Organic cotton fabrics designed for crafting and quilting

Organic cotton fabrics are becoming increasingly common, but most are still used primarily for clothing. Aiming to bring eco-sensible supplies to the quilt and craft market, New Jersey-based Cloud9 Fabrics offers a line of organic cotton fabrics designed to give crafters modern style in a green-minded alternative. Cloud9 uses only 100 percent certified organic cotton in the manufacturing of its base cloths and low-impact dyes for printing and dyeing. Although cotton is typically one of the most chemically treated crops there is—accounting for roughly 25 percent of the pesticides used in agriculture, Cloud9 says—the company’s own fabrics meet the Global Organic Textile Standard. Its whitening process, for example, is a non-chlorine, eco-friendly bleaching technique that involves no chemical brighteners. Cloud9 imports its organic cotton and goods from India, where it aims to work closely with mills that foster the practice of organic cotton farming and eco-responsible print and dye methods. The company’s retro-inspired color palette and whimsical designs, meanwhile, are generally focused on natural themes. Retail pricing on Cloud9’s collection is reportedly USD 16.50 per yard. Cloud9 fabrics are available from a variety of stockists around the world. Crafty-minded retailers: one to bring to your own eco-minded shoppers…? (Related: Swathes of customization: fabric printed on demand.) Spotted by: Martha Stewart Living