In the world of textiles, you’ve probably come across the word deadstock. It’s often used to describe leftover fabric – rolls of material that were over-ordered, unused, or left behind after production. These fabrics can end up sitting in warehouses for years — or worse, be sent to landfill.

In Australia alone, 10 million kilograms of surplus fabric go unused each year — material that could be kept in circulation if the right systems are in place. But at Circular Sourcing, we prefer a different term: surplus.

Why? Because language matters. We believe surplus better reflects the value and potential of unused textiles — not a throwaway status.

Deadstock vs. Surplus

Deadstock implies something forgotten, outdated, or past its prime. But the fabrics we work with tell a different story. They’re not discarded for lack of quality or beauty.

Often, they’re simply the result of minimum order quantities, over-ordering or production changes. In fact, many of these textiles are premium quality materials – beautiful, useful, and ready for use.

Calling them surplus reframes the narrative. It highlights their potential, not their perceived shortcomings. Surplus textiles are extra, not expired or ‘dead’. They’re an opportunity waiting to happen.

Why Surplus Fabric Matters

For designers, students, and makers, surplus fabrics offer an exciting alternative to traditional sourcing. They allow you to:

• Access premium fabrics – beautiful, high-quality materials originally destined for local production

• Design more sustainably – by using what’s already been made, you’re reducing waste and demand for new resources

• Order in low minimums – perfect for sampling, short runs, or made-to-order collections

• Support local industry – every purchase helps keep value circulating in the Australian fashion and textile supply chain

So, every roll of surplus fabric at Circular Sourcing has a past, but it also has a future. We’re here to help you be part of that future.

A More Circular Approach

Circular Sourcing exists to connect unused textiles with people who can put them to use. We’re helping the industry shift from a linear model – make, use, discard – to a circular one, where materials are recirculated, reused, and given new life.

Surplus fabrics aren’t waste. Surplus fabric is one of the most underused resources in the fashion industry — and one of the most impactful to reuse.

Ready to source?

Browse our current surplus textiles — from printed cottons to broderie anglaise, soft jerseys to structured canvas — and see what you can make from what already exists.