Last year I made a trip to NYC with husband and kids with no intention of making fabric shopping a priority, and thus, had done no advance research. When I realized that I’d fallen into the garment district’s lap, I did some quick googling from my phone and visited three shops – Mood, B & J and M & J. All three were fantastic.
This year I went with just my husband and while I didn’t want to take a lot of time for fabric, I did do some strategic planning. I made two trips – one shop the first day and five or so the second day. About two hours, total. Two quick trips do not an expert make, but when I was researching, I wanted more photos of shops than I found. My primary resource was Shop The Garment District as well as this related post with 3 different itineraries.
There was one shop that’s less centrally located that I had to see. Every listing I found for the shop called it Trumart, but the sign above the shop and the sign on the door spell it with an e.
Truemart is a short hike from the middle of the fabric district. To a mom of small kids, the “no strollers” sign on the door looks kind of menacing.
Once inside, it’s clear that whether or not they like kids, there’s really no where to PUT a stroller. It’s an avalanche waiting to happen. The store itself was the size of a small coffee shop. Just one circuit around a center ring. I could have spent longer looking there except that there was a lot that just wasn’t physically accessible.
I chose chambrays in pink, red and grey. The guys used a yardstick to measure and then–
Tore the fabric to length. I can’t stand that tearing sound. But I wasn’t going to argue. I was way out of my comfort zone as it was, and THEN…
… wasn’t expecting negotiation. A lot of fabrics’ prices weren’t marked, so the conversation would go something like this:
me: How much is this one?
him: Uh, 12 a yard.
me: Okay. I’ll take one and a half.
him: How about two for 20?
me: — momentarily speechless —
Their sales strategy worked. For most things, I was happier with more yardage at less per yard. This is the only store I visited that worked that way. They also offered that if I needed more of something and could send a swatch, they’d send more if they had it. When/if I go back to NYC, this store is on my list for sure. Even though I did worry that these poor sagging metal shelves could set off the avalanche at any second.
Just that one store was enough excitement for our arrival day, but the next morning I set out after breakfast to check out the block of West 39th St between 7th and 8th Avenues. The block with the pink line. Before leaving home I’d made myself a quick and dirty map for my phone. ‘Cause I’m a nerd.
Everything else in this post is from just that one block. One half of that block, really, because I only spent about 90 minutes. There are just so many stores. For example, Fashions… Fabric.
This one was well organized and did not present as many imminent hazards.
The signage cracked me up. Look at this word long enough and you won’t remember the right way to spell it anymore either.
If I had any go-to ideas for eyelet, this was the place. So many colors!
And if only I needed a party dress. This place had that covered.
Next I slid into Better Choice Fabrics. Because if I have choices, I’d like the better one, please.
This one actually had relatively little fabric, but was floor to ceiling with trims. Holy moly.
It made me think I should start making silk tanks with trim just for play dates at the park.
Of the few fabrics this store had, I fell in looooove with this middle one. Only $90 a yard. I stuck to a few yards of more affordable things.
Like this. I’ll be so cute going to the grocery store!
So next there were two stores. I was starting to feel a little numb already. Overloaded. From those two stores I only took this one photo. They’d used rope to keep rolls of fabric from sliding or falling, and I guess over time those ropes have collected all of these random threads. I thought it was beautiful. I think the lady in the store thought I was nuts, but she did joke about charging me $10 for the photo. At least I think it was a joke.
I crossed the street (and totally jaywalked too) into another store, G & R Fabric. A lot of wandering around. You really could get lost. And maybe crushed and left for a while before someone decided they needed a few yards of whatever had taken you down. For example, here’s the back room at that store:
I told one of the sales guys I like the music in the store– it was something upbeat. It made me a more enthusiastic shopper. He laughed and said his boss would be in soon and would change it. Such nice salespeople here.
There were these pleated panels hanging around in various colors. The guy saw me checking them out and held one up for me.
He pointed out that they’re about a yard wide at the top, and about three yards wide at the bottom. I chose one of the pink pleated pieces and the sweet salesguy (Mirza!) helped me find enough matching lining to make a skirt.
Considering that everyone who spoke to me asked what I was looking for, or when I was looking at something, what I was planning to make, I gather that most people come in with a plan and maybe a list. I had neither. I was collecting materials to inspire me for the next year or six.
Next up: Daytona Trim. As you walk in the door they had ready-made beaded collars on display.
The jacquard ribbon selection was amazing.
And all priced by width.
I was fascinated by this zipper. Fascinated in a maybe-if-I-were-a-lady-of-the-night-I’d-have-seen-this-before kind of way. But then I kind of liked it. And then I thought it was trashy. But then I thought maybe if it had just the right outfit? Surely not. But maybe? Absolutely not. Welll…. obviously, I’m conflicted. No, I didn’t buy one. But I’m still confused as to whether I should have.
My last stop (after a desperate dash down the street to Starbucks, because none of these stores has a public restroom) was Paron Fabrics. Ahhh, after the stores full of things that threatened to kill me, this one was a breath of fresh air. It reminded me of B & J Fabrics, but wasn’t as large. The black fabric with a bit of tangerine on the cutting table is an ikat! The weight of it is lovely.
Bright and orderly. Clearly marked. Lots of designer fabrics and everything had clearly marked fiber content– something most of the other stores didn’t have.
I love digging for treasure at the bargain shops, but I can only handle so much processing before my head reaches implosion stage. If there’s a 3rd trip, really, seriously, I need a list.
This store was a nice, calm end to my trip. The problem with going to the garment district, for me, is that it only makes me want to go again. I keep thinking I’m going to cross it off my list, and that never happens. And then I found this post – a guided tour is tempting!
I want some of that eyelet! And I didn’t know chambray came in non denimy colors. . .
omg, i totally forgot about trumart- its not far from FIT and i used to stop in there when i was taking classes. FIT has a free museum. totally worth a stop if you are so close by
Hi – that was sooo exciting for you! FYI the rhinestone zipper looks cool on a jacket but we totally use them for dance costumes – very effective on the stage!!
Love all the photos! And that zipper is amazing! It could be used as a little bit of flair on a dull jacket!
I am in California and am planning to make a trip up to LAs district to stock up. I have never been to any sort of fashion district. I was wondering- how much money do you put aside for a fabric excursion like this? I know that the fabrics will generally be cheaper per yard in comparison to my local stores, but who knows how many gems you’ll come across!! Any tips for figuring out what how much money to bring with you/expect to spend?
Thanks for sharing your adventure! Makes me even more excited to go!
That is an excellent question. All depends on how often you sew and how much yardage is required for the things you make. I wouldn’t say that the fabrics I bought were necessarily cheaper per yard– but they were better quality or way more interesting than anything I’d find locally. Like, locally, I’d only find blue chambray, and I was looking for it in other colors. I couldn’t even find it online in other colors. Yes, on the whole, I’d not necessarily expect cheaper. What I am going for –when I go– is better quality and/or different selection. All of that said, what I’ve read about LA’s shopping is that there’re more bargain-oriented stores. I think the least expensive fabric I bought on this trip was $6/yard, and the most expensive was $20 — and I was buying half yards of that for embellishment.
I’ve been there a few times but it was about 7 years ago so things could have changed. It really depends on what kinds of fabric you are purchasing as to how much money you will spend. Haggling is HUGE there I think there was only one store that I went to that didn’t haggle and it what one that did upholstery grade designer fabrics and they were really well priced for what they were.
I will say I didn’t see a lot of quilting/clothing fabric. Not sure if I just never came across the stores that had them or what. But I would definitely research if you have something specific in mind. I was just there to wander. It is not in one of the nicest areas (I felt safe because I was always with someone) but if you don’t know the area it was not somewhere that I would go without a plan or people with me.
i live across the street from truemart and your review is pretty spot-on. hope the tearing fabric didn’t get *too* on your nerves–it’s actually a great way to cut fabric because it just tears down the grain line, no fuss, no muss. :-) for something in between paron’s and truemart, i must suggest kashi at metro textiles. it’s a bit overwhelming, but start browsing and talk to kashi and he’s got your covered! he also bargains a bit, which is great.
Oooh! Thanks for adding to my “next trip” list! Yes, I totally appreciate the functionality of the tearing. But it still makes me cry on the inside. :)
This is something I have wanted to do for soooooo long. How fun that you got to go again!
Oh my goodness it looks like so much fun!
I LOVED going to the fabric district in LA and I didn’t really sew at that point. It seems like it was a pretty similar setup somehow I was lucky enough to be allowed to wander but I wish I had been smart enough to research… though since I didn’t sew much it would probably have been pointless. I had a blast haggling with people. the most fun is when you really aren’t interested in purchasing something because it is expensive so you keep saying no and they haggle all the way down to a reasonable price to get you to buy it. Which you then have to because it’s no longer ridiculously expensive… very bad for your pocket book….
I will definitely be hitting these places up the next time I am in NY!
So. much. fun! I need a trip like that. They always rip the fabric here in Europe and it drives me crazy. Every time. I cringe and have to look away because it just seems SO wrong. I get that it probably saves time, but it leaves a whole edge un-usable.
So happy to have read your post, and yes, I am the one leading the “Speakeasy” trip in NYC this fall. Here’s the deal… there are so many places that hold fabulous things, and you wouldn’t even know they are there! It really helps if you know to go upstairs in many of these buildings. If you come prepared to have buttonholes, grommets, snaps done, get your fabric fused or pleated, man can you accomplish A LOT in one day! There’s just so much…. I love your pictures and descriptions of Truemart/Trumart. Don’t you feel like you need to text someone and let them know your whereabouts in case you don’t make it out alive? So glad my blog helped you!
A friend of mine had a plain black cardigan with that as the zipper. It added such a pop, I was always a little jealous. :)