A curated subscription box service for affordable, reclaimed sewing fabrics.
The Reddit post and its comments really hit the nail on the head: sewers are struggling with the high cost of quality fabric and the often frustrating, time-consuming, and unreliable process of finding affordable alternatives like thrifted materials. Users specifically mention how hard it is to find usable fabric in thrift stores (Comment 3), the geographical dependency of good thrifting spots (Comment 5), and the general desire for more economical options without sacrificing quality or resorting to fast-fashion equivalents.
This presents a clear product/service opportunity:
Product/Service Suggestion: Curated Sustainable & Affordable Fabric Service
- Concept: A service dedicated to sourcing, processing (cleaning, measuring, photographing), and curating high-quality deadstock, remnants, thrifted, and de-stashed fabrics for sewers. This addresses the core pain points of cost, time, and access to unique, sustainable materials.
- Value Proposition:
- Affordability: Provides access to quality fabrics (cottons, linens, wools, silks, unique synthetics) at prices significantly lower than new retail.
- Sustainability: Promotes a circular economy in textiles by giving new life to existing materials, appealing to eco-conscious consumers.
- Convenience & Time-Saving: Eliminates the laborious and often fruitless hunt through thrift stores or sifting through disorganized online listings (as alluded to by the existence of Facebook groups in Comment 2, which require active participation).
- Discovery & Uniqueness: Offers sewers access to unique, vintage, or out-of-production fabrics they wouldn't easily find otherwise.
- Quality Curation: Ensures fabrics are clean, usable, and accurately described, removing the guesswork and risk associated with thrifting.
- Accessibility: Solves the problem of inconsistent local availability (Comment 5).
- Potential Service Models:
- Subscription Box: Monthly or quarterly boxes with a curated selection of fabrics (e.g., themed by color, fiber type, project type). Could include coordinating notions or pattern suggestions.
- Online Marketplace/Shop: An e-commerce platform selling individual cuts of curated fabrics, allowing for more specific purchases. This could also feature "destash bundles" from larger acquisitions (inspired by Comment 1).
- Sourcing Strategy (informed by comments):
- Directly acquiring "sewing doodahs" and fabric stashes from individuals downsizing or estates (as per Comment 1 – "people I know are having to empty houses...happy to take the sewing doodahs").
- Strategic partnerships with thrift stores or employing dedicated professional "thrifters."
- Connections with textile mills or garment manufacturers for deadstock and high-quality remnants.
- Building relationships within online sewing communities (like the Facebook groups mentioned in Comment 2) to source destashes.
- Differentiation (from general budget fabric sites like those mentioned in Comment 6):
- Focus on the "rescued," "sustainable," and "unique" aspects.
- Emphasis on quality curation – not just cheap fabric, but good quality, interesting fabric at a good price.
- Storytelling around the fabrics where possible (e.g., "vintage linen from the 1970s," "deadstock from a local designer").
- Expected Benefits/Revenue:
- Revenue Streams: Subscription fees, direct sales from the online shop, potentially premium prices for rare/highly desirable vintage fabrics.
- Customer Acquisition & Retention: Appeals to a broad segment of the sewing community, from beginners seeking affordable practice materials to experienced sewers looking for unique finds. High potential for loyalty due to the value and convenience offered.
- Positive Impact: Contributes to reducing textile waste and promoting sustainable practices in a popular hobby.
- Scalability: Can start with local/regional sourcing and expand as the customer base grows.
- Profitability: Sourcing costs for thrifted/de-stashed fabric can be very low, allowing for healthy margins even with competitive retail pricing. The main costs would be labor for sourcing, processing, curation, and marketing.
This service directly addresses the expressed user need for more accessible, affordable, and sustainable fabric options, taking on the "hard work" that individual sewers find discouraging.
Origin Reddit Post
r/sewing
Its kinda discouraging knowing sewing a top can be more expensive than buying it
Posted by u/Unusual-Twist501•06/12/2025
DONT GET ME WRONG:
- I understand that purchasing it is purchasing polyester / low quality, and by sewing it, I make a quality top
- I understand that sweatshops are horrible and all this c
Top Comments
u/Peregrinebullet
It's more I want a nice woven work shirt that fits my enormous boobs that doesn't make me look like a sex kitten. And with large boobs, the line between "looking like a grandma" and "looking
u/FuliginEst
In my country, we have several Facebook groups dedicated for buying and selling fabrics. I have done quite a few bargains from there.
Sometimes people sell things at pretty much full price,
u/Admirable_Fail_180
I'm in the UK but I've got good prices at
Poundfabrics.co.uk
Knightonfabrics.com
Abakhan- physical stores in the North West and online.
Pound a metre
u/FuliginEst
In my country, we have several Facebook groups dedicated for buying and selling fabrics. I have done quite a few bargains from there.
Sometimes people sell things at pretty much full price,
u/FamiliarPeasant
So much rayon and poly - it’s like a woven piece of clinical depression.
u/LiterallyIAmPuck
It does depend on what you want to make. I was seeing mens (real) linen shirts for $90+. I got linen at my local store and can make them for $20 each. I can also make them the exact size and
u/ginger_tree
It's not "WAYY too expensive". The store bought products you are describing are WAYY too cheap, for all the reasons you outline. Sewing with quality fabrics that will last is not cheaper than
u/lowfilife
I went shopping after a 2 year hiatus and decided that I have got to start sewing my own dresses again.
u/strangenamereqs
Because it didn't used to be. From the 1800's through the 1980's, you sewed your own clothes because it was substantially cheaper (and of course, before then as well, but I'm dating it from
u/RadioKGC
https://preview.redd.it/vq0anelgqh6f1.jpeg?width=417&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9756d10a70b810dc877e7ed93c921ebe648dd041
I don't sew to save $$. I sew to be creative and get what I
u/rebelwithmouseyhair
It depends what you make. T-shirts, you can't do them cheaper than children in Bangladesh.
But I spent just over €100 on a cashmere/wool mix and some pure silk, made it into a fabulous coat
u/PermanentTrainDamage
Cheap favrics can also be made in factories by people living and working in deplorable conditions, so if you're avoiding fast fashion for the same reasons you need to consider it for fabrics
u/FeatherlyFly
I found a pair of pants marked for $185. Polyester, with the waistband in a different shade of black than the legs, finished like a pair I'd pay $50 for. They were at department store with f
u/apri11a
> It's not "WAYY too expensive". The store bought products you are describing are WAYY too cheap, for all the reasons you outline.
This is so true. I'm old and remember when new clothes w
u/audible_narrator
x40 years of sewing. It's mind boggling just how bad it's gotten.
u/CaolTheRogue
This exactly.
My grandmother told me stories of working a high-end store and seeing dresses on the rack that she couldn't afford. But on her lunch break, she'd go to the sewing department, b
u/deuxcabanons
This exactly. I was struggling with the cost thing until I was looking at a seemingly higher end garment and realized that it had the same crappy finishes as an Old Navy piece. Ever since all
u/Pico_Shyentist
I was lucky enough to have 3 charity shops nearby where I would find a lot of good/decent fabric. Then I had to move, and I will have to again, but I have managed to keep a somewhat steady fl
u/Live_to_Learn_71
Could you make a post showing these shirts and the coat? I'd love to see them!
u/wimsey1923
"Oh and whilst I have gained some pressure feet and manuals, I never actually got given the machine that they went with."
There are so many sewing machines for sale online in my country. Mos
u/Future_Direction5174
I am “of the age” where people I know are having to empty houses as their relative has died. I have become known as someone happy to take the sewing doodahs off their hands. I get given so mu
u/Responsible-Ad-4914
Ugh this is me. I see so many online videos or posts about the cool fabric people find at thrift stores, and when I go I have to visit 4-5 to find even ONE item that I briefly consider. Most
u/Glittering-Sign8999
Yes! This is the mistake a lot of sewers make! If you make a basic t-shirt from scratch, you can't compare it to something off the rack or fast fashion. In terms of quality, fit, and customiz
u/IAM_THE_LIZARD_QUEEN
>If you want a hobby that might be more economical than buying, I would recommend baking.
I was thinking baking and cooking are the only two hobbies I can think of that *could* actively
u/IronBoxmma
How long have you been sewing?
u/Future_Direction5174
I am “of the age” where people I know are having to empty houses as their relative has died. I have become known as someone happy to take the sewing doodahs off their hands. I get given so mu
u/sew_phisticated
I don't have a recommendation for fabric shopping, but I would recommend a mindshift. Is this a thing you have to do to not be naked or is it a hobby?
For any hobby (sports, arts, travel) yo
u/Admirable_Fail_180
I'm in the UK but I've got good prices at
Poundfabrics.co.uk
Knightonfabrics.com
Abakhan- physical stores in the North West and online.
Pound a metre
u/No-Butterscotch-8469
I think with baking it’s easier to make an accurate price comparison. Bake and decorate a birthday cake and you’d compare the price to a local bakery, custom made, high end cake. You wouldn’t
u/khat52000
I think the problem is it used to save money. In the 70's clothes were expensive. Almost everything I wore as a child was something that was made for me. The 70's is also when polyesters r
u/Responsible-Ad-4914
Ugh this is me. I see so many online videos or posts about the cool fabric people find at thrift stores, and when I go I have to visit 4-5 to find even ONE item that I briefly consider. Most