Deadstock fabric refers to textile materials that are left over or unused by fashion houses and garment manufacturers, usually because they were overproduced, are remnants from discontinued lines, or were rejected due to minor defects or color inconsistencies. These fabrics are often left sitting in warehouses and need to find a new home. That’s where we come in!

I make regular trips to the Los Angeles garment district. It's a super fun and hands-on process. I spend literal hours snipping off swatches from rolls that catch my eye. Then I’ll find a hidden corner to spread them all out to make my final selects. It’s all about rescuing these beautiful materials that would otherwise go to waste and turning them into unique pieces just for you.

Deadstock helps reduce environmental waste by repurposing surplus materials that might otherwise end up in landfills, while also conserving resources required for new textile production. It’s a great resource for small brands like Pair Up, because it allows us to access an insanely large library of fabrics whenever we need. It also supports the creation of limited edition pieces due to the exclusive nature of the materials.

Challenges include inconsistent availability and limited choices, which can restrict design and scalability. The quality and condition of deadstock fabrics can vary, and their origins may lack full transparency, posing concerns for brands committed to ethical sourcing practices. These factors make deadstock a valuable but complex option.

We can’t bare to toss our beautiful bits of fabric in the trash so we give them a second life by working them into smaller, one-of-a-kind pieces. Inspired by quilting and patchwork techniques, we piece together each scrap into something new. We launched this idea with our coveted Scrap Bag. We’ve also added scrunchies, bandanas and hats to the mix. You can shop them all here.

You’d be surprised how much fabric is leftover after cutting a garment. We do our best to design and layout our patterns for maximum efficiency but there’s still loss. We feel it’s our responsibility to deal with this waste, that isn’t just throwing it in the landfill. From day one, we’ve saved our cutting waste instead of throwing it in the trash. We’ve been waiting find the perfect partner to recycle them with. More on this soon.

We try to implement scraps into our packaging and customer experience as much as possible. We use the longer pieces to tie your orders up in a pretty bow, and hope you reuse it next time you’re wrapping a gift for a friend :) We sew bits onto our hang tags, to add some texture and interest. Whenever we participate in in-person markets, we take a big basket of free scraps for people to use however they see fit: quilting, craft projects, compost, etc.

Keeping your clothes in use for as long as possible is crucial for reducing waste and minimizing your footprint. By caring for your garments and repairing them instead of discarding, we can significantly extend their lifecycle, which in turn decreases the demand for new resources, and lessen the load on landfills.
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To help you with this, we are in the process of creating a FREE patch kit using our scraps. Coming soon!

Keeping our inventory levels low allows for greater flexibility when responding to our customers needs. It ensures that we’re putting our raw materials and effort towards actual sales and not overproducing garments that will sit on a shelf, unloved. It also supports a lean business model which is helpful when you’re small and on a budget, like us :) Producing clothing is expensive!

We maintain a small inventory of our bestsellers, but once these are sold out, each piece is cut and sewn upon order. This approach is uncommon in the industry because it's hard to create a flexible production pipeline. However, we have worked really hard to make this possible. Why? Because producing garments on demand allows us to significantly reduce waste associated with overproduction and excess inventory, ensuring that we only create what is truly needed.

To us, being a conscious consumer means making purchasing decisions with an awareness of how your actions affect the environment. It involves considering the lifecycle of products—from the sourcing of materials to production practices and the item's end of use. While prioritizing sustainability might feel daunting and potentially take some fun out of shopping, it is vitally important. When you shop with us, you're not just purchasing a product; you’re supporting a brand that’s working hard to bring change to a complicated industry.

Before making your next purchase, use this funnel we put together to navigate your choices and ensure you're making the most environmentally and socially responsible decision possible.
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1. Can I borrow, swap, or rent it?
2. Can I find it secondhand?
3. Can I buy it from a small business? Extra points for keeping it local.
4. If I’m going to buy it new and from a big box store, how can I make it last as long as possible?
5. What will I do when I no longer need this item? Am I prepared to put the time and energy into finding its next home vs. unconsciously throwing it away or donating it.