How to Choose a Textiles Supplier for Your Technical Project

Published 1st December 2025

If you are looking for technical fabric suppliers for a standard project, then you’ll be spoiled for choice. There are dozens of basic textiles suppliers who’ll be happy to help. However, when it comes to more technical projects, with very specific requirements, you need more than a basic textiles supplier – you need Redwood.

In this article, we’ll show you what sets Redwood apart when it comes to technical fabric suppliers, how we can help you get exactly what you need, and why it makes sound commercial and practical sense to partner with us.

Why Vetting Your Technical Textile Supplier is Non-Negotiable

Many textile suppliers will tell you whatever you want to hear in order to win your business, so vetting the company is a must to ensure they can deliver what they say they can. 

• Choose the wrong company – and you’ll inevitably face disappointment as your project is delayed again and again, and the costs grow and grow. When they eventually do deliver, late and over-budget, you could still find that the fabric is not what you need. This not only puts your project at risk, but it could also seriously damage your company’s reputation.

• Choose Redwood – and you’ll get collaboration and quality from the start, from an experienced company that do what they say, when they say they will. We have the expertise, the capacity, the supply partners and the logistics to get things done, and get them done right, keeping your project on track and on budget, and keeping your reputation intact.

5 Essential Criteria for Evaluating Technical Textiles Suppliers

Here are five essential considerations when looking for a technical textiles supplier:

1. Technical Expertise and Material Specialism – do they have the experience and expertise of working with technical textiles across a range of applications? Redwood technical fabrics can be found across a broad spectrum of industries, from automotive to military, covering a wide range of equipment from soft play to sports gear

2. Verifiable Quality Control and Industry Certifications – do they have certified standards, and can they offer independent product testing if required? Redwood is certified to ISO 9001 quality standard and can offer either in house or independent materials testing to prove our products.

3. Robust Supply Chain and Proven Reliability – can the company demonstrate a robust supply chain for specialist fabric sourcing and reliable, dependable manufacturing? Redwood has long-standing relationships with the very best suppliers around the world, as well as a proven reputation with some of the biggest names in UK and global business.

4. Collaborative R&D Capabilities – does the company simply produce what they’re asked for, or will they work with you to fine-tune your requirements? Redwood’s Design and Development team work closely with all our clients to create collaborative, innovative solutions to lift their projects to the next level.

5. A Proven Track Record – can they demonstrate successful working relationships with companies that you know and respect? Redwood has an impressive order book, including leading manufacturing companies and specialist medical suppliers, all of whom trust our expertise, our quality and our unbeatable service.

Red Flags to Watch for in a Potential Textiles Supplier

If you follow the advice above, then you won’t go far wrong when choosing the right technical fabric suppliers. You can also sort out the genuine technical fabric suppliers from those who are spinning you a yarn, by looking for the red flags, such as:

• Vague, uninformed answers to technical questions

• Lack of formal certification

• Reluctance to engage or collaborate

• Slow communication

• Constantly shifting deadlines and increasing costs

• No track record in the industry

If a textiles supplier demonstrates any of these behaviours, you should move on to a more reliable supplier, like Redwood.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What’s the difference between a technical textile supplier and a standard fabric company?

A. Technical textiles have additional properties that help them deliver specialist performance, such as fire retardance and moisture resistance. These are not generally available from a standard fabric company and must be sourced from a specialist technical textiles supplier.

Q. What is ISO 9001 and why is it important?

A. ISO 9001 is an internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems. It demonstrates a commitment to quality at all stages of the manufacturing process. Redwood is proud to be ISO9001 certified.

Q. Can Redwood help with product development?

A. Absolutely. The Redwood design and development team will work with you, whether you have very specific requirements, an outline idea, or you simply have a problem that needs a solution.

Q. What should I prepare before contacting a potential supplier?

A. Ideally, the more you can bring to the table, the better. This includes information such as performance specifications and compliance demands, along with required quantities, distribution and budgets. However, Redwood can work with whatever you have, wherever you are up to in the process.

At Redwood, the answer is yes; now what’s the question?

The short answer to our article title, ‘How to Choose a Textiles Supplier for Your Technical Project’ is simply to choose Redwood. As one of the industry’s leading technical textiles suppliers, we have an unrivalled reputation for quality, innovation and collaboration, supported by high-capacity manufacturing and worldwide distribution.

If you need technical fabric suppliers for your next project, don’t risk going anywhere else. Get our team on your team and add all the experience and expertise you need to make that project happen.

To start your collaboration with Redwood, contact our team today.