Contributor Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in contributing to Moda Material. We live and breathe textiles. Swatches on our desks. Threads under our nails. Our editors are fabric specialists—textile scientists, sourcing managers, patternmakers, and lifelong sewists—who’ve tested, washed, and worn more cloth than most closets can hold. If you have genuine, hands-on insight into fabric, clothing materials, and the questions that bring people to them, we want to hear from you.

Please read these guidelines carefully before pitching. They help us maintain accuracy, craft, and trust.

What We Are Looking For

We accept articles that are:

  • Original: Content must be 100% unique and unpublished elsewhere (including your personal site or newsletter). We value first-hand experience—fabric you’ve cut, sewn, dyed, laundered, or lab-tested yourself.
  • Actionable: How-to guides, technique breakdowns, buying frameworks, and case studies that readers can use today. Clear steps. Real outcomes. Photos or diagrams when helpful.
  • Evidence-based: Back claims with data, standards, or credible sources. Cite relevant specs (GSM, fiber content, weave/knit structure, tensile/tear strength, pilling and colorfastness tests, shrinkage percentages), certifications (OEKO-TEX, GOTS, bluesign), and supplier or mill references when appropriate.
  • Experienced: Share what you’ve learned on the cutting table or in the field—fit issues with slinky knits, dye uptake on linen, drape differences between TENCEL Lyocell and viscose, how you solved seam slippage on rayon challis.
  • Depth: Articles should generally be between 1,000 and 2,000 words. Complex technical deep dives may run longer; quick-reference explainers may run shorter if they deliver value.
  • Clear and inclusive: Define jargon on first use. Note skill level (beginner/intermediate/advanced). Provide alternatives for different budgets, machines, and climates.
  • Ethical and transparent: Disclose relationships with brands, mills, or retailers. We welcome sustainability insights grounded in measurable impact—water usage, chemistry, traceability—not vague green claims.
  • Well-presented: Clean copy, logical structure, and high-resolution, rights-cleared images (originals preferred). Diagrams, swatch close-ups, and before/after care tests are a plus.

Topics of Interest

  • Fabric fundamentals: fiber guides (cotton, linen, hemp, wool, silk, bamboo, viscose/modal/lyocell), blends, and how composition affects drape, breathability, and durability.
  • Weaves and knits: twill vs. plain vs. satin, dobby and jacquard, jersey vs. interlock vs. rib—what to choose and why.
  • Testing and performance: pilling, abrasion, tensile and tear strength, colorfastness, shrinkage, dimensional stability, hand-feel and drape comparisons.
  • Care and longevity: washing routines, pre-shrinking and finishing, stain removal, pressing and steaming, repair techniques that extend garment life.
  • Sewing with tricky textiles: chiffon, charmeuse, denim, stretch wovens, bouclé, waxed cotton, technical shells—needle/thread choices, seam finishes, and stabilizers that work.
  • Sourcing and sustainability: certifications, dyehouse practices, deadstock realities, circularity, recycling, and material innovations (bio-based leathers, solution-dyed synthetics).
  • Case studies: how a fabric choice changed fit, cost, or failure rate; lessons from a production run; pre-production sampling and swatch testing.
  • Trend and market analysis: seasonal fabric trends, regional textile traditions, price movements, and what mills are developing next.
  • Buyer’s guides and frameworks: evaluating hand vs. spec sheets, reading lab reports, comparing mills, and building a versatile fabric library.

What We Do Not Accept

  • Press releases, sales pitches, or link-building articles.
  • Excessive self-promotion or undisclosed affiliations. One relevant bio link is fine; commercial links are limited and subject to editor approval.
  • Plagiarism, spun copy, or factual inaccuracies (including unsubstantiated performance or sustainability claims).
  • Content generated entirely by AI tools without substantial human authorship and expert editing.
  • Low-quality images, unlicensed photos, or assets you don’t have the right to publish.
  • Irrelevant topics (gambling, crypto, generic lifestyle, etc.) or anything that conflicts with reader trust and safety.

How to Submit

Please send a brief pitch (2–3 sentences describing your idea), a working headline, and links to two samples of your previous writing via the contact us page. Include a one-sentence bio with your relevant experience (e.g., textile engineering, apparel production, tailoring, dyeing), any disclosures, and your expected word count. If we are interested, we will reply within 5 business days.