Deadstock? Reclaimed? Remnant? ...REALLY Confusing!! 😕

Deadstock. Reclaimed. Remnant. Etcetera. You'll see these hot-topic phrases thrown about like a hot potato everywhere you look. But does anyone know what these mean?

Or are they just the latest guilefully-greenwashed-gentrifying buzz-word (Oopsie, it appears we said the quiet part out loud 🤭...but that's another blog post for another day)

In this blog, we'll get to the bottom of what all these words mean when we use them at the H&D HQ, and shed some light on what that means for you as a 'consumer' and our esteemed customer 😘 xx

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Rescued

Rescued fabric is material that was at risk of being sent to landfill. Whether it’s surplus from factories, industry offcuts, or discontinued lines, these fabrics were deemed ‘waste’ by traditional standards—but we see their potential and save them before they are thrown away (As people who have worked brief stints in warehouses we can confirm that is literally what happens; whole rolls and batches packed up into shipping containers to be dumped in landfills. Welp 🫣).

Why it matters: Diverting fabric from landfills reduces textile waste, lessens the environmental impact, and allows us to create something fresh and meaningful from materials that would otherwise be discarded. It's also fun.

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Remnant

Remnants are in -our opinion- lovely leftovers, and bargain bin beauties. Also known as fabric roll ends, offcuts, and scraps from manufacturers, textile studios and fabric shops. These pieces are often too small for large-scale production and sale but perfect for our small-batch accessories.

Why it matters: By working with remnants, we minimize waste and use high-quality materials that might otherwise never get a chance to be used.

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Reclaimed / Rehomed

Reclaimed or rehomed fabrics are what we name our second-hand finds sourced from real people—whether gifted, thrifted, passed down, or sold on by another person. This could be kind donations, leftover fabric from home sewers, or inherited haberdashery that a family doesn't know or want to use themself. These gems already have a story and we love crafting them for a new purpose.Sidee note: this is also how we source much of our sewing studio equipment and supplies. [Shout out to Facebook marketplace + community sales pages]

Why it matters: Reclaiming materials and machinery prevents them from being thrown away, keeps them in circulation, reduces the need for new production, and supports a more sustainable, circular economy by placing money we make from our business back in the hands of PEOPLE 🫶🏾

Plus, the thrill of hearing the quaint and curious tales and histories of our finds from their previous families adds even more magic to our manufacturing process. We believe these stories are the secret to the je ne sais quoi that our charming creations exude. 

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Deadstock / Limited

Similar to remnant fabrics, deadstock fabrics are surplus materials from collections no longer in production. Different to remnant fabrics, they are typically found in larger amounts (i.e. a 10+ metre bolt of deadstock vs a 1-metre scrap remnant).

These textiles were produced for specific collections but went unused—usually due to the original textiles' studio/warehouse overordering, small imperfections, or shifts in production plans. Since deadstock is limited in supply, once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Why it matters: Using deadstock fabrics prevents high-quality textiles from being wasted while allowing us to create rare, limited-edition pieces that can’t be replicated.

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Sourced from Small & Independent Businesses

We buy much of our fabrics from small, family-run fabric shops and independent makers. These businesses often carry unique, hand-selected materials, and their expertise is sometimes passed down through generations.

Why it matters: Supporting small businesses helps keep traditional skills alive, fosters community, and ensures that our money is reinvested in real people rather than corporate giants.

Please note, whilst the fabrics we use may not fall into all of these categories, they always tick one of them, at least 😘. 

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Why This Matters to Us (And You!)

At H&D, every fabric we use has a past, a present, and a future. By choosing materials with history—whether rescued, reclaimed, or sourced from small businesses—we not only create beautiful, meaningful pieces + keep this planet, and people at heart. We like to imagine each H&D scrunchie as a loud obnoxious 'BOO👎🏾' to fast fashion and waste.

...And a big 'Yayy 🥳🫶🏾' to conscious, community-centred small businesses and their wonderful supporters helping us do this work. We 🩷 U 4 Eva.

Shopping from Human & Dlicate is not just about buying hair accessories. It's a heart-led act of continuing a story, embracing sustainability, and supporting creativity, people, and the planet.

→ Explore our consciously crafted hair accessories here

Kindest, 
Destinee 🧚🏾‍♀️