Why Do Really Popular Fabric Designs Disappear?
 

I know they have to have to put out new designs, but I find it super frustrating when really popular fabric designs disappear. There are designs from Connecting Threads, the Fruit Ladies on the Beach line, M'Liss Rae Hawley pink fashionista dachshund fabric and some of the prettier cat fabrics from Laurel Burch, that are either not available or very hard to find. Is it a copyright issue that they can only print so much and then have to stop?

No I don't think so. I was surprised to have discovered that Marcus Brothers is reprinting some of the Aunt Grace fabrics that were from the early 90s.

Oh, I hate it when that happens. I have a favorite fabric I use for bindings. It's a part of a collection that has been discontinued. Unfortunately, I guess I'm the only one who loved it. But I keep looking in case someone has a bolt in their warehouse. Fabric companies have to move on with the trends in patterns and colorways.

Love Laurel's cats. the best designs ever.

Laurel Burch died so it's up to the family that have her copyrights to have the fabric reprinted. M'Liss Rae Hawley has a Facebook page and posts there regulatory about her fabric and pictures of her dachshunds. CT designers are always designing new fabric so the older designs aren't kept in stock so I've learned to buy them as soon as they are released, especially the prints. Fruit Ladies on the Beach line is still being printed, the shops just aren't ordering it? http://www.elizabethsstudio.com/

One question....are you likely to find the same style/color/fabric/fit of your favorite pants, or shirt, or jacket, or dress, or pajamas, etc. from year to year, or season to season??

Laurel Burch's horses have been reissued recently--they are beautiful!

Unfortunately, no. You didn't mention shoes/boots but that's where I wish they would stop changing them. My foot is difficult to fit and when I find something that feels and looks good I usually buy at least two pair because I know I'll never see them next season.

What I hate is that usually by the time a pattern is published, the fabric has been out a while and may or may not be readily available. I've had to order fabric from 5 or 6 sources before to get the fabric that I wanted to make a quilt and sometimes haven't been able to find it at all.

Well, only my Lee jeans, but I take your point. Lol!

same with bras. I find one that fits and wham next season it is gone!

Fabrics are dependent on seasons, fashion, fads, (quilting, although may be everything to you, in the textile world it is a really small nitch) most lines are released for 6 months, then replaced with what is new. Sometimes a manufacturer may receive enough feedback, requests that they will rerun or rerelease a line, but they generally want to move on and keep up with current trends. If they believe they have a (timeless) design they may keep making it for a time, until the orders dry up.

same here ugh!

Oh, I just can't stay out of this discussion any longer. :D Yes, I love Laurel Burch's fabrics also. Have you tried searching on eBay for her fabrics? She was a great designer.

I guess the old saying, "nothing stays the same except change itself" is true.

I hate when I see a quilt on a LQS that I like and they don't have the fabric to make it, why put it on display then?

I do understand new styles, designs etc. What I don't understand is why staple type fabric disappears, such as white on white polka dot or some of the really quality background fabrics.

shouldn't this inspire you to choose fabrics you love vs. making the same exact as the "sample"? I guess I prefer to make the patterns in my own choices.

the shop likely sold thru the original fabric and can no longer buy it .
sandy

I get your point...but I couldn't be happier that my favorite maker of shoes and boots is under production again!! They were called "Earth shoes" in the 70's...they had a negative heel..the heel was lower than the ball of the foot..so comfortable!! They are now back under the name of Kalso Earth shoes...I have been buying up a storm since I found them again!
As for fabric..I would think it's a huge investment/gamble as to what will beat every other maker and pattern coming out ...so they make a run and move on...I am guessing that it's a numbers game...a few big hits every season offset the duds, and they're just happy to have made a profit!

I agree. I just finished a BOM of Tula Pink's City Sampler at one of my LQS. We chose our own fabrics and it was fun to see the different variations (several us did batiks, one did Christmas fabrics, one did B&W and prints) vs. another one of the LQS was doing Tula's fabrics and I imagine most of them will look very similar to the originals (i.e. Tula Pink and store sample) and each other.

We are having a reveal party next month and it should be lots of fun to see all the different quilts.

I surely do! Especially since I have to wear special shoes. froggyintexas