Yesterday in the Garment District - Butterfly Fabrics (A+ on customer service)

This lace...

Let's start with the eye candy. You may not be able to appreciate it from this photo, but this is a very heavy, drapey lace, that would make a great sweatshirt or hoodie.  (Of course, I'd wear a flesh-toned tank top underneath).

Yes, you heard me correctly...  

It just calls out to be a hoodie, and to work with white denim pants or shorts.  To quote Bruno Mars, "Don't believe me?  Just watch!"

Changes are afoot in the garment district, to be sure.  It seems that the district is losing its taste for the messy, casual Mom-and-Pop style stores that we love, and has pushed many of them to upgrade, or risk sleeker establishments taking their place.  Is this a good thing?  Jury's still out on that one for me...

The fabric pictured above, I spotted at Butterfly Fabrics, which is now a very organized, neat arrangement of interesting and eclectic fabrics. Bargains are few, and the prices are generally affordable, but you are less inclined to simply snatch something up, unless you have extra cash burning a hole in your pocket.  The service is patient and professional.  Other fabrics I found there are below.

Silk patchwork.  Cool for home dec, or maybe a coat lining???

This is just the coolest silk fabric ever.  You'd have to see it in person to fully appreciate it.

I am noticing now that the more sophisticated appearance of the stores are making customers more inclined to ask for specific help beyond what you would normally ask a fabric store to do.  A woman entered the Butterfly while I was there, bellowing from the doorway, "Turquoise lining!" (and not in a nice way)

Did they help her?  Yes, and guided her through appropriate choices for her project. Frankly, I was impressed.

Another woman came in and said she was making a kimono for a man, and asked how many yards to buy.  Rather than just announcing some large quantity, the staffer patiently asked, "Well, how tall is he?"

Nice work, Butterfly...

Butterfly Fabrics

237 West 35th Street

212-768-3940

Can we tawwwwwk???

I love comedy.  I love humor.  That is why I have watched countless episodes of "Fashion Police" over the years.  Latest internet reports tell us that Joan Rivers' condition is improving remains in a medically induced coma, has passed away, and I sincerely wish her and her family a peaceful recovery conclusion, however this turns out.

"Fashion Police", if you've never seen it, is a show where a fashion-critiquing panel sits and reviews the clothing of celebrities as they watch their red carpet arrivals at events.  It is often mean, sometimes hilarious, and sometimes genuinely educational, since some of the guest panelists often have actual technical, artistic or historical wisdom to share.

What disturbs me about it, is that it feeds into exactly what is so very wrong with our celebrity obsessed culture at the moment.  We beat them up, criticize and insult them relentlessly, and praise them arbitrarily for making choices that agree with what some fashion royalty has deemed appropriate or current. How can you feel flattered when you know what has just been said about the person next to or behind you on that very same carpet?

But let's not forget that this is comedy.  That's what it was all about.  There is no need to take all of this so seriously.  I have no ill feelings toward Gwyneth Paltrow whatsoever, and despite the fact that I don't get what it was that rubbed her the wrong way, Joan's comments about her were always fall-down funny!

One of the truest statements ever was uttered by my son, about age 5 or so at the time.  We were at a hospital, in the waiting room, where my mother was going to have surgery.  To my horror, my son began digging between the cushions of the waiting room sofa, and I quickly reprimanded him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" I snapped.

Politely, he stopped, looked at me, and said, "Mom, if you were me, you'd like what I like, and you'd do what I do."

So true, my boy.  So true.

This Sunday, I watched a segment on CBS Sunday Morning, in which the brilliant Tavi Gevinson was interviewed.  What I love most here, is that she embraces what makes her unique, and follows the beat of her own drummer, and appreciates what is not "trending" for the masses, but touches her as an individual.





"Fashion" only works if a measurable group of people agree and spend money on it.  I, like Tavi, often exempt myself from that pursuit.  

Dismayed to find that shades of orange are on the upcoming horizon for fashion, I thought, "So what? I can create my own stuff!" 

The garment district fabric and supply stores support us all fully in this.  You can explore the garment district and find a rich palette including every color you can imagine, and you need not concern yourself with fashion AT ALL if  you don't want to.

Best stores for the anti-trenders (because of the breadth and variety of their offerings):

Butterfly Fabrics
Fabrics & Fabrics
Mood
Rosen & Chadick
Metro Textiles
B&J Fabrics
Chic fabrics

Oh, and there are so many more, it is just exhausting. Personally, I find it very hard to do more than 6 or 7 max stores in a single day, but the district is just throbbing with possibilities!  Enjoy what you make!

Same name, but different...

The garment district is a highly incestuous place. What do I mean by that?  Well, some of the stores will tell you that if you want to see more of something, a broader color range, for example, to stop into their other store on 8th Avenue, or another street, or around the back, etc.  What does it all mean?  I'm not sure, but I'm sure that there is some complicated real estate/landlord stuff happening there, some space/storage issues, and some partnership/friendship/back-scratching stuff, too.  One thing I do know, is that you will find many similar or identical things offered at drastically different prices from store to store.  Prices can seem arbitrary at times.  If you just do a bit of comparison shopping, you'll see that you can find very similar goods at a wide range of prices.  Because I spend so much time in the district, my eyes light up when I see something unique, or touch or manipulate something that feels special.  Because I've been shopping in the district so long, I can wholeheartedly recommend the vendors I have come to know and trust. While it is all a matter of personal taste and preference, I try to steer you to places with unique and/or quality offerings whenever possible. Having said that...

There are two garment district stores named Butterfly. The one I am about to tell you about is different than  the other one I told you about.  Get it?

Butterfly Fabrics, Inc. / Bazar Fabrics,  Inc.

256 West 39th Street

New York, NY 10018

(212) 575-4744

I bring this up specifically because this Butterfly is different, according to the man behind the counter (don't wanna confuse you), and their offerings really don't compete in the same categories.  While they do have a business card giving Butterfly associated websites, those printed links are incorrect, and similar ones are vague about the company's location.  For that reason, this is a place you are better off going to in person. The main reason to go to this Butterfly, in my opinion, is just one particular grouping of fabrics I  love.

My own clumsy and inadvertent detective work led me to discover that both Butterfly locations (this one, and the 35th Street one) lead you to what seems to be the same generic and vague website.  So, yeah, something's up, folks.  I don't know what... but something's up...

So, I can't get a good photo in the store, because the print is just too big, and the rolls are heavy and awkward.  Think home dec, but who knows what other creative ideas  you may have in mind...

The fabrics are prints of some old-timey newspaper articles, western and movie star types, super-big, and printed on an off-white canvas-like fabric.  Curious? Wanna see? Go visit them, and then visit again in the 3rd week of September or so, when another shipment of more prints in this family will come in. 

Or, so I was told...

The Scoop on the April 12 Speakeasy tour...

It rained... but it didn't dampen our spirits!  We started off easy, going into a store I selected for its unique offerings (Butterfly Fabrics), and continued on to a place where I think everyone temporarily LOST THEIR MINDS...

That place was Elliott Berman, with lots of new fabrics, where we found things so beautiful, they almost left us breathless. Man oh man, was there a matelasse that made every one of us gasp...

At Chic, we found lots of fun things... at unbelievable prices.  And yes, I do mean unbelievable...

At Rosen & Chadick, the group was pretty tired after so much stimulation, but we saw much loveliness.

At Metro Textiles, our buddy Kashi had piles and piles of fabrics to behold, some of which I literally had to peel myself away from!

At Pacific Trimming, we found all sorts of lovely buttons, Riri zippers, accessiories, and tools.  I was personally inspired by the things I saw that I have NO IDEA what to do with!  It really opens you up to creative solutions!

After a lovely lunch, the group was gently led into the wonderland that is Fabrics & Fabrics.  Pretty sure that left everyone speechless.  By the way, you have seen their new website, haven't you?

The next tour is May 24. This tour offers a special discounted "Bring a friend" rate!

Please note that there are some new rules for future tours:

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, acts of God or other emergencies, you are entitled to your choice of a full refund, or a future tour.

Come along on a tour!  We have lots of fun!

Note: If you were on this tour, there is only one of you for whom I can't find contact details for the lunch credit I promised you.  (You are one of my NY'ers that day) If you are reading this, please get in touch!

NYC Fabric Store Review: Butterfly Fabrics

Part of today's exploration, was a trip to a fabric store with a familiar name...

Butterfly Fabrics

But the address was unfamiliar.  Located on a street I rarely need to visit, I decided to check them out.  My listing gave me the following address and telephone #:

237 West 35th Street  New York, NY 10001

(212) 768-3940

I used to shop in a garment district store by the same name, many years ago... but what was this one?  What is it doing on 35th Street?  You mean there are stores I might be missing on 35th Street?

Apparently, yes.

And today, upon entering, I was confronted by the astounding revelation that there are more beautiful fabrics in the world than I could have ever possibly imagined.

And this is where many of them are just waiting to be chosen.

Weep-worthy fabrics.  No kidding. Good prices, too.  Too bad my wallet was empty due to earlier splurges.  More on that later.  Much later.  (She grabs a tissue, weeping quietly...)

Here's what called out to me...

What a beautiful double-breasted vest this would make.  Just to DIE...

And this dangly-disk colorful celebration... so much fun!

Oooooh... the textures!

A reversible delight!

And there is just sooo much more...

And what colors!

And... okay... get ready for this...

Seriously.

Brace yourself....

THEY SELL PATTERNS!  Current Vogue, and Butterick catalogues on pedestals await you here.  The also offer McCalls in limited quantity. Yes, right there in on the edge of the garment district! In a beautiful, abundant, well-lit fabric forest that just dares you to leave the store empty handed.  Friendly staff, no hard-sell, no soft-sell, no SELL actually.  The fabric speaks for itself.

And why is it called Butterfly Fabrics?  This store has the same owners as the one where I once shopped years ago. But better.

So there I stood, on the verge of doing my own version of a James-Dean-esque primal "You're tearing me apart" scream, when I remembered... there's always another trip into the garment district when I do have a fabric budget to work with.  This was an exploration... a discovery.  I can share it with you, and now you know, too.  They do have a website, but it really doesn't do their selection justice.