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 5 TIPS For Buying Fabrics Online

5 TIPS For Buying Fabrics Online

trends
Published on 2nd Oct, 2023
Last Edited on 26th Mar, 2025
Reading Time: 2 Minute Read

There Are Many Ways To Acquire Fabric And With The Internet, You Can Buy It More Easier Than Ever. Online Shopping For Fabric Has Evolved So Much In The Last Few Years But It Can Still Seem Like A Daunting Task And Always A Little Bit Risky, Especially If You've Never Done So Before. The Good News Is That It Doesn't Have To Be. 

By providing a seamless and reliable online shopping experience, Anuprerna ensures that customers can access high-quality handloom fabrics from the comfort of their homes, fostering appreciation for craftsmanship and supporting sustainable practices in the textile industry.

 

Introduction

 

You can now purchase anything from inexpensive fabrics to even high-end designer fabrics from the comfort of your home with a simple click on your computer, tablet or even just your phone. 

 

Let's address the first and the most general step- 

 

Decide which fabric you want and how much you need for your project ?

 This will be the starting point and would depend on your mood board, colour board, inspiration, collection or trend forecast

Decide on how much fabric you would need ? 

Do you need a smaller amount for sampling a few pieces only or Pre-Order in Bulk or custom design the fabric ?

 

Once you know what you want, keep in mind the following points while browsing fabrics online:

WEIGHT

While shopping for fabric, always check for the fabric weight. The gsm determines if the fabric is suitable for your project. The higher the gsm number, the thicker and heavier it will be.

A lightweight fabric will be more suited to flowy garments and linings whereas a heavier fabric would be better suited for winter wear, upholstery projects or for use in commercial applications where durability and resistance to wear are required.

WIDTH

While shopping fabric online, always check for the Fabric Width. Depending on this width, you would need more or less fabric than you anticipate. This can also be handy in avoiding fabric wastage. For example, our handloom fabrics are 45 inches wide and are suitable for garments, accessories and homewares like cushion covers, placemats etc as well as anything made by using patchwork techniques like quilts or rugs. However, anything wider than 45 inches like a double bed cover or large table cover would be feasible with fabric joined by a lapped seam.

MOTIF OR PATTERN SIZE AND REPEAT

On a screen, it is impossible to assess the size of any motif or design. To avoid frustration and wasted money, always find the dimension of the motif or pattern and Repeat. Repeat refers to how often that same pattern is repeated in a given inch or cm. Many online stores would have the fabric picture taken with scale for your reference. So make sure to check that.

Check fabric pattern

Cotton Plant

MATERIAL OR COMPOSITION

If you are buying fabric online, remember to check for the fabric description. The fabric composition is a crucial bit of information. For example, cotton can be blended with other fibre content like silk or khadi. Each of these types has its own characteristics and properties which affect the behaviour of the resulting fabric. 

At Anuprerna, all our fabrics are 100% natural materials. Even the blended fabrics are always composed of only natural fibres like cotton silk, or Matka and ketya silk blend. We strictly do not use any synthetic fibres as they are non-biodegradable and can be detrimental to the environment. You can find the composition details in every product description.

DRAPE & FOLD

Though not the most crucial, it is beneficial to check for information on the drape or fall of the fabric. Many online stores now feature images where you can get a rough idea about the drape or fold of the fabric. This will help define the structure and silhouette of your garment.

Chambray fabric

Besides these, there are some helpful points to keep in mind:

Review the return policy thoroughly and understand the return window.

 

Keep in mind that monitor variations can affect color perception.

 

Read reviews to gauge others' experiences and compare with online images.

 

Consider shipping costs as part of your purchase decision.

Confirm if fabrics are pre-shrunk and check care instructions.

 

Thoroughly review the fabric's care guide.

 

Reach out to manufacturers for inquiries if contact information is provided.

 

Purchase fabric swatches or swatch kits to feel the fabric before buying.

related questions

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How do I choose good quality fabric?

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To choose good quality fabric, consider factors like fiber content, texture, weave, construction, weight, color, care instructions, and intended use.

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How to check authenticity of fabric?

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To check fabric authenticity, examine the label, assess texture and feel, inspect the weave and construction, perform a burn test for natural fibers, and consult a professional if unsure.

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How do I choose the right amount of fabric?

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To choose the right amount of fabric, determine your project, consider fabric width, calculate yardage needed, add extra for margin, and round up to the nearest whole yard.

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What are the factors to look for when buying fabric?

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When buying fabric, consider factors like fiber content, texture, weave, construction, weight, color, care instructions, and intended use.

About Us

Discover Anuprerna’s sustainable handloom fabrics crafted by 300+ skilled artisans in East India. We also offer low MOQ custom manufacturing of apparel, stoles, scarves, handbags, and home furnishings in organic khadi, cotton, linen, wool, bamboo, mulberry, ahimsa silk and more.

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