Where To Buy Authentic German Fabrics And Textiles

There's an ever-increasing number of consumers looking to Germany for durable, wearable, advanced textiles and fabrics. But many face a problem when they go to shop online in Germany, they learn that many German retailers cannot ship to other countries.

That's where we at forward2me come in. Simply place your order and use a German forwarding address where we will forward all your German fabrics and textiles. It really is that easy and accessible! 

So, whether you are a designer or upholster, seamstress or stitcher, art student, inventor, or simply appreciate the appeal of good quality fabrics, we will talk you through what's on offer and where you can get your next purchase of German fabrics and textiles online.
 

The Appeal Of High-Quality Fabrics And Textiles From Germany

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.

WHAT TYPES OF GERMAN FABRICS ARE THERE?

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!
 

WHAT TYPES OF GERMAN FABRICS ARE THERE?

When it comes to choosing a great online fabric store, Germany has many options.

Let's get the big players out of the way first.

You can choose to make a fabric purchase from Amazon in Germany if you wish, and it is a very popular option for many. Amazon welcomes big orders, with buying in bulk not only being easier in the long run, but it's often cheaper too. There are also often special offers to take advantage of as well, saving you even more money. We make shopping on Amazon Germany a breeze.

There's also eBay Germany, which has a variety of independent sellers who create their very own bespoke items and fabrics such as flowing silk, linen, soft cotton and much more. Another advantage of shopping with eBay is, if you're lucky, you can often pick up a bargain or even grab some haute couture pieces or unique sewing patterns pieces as well. You can shop on eBay Germany easily with forward2me.

Then there's also the popular online German retailer Idealo, which has a great range of fabrics and textiles to add to your collection - and at very competitive prices.

Similar to eBay is Yatego Shopping, which allows online retailers to sell their new as well as secondhand goods. There are a lot of quality fabrics and textiles to take your eye on this website, but understandably you may want to support more independent German fabric suppliers, retailers and businesses in Germany.

If this is you, a quick online search for German fabric and textile stores will also show you some smaller but equally as brilliant options to choose from.
 

Upgrade your textiles game

The internet really is the very best place to source and purchase stunning high-quality German fabrics and textiles successfully. There is an excellent range of online shops that keen customers can use to find exactly what they need, whatever the fabric or occasion.

There are many advantages to adding some German fabric to your collection. From just about every design and colour under the sun - blue, pink, red, black, brown, grey, with/without stripes, we could go on - you will be spoilt for choice and blown away by the superior quality of German fabrics and textiles!

Although German-made fabric is likely to be more expensive, be sure to take advantage of any available special offers, and remember, bulk buying will likely save you money in the long term too.

Using forward2me For German Parcel Forwarding

Have you found the perfect German fabrics for you? We can ship all your favourite and most sought-after fabrics and textiles from Germany to you, thanks to the simple German parcel forwarding service we have created.

Find out more about how easy and hassle-free using our service to buy German fabrics online really is on our website. And if you have any other questions, please feel free to contact Customer Service support by phone or email, and one of our team will be glad to handle your query. If you need to order from multiple sellers we also offer a package consolidation service to help save you money

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