Clara also pointed Eleanor toward their collection of deadstock viscose. Deadstock fabrics are the leftover rolls from fashion designers and textile mills that would otherwise go to waste. Buying deadstock was not only a sustainable choice, but it also meant Eleanor could get her hands on exclusive, designer-quality viscose that was no longer in production.

Returning to her studio as the sun began to set, Eleanor laid out her notes and the swatches she had collected. Her journey had shown her that the world of viscose was vast, catering to every type of creator.

Her first destination was the local independent fabric store, a charming shop called "The Threaded Needle." Stepping inside was like entering a treasure cave. Bolts of fabric lined the walls from floor to ceiling. Eleanor walked straight to the garment section.

Next, she visited and Stone Mountain & Daughter Fabrics . These curated independent shops were famous among garment sewists for stocking high-quality, sustainable substrates. Eleanor marveled at their selection of Lenzing™ Ecovero™ and Tencel™ branded viscose fibers, which were processed with much lower environmental impact than traditional viscose.