Eco Stamps Explained
A simpler way to choose sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics. Choosing good fabric shouldn’t feel like a research project.
Between greenwashing, vague labels, and endless “eco-friendly” claims, it’s hard to know what’s actually sustainable, or worth sewing with.
That’s why we created Sew Eco Stamps.
They’re a clear, honest way to help you spot quality eco-friendly textiles quickly, so you can spend less time second-guessing and more time sewing.
Why Sew Eco Stamps Exist?
We know most sewists just want to know:
-
Is this a good quality fabric?
-
Was it made responsibly?
-
Does it align with my values?
We’re a fabric shop that doesn’t compromise — not on quality, not on ethics, and not on our responsibility to people and the planet. We're confident you'll love the fabric you purchase, not only because it sews well, but we're confident on the journey it has made before it reached your sewing machine.
Instead of burying you in certifications, acronyms, and technical jargon, we do the checking for you. Each fabric is stamped with a grade of 1–3, making it easy to see whether it’s an eco-friendly fabric with a recognised certification, or just happens to be one of the most sustainable textile options on the market.
That means:
-
You can spot eco-friendly, quality fabrics quickly
-
You don’t have to second-guess about sustainability
-
You can shop with confidence, knowing we've done the hard work for you
If you're interested in how our values and this business come to be, take a read on Meet the Brand: Sew Eco Fabrics - Rosie's passion for sustainability, sewing and business came together to create some good.
How do Sew Eco Stamps work?
Every fabric is assessed on:
-
Fibre type
-
Certifications that fabric carries
-
Environmental impact of fibre and production
-
Social initiatives and community wellbeing
-
Supply-chain transparency and traceability
The result? An eco-stamp system that shows where a fabric sits on our sustainability stamp spectrum.
Breaking Down our Eco-Stamps
Eco-Stamp 3
Our minimum standard for our fabrics
These fabrics are:
• Made with Natural Fibres
• Backed by at least one recognised eco-certification
Certifications are a reliable way to hold businesses accountable to their standards of practice. For example: OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is a certification that tests textiles to ensure the fabric has no trace of toxic/harmful chemicals.
This is a great certification especially for clothing that makes contact with skin. Chemicals on textiles that are harmful to us can get absorbed into our skin, which is why it's important to ensure what we are wearing is kind to our skin and our long-term health.
This is one of many certifications that can be recognised. Certification is a solid step for environmentally-friendly textiles, but it is important to remember, certification alone doesn't tell the full story.
Whilst we are assured of chemical-free textiles, it doesn't write the story for the production of that textile. It leaves us with questioning around the farming, production practices in place and the working conditions for the hands it passed through. This is just a few of the factors we should consider then thinking about the life journey of a raw textile. This is why Sew Eco Stamp 3 is classed as eco-friendly fabrics, but not sustainable.
Think of this as good fabric with verified eco credentials.
Eco-Stamp 2
From suppliers who are focussed on creating textiles through sustainable production practices and building economically and ethically strong communities.
These fabrics go further that certifications, and we consider them part of our sustainable collection. It's important to remember sustainability is a journey, not a destination.
Fabrics will be:
• Made with environmentally-friendly natural fibres
• Hold textile certifications (for small communities who cannot afford certifications, supplier transparency will is considered in place of certifications)
• Responsible suppliers who work closely with production/weaving communities, who maintain and audit the quality of textile production and working standards.
• Implement sustainable practices throughout the supply chain from seed to shop.
Don't let the Stamp 2 fool you. The fabrics within this eco-stamp are a part of our sustainable collection and for good reason. These are quality and natural fibred textiles that have been produced under strong values and ethos that care about community and planet. Sometimes the path there just looks a little different.
Fabrics in this stamp, may hold certifications like STeP by OEKO-TEX, meaning that they are strictly audited around 6 core components throughout the production of the textile. This is to ensure implementation of ethical and sustainable production practices is meeting the criteria for an achieved STeP certification.
STeP is a stepping stone away from MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX. Which is the best certification available, through long-term commitment of maintaining a STeP certification. It is only when full traceability and transparency can be audited the supplier/fabric can be certified with MADE IN GREEN (a stamp 1 certification in our eyes).
These things take time, textiles that are certified with STeP means the supplier is already on the journey to true sustainability.
Eco-Stamp 1
People & Planet First
The most sustainable fabrics we can source. Bio-degradable textiles made within closed-loop systems, low impact production and have full transparent and traceable supply chains.
Sew Eco Stamp 1 is reserved for fully certified traceable textiles.
Typically only achievable by larger companies who have invested directly in their own supply and production. For example: companies like LENZING. Owning the entire means of supply and production automatically opens the door to the transparency and traceability required to reach the highest certification.
Sadly not a luxury smaller business can afford. Whilst there are brands/suppliers who could meet the criteria for certifications like MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX (which would fall under our Stamp 1), due to lengthy and financially challenging process of becoming certified, it can't always be a viable option.
In Eco Stamp 1, fabrics will be:
• plant-based, natural fibres
• Hold eco-certifications - perhaps multiple
• Produced with low-impact dyes and closed-loop systems
• Come from transparent, traceable supply chains
• Designed to be biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable
• Supports social, economical and environmentally initiatives that contribute to growing wealthier and prosperous communities.
These fabrics are made with the full lifecycle in mind — from seed to soil again. If you’re looking for the best sustainable fabric options available, this is where to start.
What about deadstock or reclaimed fabrics?
Some deadstock or reclaimed fabrics may not reach the criteria to sit without stamps. Not because they’re poor quality (many are beautiful, long-lasting quality fabrics) but we can’t always verify how they were originally made.
Rather than guess, we’re upfront about what we know. Saving good fabric from landfill still matters and we’ll always explain that clearly on the product page.
If we stock these types of fabrics in the future, will will create a "reclaimed" stamp for transparent stamping.
In a Nutshell
Sew Eco Stamps are here to:
-
Reduce overwhelm shopping for good quality fabrics
-
Making it clearer to find the right fabric that align with your values.
-
Helping you build a wardrobe with textiles, designed and produced with honest and ethical means.
These stamps are a guide, not a judgement. Not every fabric will fit neatly into a stamp but if it helps you make a more informed choice, then it works.
If you’re ever unsure, just ask - we're always provide as much information within the fabrics product page, but we're happy with answer any questions that keep you wondering.
🔍 Browse our Eco-Friendly Fabrics
🧵 Read: Sustainable Sewing Tips
