I completely switched my fabric sourcing approach after a bad batch of linen

I used to only buy from the big online wholesalers for convenience, but after getting a roll of 'premium' linen that pilled after one wash, I started visiting local mills in Asheville. The quality difference is huge, and you can actually feel the weight and weave. Has anyone else made a similar switch and found a great small supplier?

3 comments

3 Comments

avery_jackson1mo ago

Read an article about how small mills often keep older, slower looms that produce tighter, stronger weaves. Your Asheville trip makes total sense. That hands-on check for weight and hand feel beats any online product description.

karenh561mo ago

But you can't feel quality through a screen.

sethm461mo ago

Isn't it wild how much you miss by not touching the fabric? @avery_jackson is totally right about that hand feel. I bought a linen shirt online that looked perfect, but it felt like paper. Then I found a similar one at a local shop, and the weave had this soft, heavy quality that just drapes right. You can see the difference in the thread thickness when you hold it up to the light. That stuff never comes across in a photo.