Hey everyone, if you’ve ever stood in front of your closet staring at a pile of clothes that aren’t your usual cotton or basic polyester, you know the vibe: “Wait, what do I even do with this?” I’ve been in the exact same spot for years, back when I first started working as a supplier for these “other fabrics” (the ones that don’t make up 90% of fast fashion racks but deserve so much more shine). People ask me all the time: How do you style stuff made of, like, hemp, linen blend, recycled cashmere, or even that weirdly luxe mushroom leather you’ve seen popping up? Let’s break this down—no stuffy fashion rules, just real, usable tips I’ve picked up working with these fabrics day in and day out. Other Fabrics
First off, let’s get one thing straight: “other fabrics” aren’t just the random stuff fashion brands throw in to be “sustainable.” Each one has its own personality, and styling them means leaning into that, not fighting it. I see so many people try to tame hemp to act like cotton, or smooth mushroom leather to be like regular leather, and it never works. Let’s start with the most common one folks reach for these days: linen. You know linen— it’s crinkly, it breathes like a dream, and it’s impossible to get that crisp, pressed look 24/7. For so long people treated linen wrinkles like a flaw, but here’s my take: own them. If you’re wearing a linen button-down, skip the iron (no judgment if you can’t be bothered, we’re all busy) and wear it unbuttoned over a simple white tank. Pair that with high-waisted tailored shorts (even if they’re linen too!) or straight-leg jeans—wait, no, better: linen-blend trousers. The contrast of a slouchy linen top with structured linen pants is chef’s kiss. I had a customer last month who came to me complaining her linen dress felt “too casual” for work, and I told her to layer it with a thin suede belt (not leather, wait—suede is different, softer) and ankle boots instead of sneakers. Suddenly she was wearing it to client meetings, no more “beachy linen” vibe. Pro tip for linen: if you need it to be a little less wrinkly, hang it in the bathroom while you shower— the steam takes out most of the creases, no iron required. Way easier than hauling out the big appliance every time.
Next up, hemp. Hemp gets a bad rap for being scratchy sometimes, but modern hemp blends are so soft these days—way different than the rough stuff your grandpa’s overalls were made of. The key with hemp is that it’s super durable, so you can pair it with pretty much anything, but it has that earthy, grounded energy. I love a hemp hoodie (yes, they make those now) with joggers that are a smoother fabric, like cotton, so the textures balance out. If you’re dressing it up, try a hemp blazer—team that with a turtleneck and leather pants (real or vegan, no snobbery here). The hemp’s matte finish pairs perfectly with the leather’s sheen, and the durability means that blazer will last you years, even with regular wear. I always tell people: don’t be afraid to mix hemp with unexpected things. I once styled a hemp tote bag with a formal midi skirt for a wedding, and it worked so well—casual enough to hold all your essentials, fancy enough not to clash. Also, hemp doesn’t fade like regular cotton, so the color stays vibrant longer. That’s a win in my book, because no one wants a faded hemp shirt after one wash.
Now let’s talk about the fancier stuff—recycled cashmere, mushroom leather, pineapple fiber, that whole crew. These are the “luxury other fabrics” that people usually save for special occasions, but you don’t have to. Recycled cashmere is so soft you’ll want to live in it, so why only wear it to dinners? I have a recycled cashmere sweater that I pair with sweatpants on lazy weekends, and with a midi skirt and ankle boots when I need to run errands that feel a little more put-together. The trick here is keeping the look balanced—recycled cashmere is expensive (well, worth it, but not cheap), so don’t overpower it with loud patterns or bulky pieces. Keep it simple: neutral tones work best, but a soft pastel recycled cashmere top pairs great with dark denim. For mushroom leather, which is a smooth, plant-based alternative to regular leather, don’t treat it like it’s the same. Mushroom leather is usually thinner and a little more flexible, so a mushroom leather jacket doesn’t have the harsh edge of a regular leather biker jacket. Try wearing it over a flowy floral dress for contrast, or with a graphic tee and jeans for a cool, casual vibe. I’ve had a lot of millennials and Gen Z customers come to me asking for ways to style these alternative leathers without looking “costume-y,” and the best tip I can give is: treat it like a nice, casual fabric, not a formal leather. It’s not going to hold up to motorcycle rides, but it will hold up to coffee runs and office meetings, so style it like that.
Wait, let’s not forget about the textures that come with these fabrics. A common mistake people make is mixing too many similar textures. Like, if you’re wearing a heavily textured linen sweater, don’t pair it with a heavily textured knit skirt—you’ll look like a walking burlap sack (no offense to burlap, but that’s not the look we’re going for). Balance is everything. Smooth fabric with textured fabric, matte with a little sheen, loose with fitted. That’s the golden rule when styling other fabrics. For example: a pineapple fiber dress (pineapple fiber is super lightweight, by the way) has a slightly crisp, structured feel, so pairing it with a soft, thin cotton cardigan keeps it from feeling too stiff. Or a hemp skirt, which is slouchy and loose, pairs perfectly with a fitted silk top—suddenly it’s equal parts relaxed and polished.
Also, let’s talk about colors, because that’s a big part of styling. A lot of other fabrics come in natural, earthy tones—olive green, beige, tan, soft browns—but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to neutral. Modern production processes mean you can get these fabrics in any color you want. I’ve seen bright red recycled cashmere, bright blue hemp shirts, even pink mushroom leather belts. If you’re going for a bold color, pair it with simpler pieces. A bright blue linen button-down looks awesome with white jeans—neutral, clean, lets the shirt be the star. If you want to mix two bold colors, stick to complementary tones, like a forest green hemp blazer with a burnt orange turtleneck. It’s fun without being overwhelming.
Another thing I wish more people knew: these fabrics are versatile across seasons. Linen isn’t just for summer—you can pair a long linen coat with turtlenecks and boots in the winter. Hemp isn’t just for casual spring days—heavy hemp trousers look great with thermal tops and puffer vests in the cold. Even mushroom leather bags work in the winter—they’re durable enough to handle snow and rain (just like any other leather, wipe it down when it’s dirty). I have a customer who swears by her mushroom leather crossbody bag for all seasons—she uses it with a sundress in July and a wool coat in December. It’s all about layering and adjusting the pieces around the fabric, not adjusting the fabric itself.
Let’s get real for a second—styling new fabrics can be intimidating, especially when you’re used to the same old cotton and polyester. I still mess up sometimes! Last year I bought a linen-cotton blend jumpsuit and tried to dress it up with high heels and a blazer, and it looked way too stiff, like I was wearing a bed sheet to a meeting. So I swapped the heels for white sneakers and the blazer for a denim jacket, and suddenly it was my go-to outfit for everything from grocery runs to happy hour. The point is: there’s no “right” way to style these fabrics, just what feels good to you. If you don’t care about rules, wear that hemp hoodie with a sequin skirt— I promise it works. If you prefer a more polished look, stick to structured pieces. It’s your style, not a fashion show.
Now, as someone who’s been in the other fabrics game for years, I can tell you that this market is only growing. More and more people are ditching fast fashion and looking for fabrics that are better for the planet, but they don’t want to sacrifice style or versatility. That’s why I love talking to people about styling these fabrics—because there’s so much potential, you just have to get past the initial “what do I do with this?” feeling.
If you’re someone who’s been testing out other fabrics but is still stuck on how to style them, or if you’re a brand looking for high-quality, sustainable other fabrics to add to your line, I’m here to help. I’ve worked with everything from hemp and linen blends to recycled cashmere and mushroom leather, and I know exactly how these fabrics behave, what works, and what doesn’t. Whether you need advice on styling a specific piece, or you want to chat about sourcing fabrics that fit your brand’s needs, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s make styling these amazing, underrated fabrics easy and fun, together.
600D Oxford Fabric References:
- Textile Institute. (2022). Sustainable Fabric Guide: Performance and Styling for Alternative Textiles.
- Jones, R. (2023). “Styling Natural and Alternative Fibers for Everyday Wear.” Fashion Forward Magazine, Issue 17.
- Global Fashion Agenda. (2021). Circular Textile Trends: Alternative Fibers in Modern Apparel.
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