Practical Guide to Sourcing Sustainable Fabrics in Vietnam

Brands increasingly ask: “Can I source sustainable fabrics in Vietnam without blowing my budget?” The short answer is yes — but it requires planning, testing and realistic cost expectations. This guide gives practical steps to find sustainable fibers, verify certificates, and pilot test before scaling.

1.Understand the levels of sustainability

Sustainability in textiles operates at three levels:

1. Fiber level — natural fibers (organic cotton, hemp, linen), lyocell/Tencel, and recycled synthetic fibers.

2. Processing level — low-impact dyes, water-efficient finishing, and certifications such as GOTS, Oeko-Tex or Bluesign.

3. Traceability — the ability to trace raw materials back to a farm or recycled source and to document processing steps.

2.Start with swatches and lab tests

Photos lie. Order physical swatches for hand-feel, drape and in-lab testing. Request at least 1–3 meters per color for wash and colorfastness tests; run home-launder cycles and commercial wash tests where relevant.

3.Verify certificates — and what to check

Ask suppliers for scanned certificates, but verify scope and expiry. A GOTS certificate for yarn does not mean the finished fabric or dyeing is covered. Confirm which processing steps the certificate covers.

4.Manage MOQs and costs

Sustainable fabrics usually have higher MOQs and price points. Strategies to manage cost and MOQ:

- Consolidate orders across SKUs — combine multiple styles to reach fabric MOQs.

- Use remnant or in-stock eco fabrics — mills often have stock rolls in sustainable options that reduce lead time and cost.

- Negotiate smaller dye-lots — mills sometimes offer smaller dye-lot runs at a premium; evaluate if the premium is acceptable for a pilot.

5.Pilot before bulk

Run a controlled pilot (50–200 units) to validate fabric behavior: shrinkage, pilling, colorfastness, and machine handling. Use lab reports to set acceptance criteria (e.g., shrinkage ≤3%, pilling score ≥3).

6.Traceability and marketing claims

Only make sustainability claims you can document. Keep all lab reports, supplier declarations and certificate scopes in a shared folder. If you need higher assurance, arrange third-party audits or use traceability platforms that assign batch IDs or QR codes.

7.Working via your CMT vs direct to mill

Buying through your factory simplifies ordering and coordination, especially for small brands. Factories can consolidate small buys and manage in-line QC, while direct mill relationships give more control but require stronger logistics.

8.Final practical checklist

- Order swatches and run lab tests.

- Ask for certificates and verify scope.

- Negotiate MOQs and consider a pilot run.

- Document all results and store digital proof for claims.