More Speakeasy shopping excursions in 2023

 

Inspired by recent tour participants and special requests to do a few more this year... 

All rules and details remain the same (see below).

Itinerary:

10AM - 1PM - 

Shopping (Will include a specifically selected set of stores with a wide variety of offerings suitable for many different purposes/types of garments, appropriate for the theme of the day's tour. Relevant additional information, suggested additional resources and appropriate on-site expertise will be available.)

1PM-2PM

Lunch (local restaurant reservation for our group, already included in your fee.)

2PM - until end of business day

Armed with your "Secret Map" and your own interest in or desire to visit the many other stores you see or have learned about, you may visit more garment district stores if you wish, and give unique codes (that you'll get from me) to vendors who will give special assistance/discounts.

The cost of this guided, efficient tour is $90 per person. If you use this trip to shop and participate in what the NYC garment district has to offer, you will save at least as much as you are paying in supplies and education, and likely far more.The NYC Garment District is a pretty unique atmosphere, full of quirks and secrets, making it significantly more fun to shop with a group! 

Wanna come? 

From outta town? If you need hotel and/or travel help, I will advise some of the BEST NYC secrets I know! Payment is only accepted via PayPal (you do not need a Paypal account), credit or debit card. No cash, personal checks, or additional payments will be accepted on the day of the tour. The trip will involve a good amount of walking, so come prepared in weather-appropriate gear, and healthy.

Regarding cancellations:

 If you have paid and wish to cancel 7 days or more before date - 100% refund

 Fewer than 7 days - 50% refund

 If you don't come on the scheduled date or cancel within 24 hours or less - you will forfeit your refund, but can switch reservation to a future tour date.

 If I cancel a tour for reasons not related to weather, newsworthy acts of God or other emergencies, you are entitled to your choice of a full refund, or a future tour.

 

Please note: I had perviously offered a choice between half and full day tours, but have since removed the half-day option, because no one has requested a half-day. Contact me if you have any questions or special requests regarding a shorter day.

Remember that this is a walking tour, so be sure to be healthy and comfortable with a LOT of walking!  

I am offering tours on:

July 26 (full day-$90)

 July 27(full day- $90 )

 July 31(full day- $90)

August 1 (full day - $90)

 September 29, 2023 (full day - $90)

Wanna come? Claim your spot! 

 Note - the button below is for paying the fee, but please specify the day you are choosing when I confirm back to you directly.

Full day:

 

The July 26, 27. 31 and August 1st dates were scheduled specifically with ASG Conference attendees in mind (because of my close association with the organization, and because the dates are convenient for those in NYC for the conference).

Questions? 

email me 

NYC Garment District Maps

The Speakeasy map is constantly updated due to the changes the pandemic, significant economic challenges, and new opportunities have brought to the area.

I can't pretend the district isn't changing daily now... While it is still a rich, lively and inspiring place to find tools, notions, services and supplies, it is also a treacherous labyrinth of drugged-out zombies, empty storefronts, screaming homeless, extremely tense professionals, and unpredictable business hours. Because it is still full of secrets, and non-street-level establishments, a plan, a map, and information are vital to an enjoyable, efficient trip.

Having said that...

The "Speakeasy map" is an ever-evolving map of garment district stores and services that I have found over many years of creating/designing, selling, buying, learning, and interacting with the many businesses here in NYC. The list is ever-changing, because the district is ever-changing as well!

* You do not need a PayPal account to pay via PayPal.  That is the secure service that allows electronic payments, using a debit or credit card.

The payment tab below is for a curated shopping map with descriptions of the best stores (and why I love them). It is $15, and can be purchased online via Paypal.  The map lists many of the places we have visited on various speakeasies, and is ever-evolving. The map will be sent to you as a link, generally within 24 hours of your order. 

You may purchase a map by using the payment button directly below.  Note: almost every order generates an edit these days, since I make sure the stores are still there, offering quality inventory, and still open before sending to to you. 

Garment District "Speakeasy" source Map:

Comment on this page to contact me if you want a custom map for your specific quest!

Baltimore, MD Association of Sewing and Design Professionals conference

  Heading off to meet with colleagues, my fellow Board Members, and friends in Baltimore, MD for a few days of conference, meetings, and events. I'll share my personal experience on Instagram! (@shopthegarmentdistrict)

A photo essay... the highlights of a garment district trip or two... or three, maybe?

There's more to these stories.  This is what the garment district looked like a few months ago (August). Go to my Insta for more...

 

Riding in an EMPTY subway car

Beautiful flower from Schmalberg

Gotta use some bleach to make these work...

Fabric pleated

A lumpy, bumpy, comfy Cotonacocoon

 2021

A zero waste shirt.

Unless you include time.

We can laugh. Why not?

The perpetual shirt - rest in peace, Jerry Lewis

(8/21/17) RIP Jerry Lewis

*Updated 3/8/15*

and again... 6/3/16... and still wearin' the shirt 1/31/18

and still... 2/13/21

Note: *On the evening of May 20 of this year (2016), I laid out my perpetual shirt to wear on May 21st.  On May 21st, I got up, got dressed, and forgot to put it on... Now, it is labelled JUL 01 16, and I had to give it an alarm on my calendar, so I will remember this time! Ha!

A exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum in New York takes this idea in a completely different, more conceptual, fascinating direction.

Originally posted 4/1/13

You may already know that I love humor in my clothing. (Not my photo - contact me if any problem.)

One particular piece I just made was inspired by Jerry Lewis.  He was rumored to have never worn a pair of socks more than once, and I was struck by the sheer impracticality and wastefulness of that choice.  Unless, of course, he had a sock endorsement deal, and a free lifetime supply of new socks, which could then be laundered and donated to charity monthly.  Then, that kinda cleans it up. Right?

Every now and then I get truly obsessed with a clothing-related idea, and, when that happens, I feel the need to talk it out. With anyone who will listen. So, I told some friends I was designing a "perpetual" shirt.  Every time I explained it, it generated at least 10 follow-up questions, most of them starting with "But... how would you..." or "Why would anyone ever..." No one really understood why this idea was important or funny to me.

But guess what...

When you make your own stuff, the only person who needs to like it or understand it is you.

So there.

I've learned by watching cartoons, that when people or animated characters get an idea, they often experience that moment beneath a single, illuminated light bulb. Well, not in this case.

My idea hit me like this...

This image in my head helped me sort out a way to make this work.  Look at my other blog for sewing info, if you care.

Okay, so yes, I know what today's date is, and no, this isn't an "April Fool" idea.  Really now, why would you even say that to me?

(*clearing throat) Moving on...

So, since they say a picture is worth a thousand words, here it is.

The "perpetual shirt". It only looks impractical... 

Cotton stretch fabric from NY Elegant. Why that store?  Because I am only making this shirt once, I want it to last a long time, and their quality and variety when it comes to fashion stretch fabrics is stellar.

Velcro by the yard from Daytona Trimming. Why that store?  Because I know they sell it by the yard, the prices are wonderfully reasonable, I find the store very easy to navigate, and getting quick, courteous assistance is easy there.

Silver fusible letters from Jonathan Embroidery.  Why that store?  I happened to notice just the letters I wanted when I wandered in for another reason recently.  Easy, and they had what I needed. For something as simple as letters, I'm well aware that there are other great choices in the district too, though.

Background fabric for letters from an unused fancy black table linen given to me by my son's occupational therapist some years ago, because she "knew I sewed, and could use anything"... how random is that? And, how true is that??? Ha!

And, hey, if that isn't true about Jerry Lewis, don't tell me.  It's far more fun to believe it.

So how are you? I mean, really... how ARE you? How are YOU?

 Tough question to answer these days.  The default answer is "I'm fine... (giggle, sigh) and you?"

Well, I'm fine.

I think.

Yeah, I guess I'm fine.

Happy holidays, and enjoy your celebration!

I've made lots of masks now, you can click to buy what I've got left, or I can give you details nowhere to buy some really great ones from a vendor I love.