Surplus fabric buyers: sell your fabric and textile stock

Fabric is bought by the roll and used by the metre, so surplus builds up everywhere: an over-order to meet a mill minimum, a cancelled production run, a colour that didn't sell, a range that changed, the last few metres of a hundred different rolls. We've been buying excess stock for over 30 years. We buy the parcel ourselves and resell it through our own buyers, without charging broker fees.

You send the details, John surveys the market discreetly, and in most cases he makes an offer to buy the lot.

Who do you buy surplus fabric from?

We buy from any business holding fabric it won't use or sell:

• Fabric wholesalers and importers with slow colours or over-ordered lines
• Fashion, bridal and eveningwear houses with deadstock fabric from past collections
• Upholstery and soft furnishing businesses with discontinued ranges and end of roll stock
• Manufacturers closing or restructuring a cutting room or factory
• Administrators and liquidators selling fabric for creditors (see our page for administrators and liquidators)

If a business is closing, our page on closing down business stock covers the wider process.

What is deadstock fabric?

Deadstock fabric is new, unused fabric left over from production or never used at all. It's still on the roll, it's never been cut into a garment, and there's nothing wrong with it except that no one needs it now. Smaller labels and makers often like it, because it lets them buy quality fabric in short runs.

How do I sell fabric stock to you?

1. Send a roll list and photos. The details are below.
2. Hear back the same business day. John replies with his first response and any questions.
3. We survey the market discreetly to find out what the fabric is worth now.
4. We make an offer, usually for the whole parcel.
5. We agree terms, including any conditions on where it can be sold. Collection is flexible: we arrange it or you deliver, agreed per parcel.
6. You get paid promptly, as per our agreed terms.

If buying the whole parcel isn't possible, John will still give you his best advice on how to sell it.

What should I send?

Fabric buyers want to know what it is, how much there is, and what it looks like up close. Send a spreadsheet with one line per fabric:

Then add:

• Photos of the rolls as they sit, so buyers can see quantity and storage
• A close-up of the weave or surface, in good light, so texture and finish show
• Swatch photos of each colour, or physical swatches if a buyer asks
• Location, and whether rolls are on pallets or racking
• Any faults, such as fading on the outer layer, marks, or crushed roll ends

A close-up does more work than a paragraph of description. Two photos per fabric, one of the roll and one of the weave, is usually enough to start.

What makes surplus fabric easier or harder to sell?

Buyers look at usable quantity first, then versatility. Here's how it usually breaks down.

Part rolls and remnants aren't worthless. Grouped by fabric and colour, they often suit makers and smaller workrooms. Give the metres honestly and we'll work out where they can go.

How do you protect my designs and my brand?

We follow your conditions on where the fabric goes. Our first guarantee is: "We strictly follow your guidelines in relation to pricing and distribution locations." The others are prompt payment as per agreed terms, a priority focus on clearing your stock, and converting it to cash discreetly without damaging your market position.

For fashion and bridal houses, that can mean keeping exclusive fabrics out of the local market, selling only to overseas buyers, or not naming your house when the fabric is offered. Tell us what matters at the start. Our guide to protecting your brand when clearing stock covers this in more detail.

Should I sell to a buyer, list on a marketplace or use a remnant shop?

Sell outright when you want the whole parcel gone in one deal. List or consign when you have time and want more per metre. Here's the honest comparison.

Many businesses do both: sell their best lines themselves and the rest as one parcel. Marketplaces and remnant shops are a good choice for designers and small studios with a few rolls and time to spare. Our guide to clearance versus liquidation sets out the trade-offs, and if you're also clearing finished garments, see our page for fashion deadstock.

Ready to sell your fabric?

Send your roll list, photos of the rolls and close-ups of the weave to john@coorey.com, or call John on 0411 430 047. You can also use the form below. You'll hear back the same business day. Or start with our general page on how to sell excess stock.