What is Deadstock Fabric and Why Our Designers Love It

If you've been tuning into the conversation around sustainable fashion, you may have caught a recent feature on CBS Saturday Morning about deadstock fabrics. But what exactly is deadstock, and why are many of our designers at Riverspell so passionate about it?

What is Deadstock Fabric?

Deadstock fabric refers to unused, surplus textiles that were once considered waste. These fabrics could be over-ordered, slightly off-spec, or discontinued materials that were never put to use. Picture rolls of fabric from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, stored away in warehouses, just waiting to be transformed. Thanks to these hidden treasures, our designers can create stunning, one-of-a-kind clothing that blends vintage charm with modern style.

Reducing Waste with a Fashionable Twist

The designers you’ll find at Riverspell are addressing a significant issue in the fashion industry—waste. There has never been a solid infrastructure to utilize these leftover materials, leading to a massive amount of unused fabric being discarded. By tapping into these resources, our designers are not only reducing waste but also breathing new life into these forgotten textiles.

From Vintage Warehouses to the Runway

Thanks to vintage fabrics tucked away in warehouses, our designers are able to create beautiful, timeless clothing. But that’s not all. They also source deadstock luxury fabrics from the very designers you’ve seen on the runways of New York Fashion Week. These are high-end materials that were once destined for the landfill but are now transformed into stunning, limited-edition pieces you won’t find anywhere else.

A Sustainable Solution with a Touch of Luxury

By using deadstock fabric, especially vintage deadstock from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, we’re conserving resources like water and energy, all while giving you access to luxury textiles that were previously out of reach. Imagine wearing a piece made from fabrics that once graced the most exclusive runways, now repurposed into styles that are sustainable and incredibly chic.

Small-batch Fashion with a Purpose

Each collection at Riverspell is a small-batch release because once these fabrics are gone, they’re gone for good.  This means every piece you purchase not only supports sustainable fashion but also connects you to a unique story, a moment in fashion history, and a more responsible future.