Fairbrother works with a majority of found materials sourced from family belongings and second-hand stores, including fabrics, lace, doilies, clothing, and various found objects. The act of finding, categorizing, and incorporating these materials is an essential part of her research. Material collection allows her to spend time with each object, handling its surface, studying its pattern, and understanding the history it carries before it becomes part of a piece.

She gathers a wide range of materials so she is prepared for any moment that she may need something specific (things that not only look visually appropriate but also speak to her through their texture and weight). Her love for material objects extends into the way she organizes them in her studio, arranging them intentionally within different drawers and storage containers to stay organized.