There's no such thing as a "best" fabric. There's only the right fabric for your product, your price point, and your production reality. Period.
I've been managing procurement for a mid-sized apparel company for six years. I've tracked over $180,000 in cumulative spending, compared quotes from more than a dozen vendors, and built a TCO spreadsheet that has saved us from bad decisions more times than I can count. The biggest lesson? Most budget overruns don't come from paying too much per yard. They come from choosing the wrong fabric category in the first place.
That's why this guide doesn't give you one answer. Instead, I'll walk you through three common scenarios—denim, antique satin, and nylon—and show you what a cost-focused buyer should actually consider in each case. Along the way, I'll talk about Arvind, because if you're sourcing in India, you've definitely seen their name. But I'll also tell you when Arvind isn't the right call. Here's the thing: knowing what a supplier is not good at is just as valuable as knowing what they nail.
Start with these three questions
Before you even look at fabric samples, answer these:
- What is the end use? A summer short, an evening gown, or a sports jacket? These demand completely different fibers.
- What's your target price per garment? That tells you which fiber classes are even feasible.
- What's your volume? Minimum order quantities vary wildly between mills.
Get those clear, and the scenario you're in becomes obvious. It solves half the sourcing problem right there.
Scenario A — You're making women's denim overall shorts (or any denim)
If your line includes denim pieces like women's denim overall shorts, you're in the fabric world where Arvind genuinely shines. Arvind is one of the largest vertically integrated textile mills in India—mill to market, as they say. They're a big name in the arvind fashion apparel India landscape, and they own or license several arvind fashion clothing brands in India that you've definitely seen in malls.
From a cost standpoint, denim is a volume game. The fabric weight, indigo dyeing process, and finishing (stone wash, enzyme wash, etc.) all affect price. I compared two denim suppliers back in 2023: a local mill with a lower per-yard quote, and Arvind with a slightly higher one. The local mill's fabric had more shade variation across rolls. We had to re-cut several lots. When I calculated total cost including waste and rework, Arvind was actually 9% cheaper.
That was a classic contrast insight for me: same specifications, different suppliers—but the cheap option wasn't really the cheap option. For consistent indigo dyeing, the industry color tolerance is Delta E < 2 for brand-critical colors, per Pantone guidelines. Arvind's quality control gets you in that range. Small mills often don't.
Arvind isn't just a fabric mill—they're also behind some arvind fashion clothing brands in India. So they understand the full chain from fiber to finish. That means fewer surprises when you ask for a specific wash or finish.
Bottom line: For denim, especially womens denim overall shorts at scale, it's hard to beat a large integrated supplier like Arvind—if you can negotiate decent terms. They have the capacity and the consistency. That's worth paying for.
Scenario B — Your design calls for antique satin fabric
Let's flip the script. Suppose your product uses antique satin fabric—that slinky, drapey, slightly glossy material often used in evening wear, lingerie, or curated home décor. Should you call Arvind?
Honestly? Probably not as your first choice.
Arvind's core strength is cotton-based textiles: shirting, denim, khakis, and some home furnishing. Antique satin is usually woven from rayon, acetate, or polyester. That's a different fiber class, with different dyeing and finishing challenges. A specialist mill that runs this construction daily will give you better quality and lower costs than a huge cotton-focused mill doing it as a side line.
Look, I learned this the hard way. I once assumed "if a mill is big enough, they can make anything." That's an expensive assumption. I sent a request for antique satin to a large mill that mainly does cotton. The sample looked fine, but the bulk shipment had inconsistent luster—some rolls looked flat, others were glossy. We had to claim a redo with the supplier, and the production delay cost us more than the fabric itself.
When you're vetting a specialty supplier, ask about their looms and yarn counts. What do they run every day? Do they do their own dyeing and finishing? If they're a specialist, they'll have clear answers. If they start saying "we can do anything," that's a red flag.
I'm not saying Arvind can't make antique satin. I'm saying that when you're sourcing a specialty fabric, you want a specialist. A good vendor will tell you right upfront: "This isn't our strength—here's who does it better." That honesty is worth more than a promise. And that's the expertise boundary you want to respect.
Bottom line: For antique satin fabric, find a mill that specializes in cellulosic or synthetic weaves. Don't default to the big name just because it's big.
Scenario C — You're asking "is nylon a good fabric?"
Here's a question I get all the time from owners: "Is nylon a good fabric?" My answer: it depends entirely on what you're making.
Nylon is strong, abrasion-resistant, and dries fast. That makes it fantastic for activewear, outerwear, swimwear, and bags. It's also a petroleum-based synthetic, which is a red flag if your brand markets itself as sustainable. And if you're sourcing nylon in 2025, expect price volatility—it tracks crude oil, so your cost of goods can shift mid-season.
For cost control, I'd recommend nylon only if your product genuinely needs its technical properties. For a yoga legging or a packable jacket, nylon is a no-brainer compared to natural fibers. But for a basic T-shirt? You'll get a clammy feel and an unhappy customer. And don't think you can just swap nylon for polyester to save money—polyester has lower elasticity and a different hand feel. Your pattern makers will notice.
If you DO go nylon, build a cost model. When I run the numbers for a nylon jacket, I factor in 5% waste, 8% overhead for QC, and a 10% buffer for feedstock changes. That gives me a realistic picture instead of a fantasy number.
Also, if sustainability is part of your pitch, look into recycled nylon (like ECONYL). It costs more—around 20–30% premium as of early 2025—but it'll help you avoid greenwashing accusations. I once chose virgin nylon to save on a small line of tote bags. We got called out by a customer for the environmental impact. That small savings wasn't worth the reputation hit. Reverse validation, I guess.
Bottom line: Is nylon a good fabric? Yes, for performance-minded products where durability and quick-dry matter. No, if you're chasing a natural, breathable drape. Make the call based on your end-use, not on a generic list of pros and cons.
How to know which scenario you're in
Here's a quick, practical way to decide where you fall:
- If you're making denim or cotton casual wear — Arvind is a serious candidate. Their integrated supply chain and scale work in your favor.
- If you're making antique satin or other specialty drape fabrics — seek a specialist. Ask them about their loom types and finishing capacity before sending specs.
- If you're making activewear, outerwear, or accessories — investigate nylon or polyester options, but budget for feedstock volatility and verify your sustainability claims.
- If you're unsure, order 10-yard samples from three different mills and run your own abrasion, colorfastness, and shrinkage tests. That data is worth more than any brochure.
One more tip: always calculate TCO, not unit price. The formula I use is: (price per yard × total yards) + shipping + duties + QC failures + rework + delay costs. Write it in a spreadsheet. You'll be surprised how often the "cheap" vendor loses once you include the full chain.
Final thought
Sourcing isn't about finding the "best" fabric. It's about matching the fabric, the finish, and the supplier's strengths to your specific product and price point. Over the years, I've learned that the most honest suppliers are the ones who tell you what they don't do well. It's counterintuitive—but it's the fastest way to build trust.
Arvind is a strong choice for cotton-based apparel, no doubt. After choosing them for a denim order last year, I spent the first two weeks second-guessing myself, worrying about delivery timelines. They delivered on time, and the shade variance was within acceptable Delta E. I relaxed. But I wouldn't send them an antique satin request.
So before you send out that RFQ, ask yourself: which scenario am I in? The answer will save you a ton of money—and probably a couple of headaches too.