Fabrics & Accessories
Headwear to Socks and everything in between.
Fabric Development at Silk Routes
Silk Routes have been quietly working on developing premium fabrics for garment manufacturing. Finding reliable fabric suppliers has always been a tough call for all garment manufacturers. Often clients have found that having designed the perfect collection, they were unable to source the appropriate fabrics in the past.
Silk Routes ensures that the fabrics match the clients’ vision. The fabric is perhaps the most important aspect of the garment.
The colour, the feel, the drape and the texture are extremely important for the final look of the garment. Silk Routes is fully aware of how the aspects of the fabric can make or break the garment.
Silk Routes have sourced fabrics worldwide and have a large network of fabric suppliers and manufacturers. Silk Routes can ensure that our client gets the exact fabric that they wish for. If the fabric isn’t available to purchase Silk Routes work with fabric manufacturers to produce the fabric to the client’s specification.
Silk Routes has 6 countries in its fabric sourcing network, which in turn supply 30 different types of fabric categories.
Silk Routes has over 50 mills in its established supplier database. Silk Routes’ clients have a choice of 5,000+ fabric options, these range from basics to specialty materials.
Fabrics by Silk Routes
Natural Fiber Fabrics We Source
Cotton Varieties:
- 100% combed cotton (soft, durable, breathable)
- Organic cotton with GOTS certification
- Egyptian cotton (premium, long-staple)
- Pima cotton (luxury, silky feel)
- Supima cotton (American-grown premium)
- Cotton jersey knit (t-shirts, casual wear)
- Cotton poplin (shirts, lightweight)
- Cotton canvas (bags, durable items)
- Cotton fleece (sweatshirts, comfort)
Typical pricing: £3-12 per meter depending on quality grade
Linen Options:
- 100% European linen (premium, sustainable)
- Linen-cotton blends (easier care, less wrinkles)
- Heavy linen (structured garments)
- Lightweight linen (summer clothing)
Typical pricing: £8-18 per meter
Wool & Specialty Naturals:
- Merino wool (soft, non-itchy)
- Wool blends (durability + warmth)
- Cashmere (luxury knitwear)
- Alpaca fiber (soft, hypoallergenic)
- Silk (charmeuse, chiffon, dupioni)
- Hemp (sustainable, durable)
- Bamboo viscose (soft, sustainable)
Typical pricing: £12-45 per meter (luxury materials higher)
Synthetic & Performance Fabrics
Polyester Variants:
- 100% polyester (durable, wrinkle-resistant)
- Recycled polyester from PET bottles (eco-friendly)
- Polyester microfiber (soft, lightweight)
- Polyester chiffon (flowing, delicate)
- Brushed polyester (fleece alternative)
Typical pricing: £2-8 per meter
Technical Performance Fabrics:
- Moisture-wicking polyester (activewear)
- Four-way stretch (yoga, athletic)
- Compression fabric (shapewear, athletic)
- Water-resistant treatments
- UV-protection fabrics
- Anti-microbial treatments
- Temperature-regulating fabrics
Typical pricing: £6-15 per meter
Specialty Synthetics:
- Nylon/spandex blends (swimwear, activewear)
- Lycra/elastane additions (stretch)
- Polyurethane coatings (waterproofing)
- Reflective materials (safety wear)
Blended Fabrics (Best of Both Worlds)
Popular blends we source:
Blend Type | Composition | Benefits | Best Uses | Price Range |
Poly-Cotton | 65/35, 50/50, 80/20 | Easy care, durability, comfort | Uniforms, work wear, basics | £3-7/m |
Cotton-Spandex | 95/5, 92/8 | Stretch, recovery, comfort | Fitted garments, jeans | £5-9/m |
Wool-Polyester | 70/30, 60/40 | Warmth, durability, less pilling | Suiting, outerwear | £10-18/m |
Rayon-Linen | 70/30, 55/45 | Drape, less wrinkles, breathable | Dresses, summer wear | £6-12/m |
Cotton-Tencel | Various ratios | Sustainable, soft, breathable | Premium basics, eco-lines | £8-14/m |
Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Fabric Options
63% of our clients now request at least one sustainable fabric option. The market has shifted.
Certified organic materials:
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Organic linen
- Organic hemp
- Certified organic wool
Recycled materials:
- rPET (recycled polyester from plastic bottles)
- Recycled cotton from post-industrial waste
- Recycled nylon from fishing nets
- Deadstock fabrics (end-of-roll from other brands)
Sustainable innovation fabrics:
- Tencel/Lyocell (from sustainable wood pulp)
- Modal (beech tree cellulose)
- Cupro (cotton linter waste)
- Piñatex (pineapple leaf fiber)
- Econyl (regenerated nylon)
Environmental impact data (vs. conventional cotton):
- Organic cotton: 91% less water usage
- Recycled polyester: 59% less energy consumption
- Tencel: 95% water recycling in closed-loop production
- Hemp: Zero pesticides, soil regeneration
Price premium: 15-35% higher than conventional equivalents, but customers increasingly willing to pay
ECO Friendly Bag for Life.
Accessories at Silk Routes
Silk Routes also manufacture fabric-based accessories. If it’s made of fabric, Silk Routes can produce it.
Headwear Manufacturing
Types we produce:
- Baseball caps (6-panel, 5-panel, unstructured)
- Snapback hats
- Trucker hats (mesh back)
- Beanies (cuffed, slouchy, pom-pom)
- Bucket hats
- Wide-brim sun hats
- Headbands (athletic, fashion)
- Bandanas
- Head wraps and turbans
Customization options:
- Embroidered logos (3D puff, flat)
- Printed designs (screen print, heat transfer)
- Woven labels
- Custom colors and patterns
- Adjustable closures (snapback, Velcro, buckle)
Typical MOQs: 100-300 pieces per style Price range: £3-12 per piece (depending on complexity) Timeline: 4-6 weeks production
Bag Manufacturing (All Types)
Eco-friendly bags (our specialty):
- Jute tote bags (natural, sustainable)
- Cotton canvas bags (durable, reusable)
- Organic cotton bags (GOTS certified)
- Recycled PET bags (from plastic bottles)
- Paper bags (biodegradable, branded)
Fashion & functional bags:
- Tote bags (shopping, beach, promotional)
- Drawstring backpacks (gym sacks)
- Cross body bags
- Laptop sleeves and cases
- Cosmetic bags and pouches
- Duffel bags
- Messenger bags
- Weekender bags
Typical MOQs:
- Jute/cotton bags: 500-1,000 pieces
- Fashion bags: 200-500 pieces
- Paper bags: 1,000-5,000 pieces
Price range:
- Simple jute tote: £1.50-3 each
- Canvas tote with printing: £3-6 each
- Fashion cross body bag: £8-15 each
- Premium duffel: £15-30 each
Environmental impact: One reusable cotton bag replaces 700+ single-use plastic bags over its lifetime.
Scarves, Wraps & Other Accessories
Accessories we manufacture:
- Infinity scarves and fashion scarves
- Blanket scarves (oversized)
- Neck gaiters (athletics, outdoor)
- Gloves and mittens (knit, touchscreen-compatible)
- Athletic socks and dress socks
- Compression socks
- Fabric belts and neckties
- Hair accessories
- Reusable face masks
- Aprons (kitchen, workshop, cafe)
Typical MOQs: 200-1,000 pieces depending on complexity Customization: Logos, patterns, colors, custom sizing available
Jute bags:
- Material: Natural fiber from jute plant
- Biodegradable: 100% (decomposes in 1-2 years)
- Carbon footprint: 50% lower than cotton
- Durability: 2-3 years with regular use
- Load capacity: 15-20kg
- Cost: £1.50-3 per bag (500+ quantity)
Organic cotton bags:
- Material: GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Water usage: 91% less than conventional cotton
- Pesticides: Zero
- Biodegradable: Yes
- Durability: 3-5 years
- Cost: £2-4 per bag (500+ quantity)
Recycled PET bags:
- Material: Recycled plastic bottles (rPET)
- Environmental benefit: Diverts plastic from landfills/oceans
- Energy savings: 59% less than virgin polyester
- Durability: 3-4 years
- Cost: £2.50-4.50 per bag (500+ quantity)
Environmental Impact Comparison
Bag Type | CO₂ Emissions (production) | Water Usage | Biodegradable | Reuse Lifespan | Cost per Use |
Single-use plastic | 100g CO₂ | 1L | No (500+ years) | 1-2 uses | £0.05 |
Jute bag | 950g CO₂ | 15L | Yes (1-2 years) | 500+ uses | £0.004 |
Organic cotton | 2,100g CO₂ | 85L | Yes | 700+ uses | £0.004 |
rPET bag | 1,200g CO₂ | 12L | Recyclable | 600+ uses | £0.005 |
Key insight: While jute/cotton bags have higher production emissions, they become carbon-positive after 10-15 uses compared to single-use plastic.
