Online Platform Source4Style Takes Fabric Sourcing to the Web
For many designers and brands, sourcing fabrics remains a hands-on endeavor done at trade shows and in private appointments with mills and sales representatives.
New York–based Source4Style hopes to bring at least part of that process online with its membership site, which allows members to browse through more than 2,500 samples, filtering by content, construction, price, minimum order, in-stock availability or country of origin. Each fabric has a dedicated page with detailed information about the fabric, such as weight, width and price per yard.
“It’s a challenge to remember everything you see at trade shows two or three times a year while you are looking for inspiration every single day,” said Camille Wiart, Source4Style’s director of global partnerships.
The company maintains a warehouse in New York and carries samples of every item featured on Source4Style. The company charges $4 for each 6-by-6 sample.
“We guarantee if you see it on the site you can get it as a sample,” Wiart said.
Source4Style offers two membership packages. The basic membership is free and give members the ability to search the entire archive, order samples and receive the newsletter. Premium members are given a sourcing dashboard, which allows them to send requests for proposals, access trend reports, build a virtual swatchbook and track orders. Premium membership is available for $35 per month or $350 per year.
For more information, visit www.source4style.com
