How We Choose Our Sustainable Fabrics

"Sustainable" is one of those slimy words that's constantly being slapped on everything. It's printed on tags, splashed across websites, and used to sell everything from t-shirts to toothbrushes. The problem is that it doesn't actually have a clear definition, and regulations that enforce it are fuzzy at best. Sometimes it's backed up by real commitment to the environment and ethics, and sometimes it's just greenwashing.

As a consumer, it can be really hard to know which is which.

The truth is, there isn't a solid definition of what "sustainable" means because every material comes with its own impacts. So at Origami Customs, we engage in an active decision-making process that changes as new materials, information, and technologies become available.

There is no perfect fabric because every textile has an environmental footprint. Every supply chain involves real people and every material comes with trade-offs. For us, sustainability isn't a box you check once and call it done. It's an ongoing process of asking questions, learning more, and making the most ethical, values-aligned decision we can with the options available today.

That's why you'll hear us talk about finding the most net ethical choice, rather than the "perfect" one. Sometimes that means choosing bamboo over conventional cotton. Sometimes it means using recycled fibers. Sometimes it means rescuing beautiful deadstock fabrics that might otherwise end up in a landfill. Sometimes it means buying from a local family-run supplier instead of ordering from halfway around the world. 

The answer isn't always the same. But we're committed to doing our best, not pretending we've solved sustainable fashion.

Why Sustainability and Ethics Matter

The clothing we wear doesn’t appear out of nowhere. Every garment has a story behind it: where the materials came from, who made it, what resources were used, and what happens when it’s no longer wanted.

Sustainability matters because the fashion industry has a huge impact on the planet. The way clothing is produced affects water use, waste, pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the health of the ecosystems we all depend on. 

It also affects people. Behind every piece of clothing are the workers who grow fibers, produce textiles, cut fabric, sew garments, and help move products around the world. Ethical fashion means caring about those people just as much as the final product.

Fast fashion is built around a model of speed and disposability: producing as much as possible, as cheaply as possible, and encouraging people to replace items quickly. This creates enormous amounts of waste and often comes at the expense of both the environment and the people making the clothes.

Slow fashion offers a different approach. It looks at the entire lifecycle of a garment and asks how we can make better choices at every stage. It values quality, longevity, thoughtful production, and respect for the people involved at every step. And instead of creating garments meant to be worn a handful of times and replaced, we believe in making quality ethical pieces that become part of your life for years. 

Understanding Some Common Sustainability Terms

Sustainability is a complicated topic when it comes to textiles, because there’s no way to create them without environmental impact. There are lots of different materials and production methods, each with their own benefits and challenges. And some are better than others. So here are some of the fabric types that we rely on as the most ethical options:

Deadstock Fabric

Deadstock fabric is material that has already been manufactured but is no longer being used by the original company that ordered it. This might happen because a brand overestimated how much fabric they needed, changed a design, or simply moved on to something new.

Instead of letting these beautiful textiles sit unused in a warehouse or become waste, we can give them a second life by turning them into new garments. Deadstock fabrics are often unique, with limited quantities and colors that may not be available again once they’re gone.

Sometimes, older fabrics are also incredibly high quality. As the fashion industry has become increasingly focused on cutting costs, some newer materials are made with lower-quality production standards than fabrics from previous decades. Using deadstock allows us to rescue materials that were made to last.

Recycled Fabrics

Recycled fabrics are made by taking existing materials, such as polyester or nylon, breaking them down, and transforming them into new fibers. This helps divert waste from landfills and reduces the need to create as much new, virgin synthetic material.

We use recycled fabrics in some of our swimwear, binders, and specialty designs where colors, stretch, and performance are especially important. While recycled fabrics aren’t a perfect solution (they’re still synthetic materials and still have an environmental impact), they can be a better option than creating entirely new fibers from scratch.

Sustainable Bamboo

What makes bamboo a more environmentally friendly option is the way the plant grows. Bamboo is actually a grass, which makes it a fast-growing renewable resource that requires less water and pesticides than traditional fiber crops like cotton. When it’s harvested correctly, it’s an excellent option for high-quality natural fabrics with a lower environmental impact.

The bamboo we're currently using is OEKO-TEX® certified, meaning it has been independently tested for a wide range of harmful substances and verified to meet strict human health and safety standards. This makes it safer not only for the environment, but also for the people who wear them and make our products.

Of course, turning bamboo into the silky-soft fabric you know and love still requires processing and manufacturing. That process has its own environmental considerations. But we choose bamboo because, when we look at the full picture, it remains one of the best options we’ve found for comfortable, breathable, antibacterial underwear that aligns with our values.

What We Consider Before Choosing a Fabric

Choosing a fabric is about much more than picking a color we like or finding something that feels soft between our fingers. Every textile has a story behind it, and we want to understand as much of that story as possible before it becomes part of an Origami Customs garment.

Choosing Sustainable Materials

When we source materials, we look at the whole picture. We consider what the fiber is made from, how it was grown or produced, the resources required to create it, and whether harmful chemicals or pesticides are involved. We look for opportunities to use recycled materials and give existing fabrics a second life through deadstock whenever possible.

We ask questions like: 

• What is the fiber made from?

• How was the fiber grown or produced?

• How much water, pesticides, and energy does it require?

• Are harmful chemicals involved in the production process?

• Can we use recycled materials instead?

• Is there a deadstock option that already exists and can be given a second life?

Choosing Sustainable Practices

We also consider the journey a fabric takes before it reaches our studio. We look at where it was made, how far it has traveled, who was involved in producing it, and whether the companies we work with share our values around ethics, labor, and transparency. Whenever possible, we choose fabrics from Canadian and North American suppliers to support closer supply chains and reduce unnecessary transportation.

We ask questions like: 

• Where was the fabric made?

• How far does it need to travel before reaching our studio?

• Who was involved in producing the fabric, and were they treated fairly?

• Do the companies we work with share our values around ethics, labor, and transparency?

• Can we use a local supplier?

• Can we buy from small businesses?

Choosing Fabrics That Last

Sustainably made is only one part of the equation. A fabric can have a lower environmental impact when it’s created, but if it doesn't perform well in a garment, it isn't the right choice. Our materials need to be technical enough to work in compression garments, comfortable against your skin, and also have enough quality that your garment won’t end up in a landfill in a couple of years.

Reducing waste at the beginning AND end of a product’s life is a huge part of sustainability for us. If a cheap binder only keeps its stretch for 2 years, and we can make a binder that lasts you 10 years, then we’ve kept 4-5 binders out of the landfill. That’s one of the many reasons we want our products to last.

We ask questions like: 

• Does it perform well enough for gender-affirming compression garments?

• Is the fabric durable enough to last for years?

• Is it sensory-friendly and comfortable for you to wear?

• Does it come in colors that meet your needs?

At the end of the day, we're always balancing four important things: functionality, quality, ethics, and sustainability. There is rarely a perfect answer, but there are always opportunities to make more thoughtful choices.

Why Fabric Choices Sometimes Change

One of the questions we get from time to time is why a fabric, color, or texture might feel different from something someone purchased from us in the past. The simple answer is that our fabric choices are always evolving.

Sustainability is not about finding one perfect material and using it forever. It’s an ongoing process of learning, researching, and making better decisions as new options become available. The most ethical choice we can make today might not be the same choice we would have made five years ago. As we learn more about materials, production processes, and the companies we work with, our decisions can change too.

Sometimes a more sustainable fabric enters the market. Sometimes a supplier discontinues a material we love. Sometimes a deadstock fabric runs out because, by nature, there is only a limited amount available. Sometimes supply chains change in ways that mean we need to look for a different solution.

What does that mean for you? 

It means the fabric you ordered five years ago might not be identical to the one you order today. A color may have a slightly different tone. A fabric may have a different texture or feel. We may switch suppliers when we find a more ethical option or when an existing material is no longer available.

We understand that consistency can be valuable. When you find a fabric you love, you want to know you can come back and get the exact same thing again. But for us, a commitment to the planet and ethical production is more important than staying the same.

Thanks For Being Here

Sustainable fashion is complicated. There are no perfect fabrics, perfect supply chains, or perfect answers. But we believe that being honest about the process matters.

At Origami Customs, we’re committed to continually learning, asking better questions, and making the most thoughtful choices we can. That means looking beyond just how a fabric feels or how it looks, and considering the full story behind every material: the people involved, the resources used, the journey it takes, and how long it will last.

We know that you care deeply about the impact of the things you bring into your lives. That’s why we don’t want to simply tell you that something is “sustainable” and leave it there. We want to share the why behind our choices, including the messy parts where there isn’t one obvious answer.

Every garment we make is a small opportunity to do things differently. From choosing lower-impact materials to creating durable pieces designed to be worn for years, we’re working toward a fashion industry that values people, the planet, and the bodies that wear our clothing. Thank you for trusting us, supporting slow fashion, and being part of a community that believes clothing can be made with more care.