impact reporting in one workflow.
It’s a system designed for discovery and depth and a space where connection is part of the infrastructure.
This is what is called a sourcing ecosystem. And it's quickly becoming the future of fashion sourcing. Keep reading to learn more.
Why Ecosystems Are the Key to the Future of Fashion Sourcing
We’ve talked a lot about the new way of sourcing fabrics online. But beyond that, what does the industry really need to connect, to overlap, to meet the challenges of the modern market? It needs something that integrates sourcing into a much larger framework. It needs ecosystems.
Ecosystems – these interconnected hubs of resources, networks, and expertise – are revolutionizing the way fashion brands source materials, collaborate with suppliers, and drive innovation. They’re about creating an integrated system that supports every facet of the fashion supply chain. In an industry that’s constantly evolving, ecosystems provide a broad approach to sourcing that brings efficiency, transparency, and collaboration to the forefront.
With material sourcing ecosystems, fashion brands can not only source materials but also foster partnerships, collaborate on innovations, and stay ahead of market trends – all within a single, unified platform.
Illuminating the Hidden Tiers: How Ecosystems Unlock Tier 3 & 4 Traceability
For fashion brands navigating the complexities of global supply chains, the biggest blind spots often live in Tiers 3 and 4. It is where raw materials are harvested, processed, or transformed long before they reach Tier 1 production partners.
This is where sourcing ecosystems become game-changers. By integrating fundamental elements like Digital Product Passports (DPPs), lifecycle tracking, and built-in regulatory intelligence, they help businesses map the full supply web, so they can keep track of their value chain.
With this shared infrastructure, rather than chasing fragmented data across silos, brands can:
Surface Tier 3 & 4 partners through verified networks
Embed traceability into every stage of the product journey
Prepare products for evolving ESG regulations and compliance frameworks
Enable impact storytelling backed by real data, not assumptions
From fiber origin to finished product, ecosystems help fashion players go beyond visibility — offering control, credibility, and competitive edge in an industry that’s demanding more from its supply chains.
Collaboration Over Transactions: Suppliers as Partners
One of the greatest strengths of an ecosystem is its ability to connect buyers and suppliers in a more collaborative, human-centered way. In traditional sourcing models, suppliers are often seen as distant, faceless entities – just another step in the supply chain. But in an ecosystem, suppliers are not just listings. They’re partners.
As experts in the field and as World Collective’s CEO Jeanine Ballone emphasizes:
Textile suppliers can no longer afford to remain invisible or rely on outdated sourcing systems. Within ecosystems, they no longer need agents, intermediaries, or trade show booths to gain access—because a true ecosystem is built to support every level of engagement, from simple discovery to full-service partnerships.
This new way of sourcing bring suppliers to the table, allowing them to share their values, tell their stories, and engage in meaningful dialogues with buyers. This connection turns sourcing into something much richer than a transactional process.
It’s about building relationships, sharing knowledge, and fostering long-term collaborations that go beyond the exchange of goods. In a world that increasingly values transparency and ethics, suppliers within an ecosystem are positioned as trusted partners who bring values, craftsmanship, and expertise.
Empowering the Community: Knowledge Sharing and Growth
Ecosystems are also about creating a community. They offer a space for designers, suppliers, and other industry professionals to share insights, ideas, and resources.
Whether it’s through trend reports, expert webinars, or forums for collaboration, ecosystems support ongoing learning and growth.
For smaller brands or independent designers, fashion material sourcing ecosystems provide access to resources that would otherwise be out of reach.
They create an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of size, can connect, share ideas, and grow together. In this community-driven space, knowledge is valued and seen as a tool for innovation and progress.
Data-Driven Insights: Shaping Smarter Decisions
One of the most exciting aspects of an ecosystem is its ability to provide data-driven insights. By analyzing trends, buyer behavior, and material popularity, it offers valuable analytics that can guide sourcing decisions.
This data not only helps suppliers understand what products are in demand but also allows brands to make smarter, more informed choices about the materials they use and the designs they create.
Future-Proofing the Supply Chain: Evolving with the Industry
Ecosystems are built to evolve alongside the industry. They’re not static solutions; they’re dynamic, adaptable systems that grow and change with market needs.
From adapting to sustainability regulations to integrating new technologies like AI and blockchain, ecosystems are designed for strategic access, global visibility and built for the future of trade.
This constant evolution ensures that the ecosystem stays ahead of the curve, offering new features and solutions that align with the ever-changing fashion landscape.
As the industry continues to innovate, the ecosystem will continue to adapt, ensuring that brands have the tools and partnerships they need to stay competitive.
World Collective: The Ecosystem That’s Already Here
The ecosystem we’ve just described isn’t some futuristic vision – it’s already here, and it’s called World Collective. WC’s team is building toward an integrated, collaborative supply chain every day, starting with it’s already consolidated new sourcing platform: the World Collective Marketplace.
The Marketplace goes beyond sourcing materials, weaving in connections, fostering partnerships, and driving innovation.
With our integrated platform, fashion businesses can discover materials, engage with suppliers, make informed sourcing decisions, and collaborate with like-minded brands – all in one place.
Beyond the Marketplace, World Collective has created a connected solution that brings together all the pieces of the fashion supply chain into one cohesive ecosystem - here’s a glimpse of what it is growing to include:
→ Stakeholder-Driven Development
Solutions are developed through direct engagement with brands and suppliers—using interviews, focus groups, and prototype testing to address real-world sourcing needs.
→ Innovation Lab
A dedicated space focused on advancing next-generation material development and continuously integrating new technologies for future-ready sourcing.
→ Circularity Programs
Partner-led initiatives that combine technology, traceability, and actionable recyclability strategies to enable circular business models.
→ Resources Hub
A curated library of 50+ partners, tools, and services—designed to support brands at every stage of their sourcing and growth journey.
→ DPP Compliance Pilot
A collaborative program working with selected suppliers to prepare for the EU’s 2026 Digital Product Passport and traceability regulations.
This isn’t a solution to be invented; it’s a solution that’s already here. And we are continuing to build and evolve it every day. By joining World Collective, you’re stepping into an Ecosystem designed for the future of fashion sourcing – and one that’s already equipped to meet the challenges of today.
Click here to explore our Marketplace (powered by Tengiva) and what we are building towards the one and only ecosystem fashion will see.
To learn more about the future of digital material sourcing and how a connected fashion ecosystem can reshape the industry, we recommend the following reads:
Digital Textile Sourcing: The Infrastructure Fashion Actually Needs
Smarter Supply Chains Start Here: Inside World Collective’s Ecosystem
And to stay updated with our ecosystem’s launches, follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
