Unpopular opinion: I spent $200 on a 'designer' fabric that was just cheap polyester

I was working on a dress idea last fall and got talked into buying this 'exclusive' fabric from a fancy shop in Austin. The salesperson said it was a special silk blend, and I paid over $200 for three yards. When it arrived, it felt off, so I did a burn test (you know, the little trick where you see how the fiber burns). It melted and smelled like plastic, which means it was just cheap polyester with a fancy label. I was so mad because the whole design was built around this fabric's supposed drape and feel, which it didn't have at all. Now I have this expensive, useless material sitting in my closet. Has anyone else been tricked by a fabric supplier like this? How do you check before you buy, especially online?

2 comments

2 Comments

charles_green1mo agoMost Upvoted

Did you try to get a refund?

brian3031mo ago

Actually read an article last year about this exact problem. Some shops get bulk synthetic fabric and put fancy names on the bolt to charge more. The writer suggested always asking for a small sample swatch first, even if you have to pay a few dollars for it. That way you can do the burn test at home before committing to a big purchase.