Add to Cart: The Local Indie Fabric Stores You Need to Know
- Words by Peppermint
Once you set out on the journey of sewing your own clothes, it’s no secret you’ll soon develop a penchant for pretty fabrics. Whether you’re a restrained buy-as-needed fabric shopper or a seasoned stasher (we see you over there with your ‘fabric room’), choosing fabric for your handmade garments is half the fun!
For today’s maker, sewing your values has never been easier with all the options available; you could create a handmade wardrobe sewn entirely from upcycled or secondhand fabric, or choose to buy new fabric or a mix of both.
At Peppermint, there’s nothing we love more than discovering independent local businesses doing good things. And we love sewing – so we thought why not combine the best of both worlds and share some of the unique and memorable indie fabric shops in Australia we’ve discovered lately. You’re welcome. Your wallet, however, may not thank us.
It’s by no means an exhaustive list, rather a small curation of some of the incredible fabric stores out there – a list that’s growing by the day! And if you need an excuse to indulge these lovely fabric businesses, here’s our free patterns to get you started…
Doops Designs
@doopsdesigns || doopsdesigns.com
The only thing better than textile designer Jane Newham’s bright and euphoric printed garments gracing our feed, is those same prints available in fabric form! Home grown in the Byron Bay hinterland and inspired by the “happy chaos” of raising kids, Doops Designs eye-popping designs are digitally printed onto natural fabrics using water-based, 100% solvent-free inks. Win and win!
Ink and Spindle
@inkandspindle_ || shop.inkandspindle.com
Best known for their collection of bespoke, organic and sustainably printed fabrics inspired by Australian flora and fauna, Ink and Spindle have long been a household name in the sustainable textile scene. Having perfected the art of large-scale screen printing, the iconic designs are available in meterage and printed on a selection of sustainable base fabrics using certified organic inks.
Ikuntji Artists
@ikuntjiartists ||ikuntji.com.au/gallery/fabrics
Sew your values and support Australia’s First Nations designers at the same time with an eye-catching print designed by Indigenous artists from the Ikuntji Artists community. Situated in Haasts Bluff, NT, the not-for-profit art centre provides a platform for local artists to promote their works; a selection of which have been hand screen-printed onto natural fabrics and made available in small quantities.
Circular Sourcing
@circularsourcing || circularsourcing.etsy.com
The sustainable haberdashery we’ve all been waiting for! Circular Sourcing Etsy store (founded by Courtney Holm of A.BCH) is home to a small curation of sustainable fabric, trims and notions for all your home sewing projects. Think formaldehyde-free organic cotton fusing (yes, it exists!), pure rubber elastic and 100% Tencel sewing thread (made from eucalyptus pulp) available in a range of core colours.
Tessuti Fabrics
@tessutifabrics || tessuti-shop.com
We can’t share a list of Australian fabric stores without a mention of Tessuti Fabrics – founded in 1992 by mother-daughter team Silva and Colette, they’re still bringing home sewists gourmet fabrics from around the world to this day! You’ll find a sizeable selection of Liberty of London prints, designer ends, wool coatings and luxury European silks in their online store and Melbourne and Sydney outlets.
The Fabric Store
@wearethefabricstore || thefabricstoreonline.com
Home to a curated range of designer ends, mill overruns and exclusive milled linen and merino wool, The Fabric Store is the go-to for all your handmade wardrobe needs. Hunt down fabric finds from the convenience of the online store or pet all the fabrics in person at bricks-and-mortar locations in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and New Zealand.
Weft and Warp
@weftandwarpfabrics || weftandwarp.com.au
After nearly 30 years of traveling the globe seeking out the finest fabrics and the most mysterious sewing secrets, Rebecca and Matthew have compiled their experience into creating the ultimate welcoming local sewing space filled with “the world’s most beautiful and ethical apparel fabrics”. Whether shopping online or in their Canberra based brick-and-mortar, Weft and Warp stocks everything you need to make your sewing dreams come true.
Potter & Co
@potter_and_co_australia || potterandco.com.au
While it may not be the “only place to buy linen”, it is one of the best! Proudly based in WA, Potter & Co boasts a stunning collection of linen fabric in all the colours of the rainbow (think mouth-watering colourways like ‘papaya’ and ‘blossom’). Come for the linen and stay for the textured cottons, gingham prints and dreamy double gauze.
The Drapery
@thedrapery || thedrapery.com.au
Heralding from their bricks-and-mortar store in Adelaide, The Drapery specialise in natural and sustainable fabrics like linen, hemp, wool and organic cotton and an offering of independent patterns and high quality notions. Created from the ethos that sewing and crafting is the “antidote to a throwaway” society, it’s the place to buy “beautiful fabrics that last”.
Nerida Hansen Fabrics
@hansenprintandtex ||neridahansen.com.au
Nerida Hansen prints just make us sew happy! Combining a love of design and textiles, Nerida Hansen Fabrics was created to support like-minded independent surface designers and make the designs available to the home sewist, on a range of ethically printed, quality fabrics. Shop by your favourite Aussie designer or by fibre type – either way you won’t be disappointed!
Ellie Whittaker Studio
@elliewhitakerstudio || elliewhittaker.com.au
“Fabric that brings smiles to faces” – we couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Hailing from the sunshine state, Ellie Whittaker and her prints are a celebration of all good summertime festivities. We’re particularly fond of the ‘Troppo’ design, starring tropical fruits and printed on 100% organic cotton sateen, it’s a must-have for picnic season.
Maai Design
@maiidesign || maaidesign.com.au
“Modern fabrics for modern makers” is a movement we can get behind! And that’s exactly what Maii Design is bringing to the sewing community – modern fabrics from household names on the indie sewing scene like Lady McElroy, Mind The Maker and Atelier Brunette. With a strong emphasis on natural fabrics, you’ll find everything from quality cottons and denim to tencel and cupro in their line up.
Drapers Fabrics
@drapersfabrics || drapersfabrics.com
Self-confessed purveyors of “beautiful textiles for the creative community”, Drapers Fabrics are winning hearts with their collection of designer deadstock, organic fibres and ethically made fabrics. The organic cotton shirtings and pin-stripes deserve a special mention, but it would be lax of us not to include the Linen Eucalyptus Twill or GOTS-certified linen knit in our official wish list.
Yay Stitch
A relatively new kid on the sewing block, Yay Stitch has got us all hot and bothered over their impressive collection of Merchant and Mills textiles, curated eco-friendly fibres and just generally a whole lot of fabric we want to ‘add to cart’ stat. We’re looking at you Fluro Linen Checks!
The Remnant Warehouse
@theremnantwarehouse || theremnantwarehouse.com
Your one-stop-shop for trims, notions and buttons and a selection of Australian designer dead stock from local fashion manufacturers – their range is made up of 95% designer remnants! You’ll find plenty of knit fabrics at The Remnant Warehouse for all those stretch sewing projects and a sizeable collection of basics in solid colours to build a wardrobe of wearable staples.
A & R Fabrics
@aandrfabrics || aandrfabrics.com
Whether you’re on the hunt for a rigid denim, 100% Australian Merino Wool jersey or slubby silk noil, A & R Fabrics are here to celebrate natural fibres. Their modest collection of mindfully curated textiles is what handmade wardrobe dreams are made of!
TOP IMAGE: DOOPS DESIGNS
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Brighten up your inbox with our not-too-frequent emails featuring Peppermint-related news, events, competitions and more!
explore
More articles
Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
Hang out with us on Instagram
🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
