Phone: 212-221-0050
Hours: "Flexible." Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Best for: Too soon to tell as the store only just opened
Good news, readers! A brand-new trim store just opened in the Garment District and I think you're gonna like it. East Coast Trimming, on W. 38th Street between Seventh and Broadway, is an attractive trim and notions store that should please shoppers who are looking for a thoughtfully curated store. Its well-designed interiors and ample lighting (good lighting is so rare in the Garment District) put it in the same company as fellow trim stores M&J Trimming and Botani Buttons.
According to owner Donna Teves, a former Pacific Trimming employee, customer service is what will set East Coast Trimming apart from its competitors. I did like the fact that when I told her I had been searching the Garment District high and low for these Clover Wonder Clips, she promptly tracked down the information and said she'd stock them for the store. The two times I visited the store staff was always on hand to assist customers.
I don't think it's fair to do a full review on this store, seeing as how the inventory is clearly evolving. (It's surprisingly heavy on things like cotton twill and webbing, for example, and the only zippers I saw were Coats & Clark in packages like a Jo-Ann's store.) So I plan on checking back regularly and will update this post in six months or so. In the meantime, stop by and welcome Donna and her team to the Garment District. I'm sure she'd be happy to hear what kinds of things you'd like her to stock.
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| I love the black shelves and the cute boxes. |
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| Look at this! Track lighting! So you can actually see the colors of the items you're looking at. You have no idea how many times I've asked Garment District store employees if I can have a swatch to examine outside before buying, just because their lighting is so damn bad and I can't tell if I'm looking at navy or black. |
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| I adore how these covered jumbo snaps are stored in little pill bottles. |
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| If you need webbing at reasonable prices, this is the place. |
Wanna come on a Speakeasy Tour? Check out the link, to see what's coming up soon!
Thanks Meg! The store looks great and those wonder clips are super neat. How is the pricing of this store? More like Pacific Trimmings or more like M&J?
ReplyDeleteIt's been too long since I've had a NY Fabric shopping trip. I must arrange one and include East Coast Trimming.
ReplyDeleteKyle, I'd say pricing seems to be competitive with Pacific.
ReplyDeleteMy two photos of the place are here
ReplyDeletehttp://artwrinkles.blogspot.com/2012/02/east-coast-trimming.html
The first ting I noticed was the good lighting! I'll have to bookmark this on my phone the next time i'm on a notions run. Thanks for the review!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to them. It's always (in my mind) great to have another source for notions, like Clover especially. I'll stop by next time I'm on 38th. (I've been eyeing those clips too!)
ReplyDeleteAlso...Does anyone knows of a good source for lingerie elastic and fold-over elastic? I've been going to Daytona, but I'm wondering if there's somewhere else...
-Jen
Jen, I think Daytona is considered the best for this, but M&J and Pacific stock those kinds of elastics too. Mood has been expanding its trim department, so try there as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestions, Lindsay. I was partially successful at Pacific. (I'm looking for some odd colors that Daytona does not have). Haven't been to the others for awhile, so I guess I'm due to recheck them too.
Delete-Jen
Oh boy, another little playground to explore! And right on the way from my hotel to the post office. :)
ReplyDeleteThe webbing choices alone would draw me in, but I do love twill, too. When it comes to trims, the more choices the merrier. If this is anything like Pacific, it's going to be good. I like that they're open past 5, and open all weekend. Website?
Hug Snug! That's what I'd like to find, in all colors, without having to go up the elevator to Leader Thread & make them pull choices from the back for me. So if Donna is reading this, hint hint. Pacific Trim doesn't have enough colors, and Daytona keeps theirs hidden in a drawer. I think the roll I got there was from 1955. (I was looking for a certain vintage patina, so that was OK.)
You are going to LOVE those Wonder Clips!! Since I discovered them, I've been giving them to all my crafty friends. They're tiny, flat on the bottom so you can slide them along the machine bed, and they're so strong that they'll make your eyes water if you try to clip one to your finger. I've been using them instead of pins for all sorts of sewing. It's like having extra hands. They won't distort the fabric if you're clipping multiple layers, and when working with photo transfers (or leather, or vinyl), they won't leave pin holes. Plus they're so darn tiny & cute that you can't help but pinch them!
It's always cause for celebration when a new store opens in the Garment District!
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check them out next time I'm in town.
ReplyDeleteJen, Steinlauf and Stoller has a decent selection of fold-over and other specialty elastic, but probably no more than any other store. Most are 90 cents/yd.
I have to agree customer service is great! They really go above and beyond to find what you are looking for. If they don't have it they try and get it for you. I love the look of the store it's egdy and stylish, and it's nice to be able to really see what you are looking at. Thanks for the tip on the wonder clips. I grabbed a pack for myself!
ReplyDelete~Jackie
I was just there this past week! I have NEVER shopped for fabric or all the accessories in NYC. My first trip to this lasted 8 hrs! A dear friend of mine is making my wedding gown and we headed to straight to the city. After buying yards of lace, we stopped at East Coast Trimming. It was one of my favorite stops! Super nice set-up and super friendly service. I got quite a few trims and such to complete my bridesmaids gifts! I will def be bac!
ReplyDelete-MG