Where To Buy Authentic German Fabrics And Textiles

The German textile market is huge and the second-largest overall market in the country, next to the food and drink industry. It's safe to say the Germans really know what they are doing when it comes to quality, long-lasting materials!

It is big business, with the country manufacturing and producing everything from menswear and womenswear, bedding and throws to more technical inventions, such as materials to repel everything from water, bugs and germs for work and sportswear.

What attracts many consumers to German-made fabric and textiles is the durable, high-quality nature of the materials. Unlike so-called "fast fashion," cheap clothing that is produced rapidly by manufacturers and retailers in response to the latest trends, German textiles are designed to go the distance and are created with longevity in mind at its core.

It's important to remember, therefore, that some of these textiles and fabrics may be higher in price than what you may normally be used to, but it is the high standard that you are paying for, and, all-in-all, it works out much more economical in the long-run.

Fashion Fabrics

After a wave of cheaper, less hardwearing fabrics came in from Asia to the European market, many in Germany realised this was not what they were looking for when it came to fashion fabrics.

While fashion trends tend to be short-lived and often change, in Germany, there has not been much room for fast fashion.
That's not to say the Germans don't love their fashion! In fact, the average German makes an annual purchase of 12 kilos a year. The Germans place an emphasis on sustainability, eco-friendliness and long-lasting textiles.

Many different types of fabrics are used to make clothes in Germany, such as soft cotton-like materials like gingham, leather, lace, spandex, velvet, muslin, satin, and silk are all popular choices to create a fashionable clothing collection.

Natural Fabrics

With the need for sustainability and eco-friendliness comes the rise of more natural fibres.

Many fabrics you will find in online German stores come from natural, renewable raw materials. Many will also have a very low chemical exposure. Germans love their natural materials, and these conventional fabrics have a much smaller eco-footprint, even coloured fabrics.

While these fabrics are not suitable for every occasion, as we shall see, the popularity of such materials does show a sizable shift in attitudes towards companies' proactively doing their bit to help save the planet.

Workwear/Sportswear Fabrics

Fabric that's used for workwear or sportswear tends to need to be of a highly durable quality, not to mention protective. After all, these types of fabrics have to go through a lot. German manufacturers use a variety of textile mixes to ensure that these types of clothes can withstand a difficult shift under extreme conditions and questionable weather.

Soft cotton t-shirts, polo shirts and hoodies are often used as workwear in conjunction with heavy-duty outerwear such as polyester, leather, and elastane.

Upholstery Fabrics

Upholstery fabrics follow the same principles as other types of materials in that, in Germany at least, these fabrics should be seen as an investment and not something that you will have to patch up or throw out after a few years as part of your collection.

Typical upholstery fabrics made and used in Germany include soft cotton, silk, linen, polyester, velvet, acrylic, rayon, brocade, lace and voile and come with a wide range of design features also available.

Traditional German

If you are looking for traditional German attire, then you might want to consider a dirndl. These are the famous feminine dresses that first originated in the Alps, but they are traditionally worn in parts of Bavaria as well as further afield in Switzerland.

These outfits are comprised of a blouse worn under a snug-fitting bodice with a plunging neckline, alongside a high-waisted skirt with an apron affixed to it.

This attire is always very popular come to Oktoberfest amongst tourists and locals alike.

If you don't have one, you can create one for yourself. To make an authentic dirndl, you will need the correct, most authentic fabric to do so. The outfit was traditionally created using long-lasting heavy German cotton, but nowadays, they are commonly made with cotton, linen, velvet or even sumptuous flowing silk.

Remember, when purchasing fabrics and textiles from Germany, keep in mind that these materials will be measured in centimetres and metres and not by the imperial system. Remember to keep this in mind when ordering to avoid ending up with too many and too few fabrics!