It's been my experience (or from others who've shared stories) that all fabric manufacturers sometimes have less than great quality fabric/supplies. Even when you get something from a brand name, there's no guarantee it'll be "as advertised".

I find that I check each fabric and if I like it, I buy it. So far I haven't had any problems. I think each has to find what works best for them.

I have talked by phone with representatives of three major fabric manufacturers and they agreed that they did not make lesser quality fabrics for retailers. They all cited the expense of having different processes, machines, etc., for such an enterprise, but more important, since their names are on the selvage, they could not afford to risk their reputations by making substandard products for mass markets over which they have no control.

Each of the representatives also told me that people who believe they make and sell lesser products to certain retailers will never be convinced otherwise despite what they are told and what good common sense would tell them.

I buy fabric by the way it feels, called "hand," and sometimes it is inexpensive fabric and sometimes is has a premium price. You can read about "hand" on the Internet and you can Google information about fabric companies and make inquiries of them on their Websites. froggyintexas

I buy my fabric based on my choice of colours and if I like how it feels. I have seen expensive fabric that I don't like the feel of and fheap fabric I think is wonderful and vice versa, I just go with what I like, without setting too much emphasis on brand.

My opinion only.....I'm going to compare fabric with canned goods. The "store" brand versus the name brand...I was told, although I have no way to verify it, that in regard to canned goods, the "store" brand is actually a name brand canned good using the store brand label which the store pays for. That way the manufacturer gets paid for the name brand as well as the store brand so he's making money on both ends by making his product available for those who have money and those who do not. If this is true, maybe that's what happens with fabric manufacturers as well. Does anyone know if this is true?

This myth started as marketing to buy fabric from quilt shops to insure getting quilt shop quality and not runs of less quality. Many fabric reps did more then their fair share to promote this idea. That mindset about fabric is still being marketed that way now. I don't pay much attention to anyone that says only quilt shops have the best fabric.

I don't know what your source was for the store brand info you gave, but store brands are definitely not 'relabeled' brand name goods. Store brands are more comparable to generics in the drug world. They are made by large manufacturers, food or drug, that specialize in making generic and/or store brand products. I have several friends that work at such a factory in Michigan. You're far more apt to have two different store brand peaches or aspirin be identical then to have either be the same as DelMonte or Bayer.

I put no faith at all in the myth of several grades of a fabric being made to be sold to different stores. Nor do I have any faith in the idea that large manufacturers sell off their test runs of fabric. It's far more likely that part of those runs stay on 'file' for future reference, with any excess going to employees at deep discount. A test run is just that, a small test, not major production. But just as froggy said, those who believe the myth will never be convinced otherwise.

Jusge fabric quality for yourself on a case by case basis. It's the only way to be 100% sure of what you are getting.