In textile sourcing you will meet two very different products with the same fibre and weave: greige fabric and finished fabric. The price gap between them is large — and so is the work required in between. This guide explains both, what a converter does, and which route fits your business.
What is greige fabric?
Greige fabric (also spelled grey or gray cloth) is fabric straight off the loom — woven but not dyed and not finished. It is the raw material stage: natural off-white in colour, with natural fibres' impurities still present, and without the hand, shrink resistance or colour of the final product.
What is finished fabric?
Finished fabric has gone through dyeing and finishing: scouring, bleaching (if needed), dyeing or printing, setting, preshrinking and optional treatments (softening, water repellency, anti-static). This is the fabric ready for cutting into garments.
Greige vs finished: key differences
| Feature | Greige Fabric | Finished Fabric |
|---|---|---|
| Stage | Straight off the loom | After dyeing & finishing |
| Colour | Natural off-white | Dyed or printed to shade |
| Hand feel | Stiff, unrefined | Softened and finished |
| Shrinkage | High (unset) | Preshrunk, stable |
| Price per metre | Lower | Higher (value added) |
| Buyer type | Converters, dyers, garment mills with dyeing | Garment factories, brands, retailers |
What does a fabric converter do?
A converter buys greige fabric from the mill, then arranges dyeing and finishing with specialist processors, and sells the finished fabric. Converters earn the margin between greige and finished prices — and they take the risk of quality, shade and shrinkage. They are a key link in the textile chain, common in markets with strong dyeing clusters.
Which should you buy?
Buy greige fabric if:
- You have your own dyeing and finishing capability
- You are a converter building your own finished range
- You want flexibility to dye different shades from the same base cloth
- You have the technical staff to control finishing quality
Buy finished fabric if:
- You are a garment factory or brand without dyeing capability
- You need consistent quality and shade approved in advance
- You want one supplier accountable for the whole process
- Your order is colour-specific (most apparel orders are)
Quality differences to watch
- Shade consistency: finished fabric from a mill with controlled dyeing is more consistent than finishing through multiple processors
- Shrinkage: proper preshrinking requires controlled finishing — check the test report
- Hand feel: softening and setting steps vary widely between finishers
- Cost transparency: with greige, you pay dyeing and finishing separately and carry the quality risk yourself
How we work
As a manufacturer we supply both: greige T/R fabric for converters, and fully finished, piece-dyed fabric with preshrunk finishing for garment factories and brands. One mill, one quality standard, whichever route you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Is greige fabric cheaper than finished fabric?
Yes, significantly — but you must add dyeing, finishing and your own quality control costs, and you carry the shade and shrinkage risk.
Can I order greige and have you finish it later?
Yes — we can hold greige for you and finish to your shade on demand, which gives flexibility for colour programs.
What is the typical price difference?
Finishing typically adds 30-60% to greige cost depending on dyeing, shade depth and treatments — the exact split varies by construction.
Which route do most buyers choose?
Garment factories and brands overwhelmingly buy finished fabric; converters and vertically integrated mills buy greige.
Need T/R yarn or polyester viscose fabric? Send your specification — blend, count, weight and quantity — and get a quotation within one working day. Request a Quote