Digital sourcing platform Material Exchange has launched the Deadstock Depot which will ensure that apparel and footwear manufacturers cash in on those bits of yardage that otherwise go waste.
- Suppliers who sign up for the Deadstock Depot benefit from having their deadstock fabrics digitised and marketed both online and at physical shows.
What’s On: Brands who are interested in sourcing deadstock can access everything they need within this marketplace: high-quality visuals of deadstock materials alongside detailed attribute data, fabric detail sheets, internal test reports, as also the ability to order samples.
- Brands benefit from sourcing materials at a lower cost and receiving their materials faster than when ordering new ones.
- Suppliers increase their revenue flows from what’s previously been a commodity to dispose of.
- What highlights the sustainability of these leftover fabrics is that they have already been produced and so there’s no expenditure of water, energy, or virgin raw materials to create something new. And with the Deadstock Depot, they’re available and accessible on a global level for brands to use in creating their upcoming collections.
WHY A WIN-WIN: The need for sustainable measures within the fashion industry is acute, as can be seen in some of the latest statistics:
- Since the 2000s, fashion production has doubled and it will likely triple by 2050, according to the American Chemical Society;
- 92 million tonnes of unwanted fabrics are disposed of each year;
- 14.5 million tonnes of textiles were landfilled and incinerated in 2018.
With more clothes being made than ever before, and huge quantities going to landfills or being burned, the use of deadstock is important.
WHAT THEY SAID:
The Deadstock Depot makes it easy for brands to find deadstock materials and take advantage of the many benefits they bring. This includes lower cost, lower environmental impact, and faster speed to market. For suppliers, it’s also a big win, giving them an opportunity to get materials that are gathering dust in their warehouses back into circulation.
— Ben Felton
Chief Strategy Officer
Material Exchange
