Navigating the New York City garment district... you never know what you'll find...

Yes, you can find THIS in the district...

And plenty of fabric stores, too!

Yes, we call it the "garment district", but wandering up and down the Manhattan streets the name designates, you wouldn't be wrong to simply call it the continuation of foot traffic, street traffic, noise, and office buildings, crowded with as many food vendors, corporate offices and novelty retail stores as you'll find anywhere else in this city.  

But...

in-between, behind, and above all of those stores, you will find the magical vendors I so adore.

I was inspired to write this post after reading a great note from one of my blog readers today.  In it, she wrote:

...back in March, I traveled to NY from DC/BALTIMORE area on a trip that had been planned for months. I had your map in hand and I had gone through each store description, made lists of hours, lists of exactly what I was looking for, prioritized stores by times etc. I had one day in the GD, as me and my BF had the other days together to do other activities. One other detail...I was sick as a dog with a sinus infection, but determined! Your map saved me! I hit 19-22 stores in one day, came back with (or shipped) fabric and hard to find notions, dyes, zippers, bra making supplies etc. Thank you so much...your maps are the BEST! 

I thank you for that...  You made my day.

I am very happy to give people the information they need, and love keeping updated maps available to all who want to plan shopping trips to the district, even if you use the information to lead your own group! I created the maps from my own experiences in the district, and offer guidance regarding the strengths of the stores featured on them.

The maps are meant to be research and navigation tools, portable and easy, but not meant to be blown up and printed out, as it would be too crowded, and the locations need to be "clickable" to be useful. 

My suggestion, especially if you are uncomfortable using a smart phone or I-pad "on the go" to help you navigate, is to choose your destinations before venturing into the district, using the map to create a plan.  It is easy to get overwhelmed while fabric shopping, paralyzed by choices, and frustrated by looking in many places for one illusive find.

So, if you need/want a map, you can find the one to suit you here, or a garment district tour to suit your needs here.

Sending creative love and encouragement to everyone who reads this... Carry on!

Planning your own garment district tour

*Reposted and updated*

Anyone can take you on a shopping trip.  Let's face it; a basic tour... "Here's a store! Let's go inside!" - That doesn't take much skill or knowledge.

Here's the thing.  Since I am in the district all the time, talking to store owners, looking at what's new, and discovering what's special, I curate a really useful selection of stores, respecting your time, their businesses, and recognizing their ability to cut special deals when appropriate. There are more stores than most people have time to explore, and while some of them are otherwise invisible, talk to enough people and you can find any of them... eventually. Below, I am offering a list of some stores for those of you who would prefer to organize your own explorations.  I made this list in 2012, and while much of it has changed, much of it hasn't...

Let's say you are in New York City for a week. Or a day.  Or a few hours.  Or even a few minutes... You may read this blog, and get jazzed by the descriptions of a variety of stores, but which ones do you visit?  Well, that depends on what you want to make.  Are you easily overwhelmed by too many stores and choices?  Are you on a budget? What season is it?  Do you know what you need, or do you need input and encouragement?

You can always plan to come with me on a guided tour.  My September 28th tour is full, but there are still plenty of spaces open for the November 2 tour (this was a long time ago...).  If you like the fun and support of shopping in a group, with an organized plan, discounts, and lunch, come with me!  Even if a guided tour is not your cup of tea,  keep reading...

With full awareness that I have been walking the district for years, and have grown very comfortable with these stores, I know that it remains a mystery and a maze for many others, and non-professionals are often intimidated by the frantic, constant hustle-bustle of the area. For shopping on your own, this blog gives you plenty of reviews and ideas for places to go, so I'll organize some choices for you, to make planning a little easier.  Of course, there are many more, but this will get your feet wet.  Click through the links for all details on any of these stores.

For the designer/fashionista type:

New York Elegant Fabrics
Paron
Fabrics & Fabrics (new, expanded Lace Star)
B&J 
Mood
Metro Textiles

For the crafter/accessory/home dec maker type:

New York Elegant (upstairs)
Leather Suede Skins
Leather Impact
Day to Day Fabrics
Botani
Pacific Trimming
Mokuba
Daytona
Beads World
Mood

Printed cottons:

Material World (window - front of store - Alexander Henry prints)
Rosen and Chadick (window)
NY Elegant (center aisle)

Shirtings:

Rosen and Chadick
New York Elegant

High quality, Classic fabrics:

Rosen & Chadick
B&J
Elliott Berman


For the Explorer/Adventurer/Bargain Hunter:

Truemart
Metro Textiles
Its a Material World


Formal/Bridal:

Sposabella
C&J
Fabrics & Fabrics
B&J

Costume:

Fabrics World
Spandex House
New York Elegant
Manhattan Wardrobe Supply
Dersh Feathers
M&J Trimming


Swim/Lingerie, Dance, Sport and Stretch:

Spandex House
Spandex World
Fabrics World

Notions and equipment:

Steinlauf & Stoller
SIL Thread
Manhattan Wardrobe Supply
Daytona
Panda

Buttons:

Pacific Trimming
M&J Trimming
Tender Buttons (not in the garment district, but not to be missed!)

Zippers:

SIL Thread
Steinlauf & Stoller
Daytona
Pacific
Panda
Botani

Patterns and books:

Paron
Daytona (very small, very haphazard selection)
Fashion Design Bookstore
Butterick (order online)
Onion (order online)
McCalls (order online)
Vogue (order inline)
Simplicity (order online)
Burda (order online/buy publication)
Folkwear (order online)
Vintage and Old Patterns (order online)
Vintage Pattern Lending Library (order online)


Linings:

Guide Fabrics

Services:

Getting snaps, studs, etc. applied
Getting buttons covered
Buttonholes
Grommets applied
Scissors sharpened
Pleating
Fusing
Dressmakers and teachers


Whew!  I think I need a nap... and this represents juts a SLIVER of the district.  Seriously.  Come on a tour (click the link at the top of the page) if you wanna hang out with the big kids...

Speakeasy testimonials

I really love it when people tell me what a great time they had on a Speakeasy tour.  They are truly fun to lead, and, as time goes on, far more interactive, since I can now shift on the fly, according to the interests and vibe of the group. I love that I know the backstory on so many of the businesses in the district, can introduce people to each other in a way that is genuine and warm, share stories, and make friends.  The tours give me much more than they take outta me.  And believe me, we are ALL tired at the end of a Speakeasy tour! I particularly love it when we have my touring partner Cindy along, because she just has a wealth of experience, stories, and ideas that are always endlessly helpful to our participants.

Here are some words some past participants have shared with me after their tours...

You know, it was nice connecting with other sewists on the speakeasy. There doesn’t seem to be that many around!Now that I’ve started sewing again, my friends keep asking… did you make that? And I’ve started to say “yes!”. Kind of cool.
I had picked up a white swirl on black background, kind of a loud print- made golf pants out of it- fantastic.I won’t see anyone else dressed like me!

C.L. (2012 tour participant)

Again- I cannot tell you what that first tour meant. To be able to go back to those people and place orders via phone, be extended the courtesy of periodic swatch deliveries etc. has been amazing.  

T.R. - (2013 tour participant - manufacturer, sourcing in NYC!) 

Thanks for the fun on Saturday! I got a lot out of the day and am looking forward to sewing up some things and planning another trip down! 

M.R. (May 17, 2014 tour participant) 

And thank you for the fabulous speakeasy map! I had a total blast in the Garment District. 

C.R. (May 17, 2014 tour participant)

I had a wonderful time in the Garment District with you and the gang on Sat. Just wish I could do that a bit more often.....

C.C. - (May 17, 2014 tour participant)


 At this point, I have one more Speakeasy tour on the schedule this year.  I will happily add more, if my schedule allows, and interest merits it.  Updated Speakeasy tour schedules and map ordering information can be found here on the blog, and individual, special group, or themed tours can always be requested, using the contact information found on that page.

I wish you all a very creative day!

Garment/Fashion District Walking Tours

There are lots of walking tours popping up in the fashion district, and I often hear from many of you who may not be part of the die-hard sewing community, but have enough of an interest to take a self-led, historic, or less intense, free, shorter, or smaller tour.

They all help the Garment District (ahem... Fashion Center?) community, so I want to point to some other options for those of you who are interested.

 While I do not have enough information to personally endorse these tours, I can at least give you some information for further research on your own!

 If you would like to come along on one of my Shop the Garment District Speakeasy tours, itineraries and descriptions can be found here. Happy shopping!

So... let's say you're coming to visit New York...

Short post for the non-New Yorkers!

If you are traveling here from out of town, there are affordable places to stay. Really!  Now that someone has taken the time to write an entire article about it, I can just share the link with you, and you can make your New York City Garment District Tourism dream a reality!

Rewind!!!! Re-introducing myself and the blog!

Sometimes, when I venture out into the blogosphere, I happen upon such interesting stuff, voices, points of view... people. At times, I am very interested in the people behind the blogs, but just don't have the patience and time to go through post after post, trying to understand who they are, and where they are coming from.

For that reason, every once in a while, I think it is important to take a step back to reintroduce myself and the purpose of this blog.

This blog, once owned and authored by Meg, who has since moved on to work at Mood, is now authored by me, a passionate garment district enthusiast, and fanatical professional maker of things for private clients, television, film and theatrical productions, and occasionally... for myself and loved ones.

I do not run this particular blog as anything more than a labor of love.  I don't plug stores for any reason beyond just loving what they have to offer and wanting to see them succeed, and, since I am acutely aware that the district and the stores within it are constantly changing, I try to notice everything as I navigate the district, making friends, contacts, and giving praise where its due.  A fierce believer in the "rising tide lifts all boats" theory, I know that the better fabric, notions and tools I can find, the better things I can make, the more customers I can attract for the businesses, and the healthier the district can be.  I wouldn't kid you by saying that the vendors I know and love don't give me extra-special treatment when I come.  And man, if you could see the quality of my stash now, you would just keel over...

And boy, do they treat my tour participants well, too!  If you are considering a tour, know that they offer the following benefits:

A curated tour of stores you probably otherwise wouldn't know to visit.
A group of fellow sewing enthusiasts as excited as you are.
A dedicated stretch of hours to completely indulge in shopping.
Discount opportunities you otherwise wouldn't know how to obtain.
Additional info/guidance/expertise/inspiration to help you decide, articulate, and get what you need.
Makes a great gift for the fabric-lover in your life!

I have been shopping in the garment district since I was 12 years old (a mere three decades ago)... seriously... on my own... really! And I used to buy some of my notions at Woolworth on 34th Street!  That actually used to be a reasonable choice for notions, and I still have tools with price tags on them to prove it!

 I really miss some of the fun old stores like Art Max, La Button Boutique, Greenberg & Hammer (a more recent loss), A&G, and so on... and so on... A 1997 New York Times article on the garment district really told the story well before it came true...

Someone hand me a tissue...

But all is not lost, as there are some pretty fantastic stores out there.  Now. And I'm finding them... one by one.. and noticing when they improve, too!

Because of the "speakeasy" nature of the district, due in part to the skyrocketing cost of real estate,  many of the places you would love are hidden from your view.  So I continue to tell you about them here.  Or... if you come on one of my tours, I lead you to them in person, help you find what is fabulous, swing you some special discounts, help by giving you company with creative energy to share, and even advice and encouragement when needed.

If you are looking for something in particular, tell me. Comment.  I'd love to hear it, and tell you what I know about how and where to find it!

The tours I lead are shopping tours, not sightseeing tours.  There is no transportation via private vehicles or admission fees to anywhere involved. Any distance beyond 10 blocks would be navigated by subway, and I would be paying your fare, so no individual Metrocard is needed.

Speakeasy Tour Itinerary (for every date) below: 

10AM - 2PM - 

Shopping (Will include several very special fabric and trimming stores with a wide variety of offerings suitable for many different purposes/types of garments.)

2PM-3PM

Lunch (included in your fee)

3PM - 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 $75 per person. If you use this trip to shop and participate in what NYC has to offer, you will save at least as much as you are paying, and probably far more.



Wanna come? Click below the date you wish to attend, send payment, and the details on meeting time/place will be provided.

From outta town? If you need hotel and/or travel help, I will advise some of the BEST NYC secrets I know! Also, you can click on hotels above (this page - to your right) for the most standard and convenient choices. 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, and healthy.

Note: If you book at least two tour people for a tour, you can choose the "Bill me later" option on PayPal, and pay no interest for 6 months.

These are the dates for all remaining Garment District Speakeasy Tours:

November 30, 2012

December 21, 2012

March 22, 2013

April 12, 2013

Speakeasy Tour Dates

Due to the powerful "Sandy", the need to support the Garment District vendors, and my own eternal optimism and enthusiasm,  I have added two additional Speakeasy tour dates for this year, and one additional for next year.

Note: Tomorrow, November 8th, at 10AM, I will be guiding a personal tour for a November 2nd signup, who will be travelling back to her home state soon.  If anyone wants to come along, let me know tonight, okay?

These dates represent the alternative choices for those who had originally planned to come this Friday (which isn't looking possible for many of you), and some new choices for anyone new who would like to come!  The day's schedule is the same for every tour, but the combination of stores we visit will differ. 

Itinerary (for every date) below: 

10AM - 2PM - 

Shopping (Will include several very special fabric and trimming stores with a wide variety of offerings suitable for many different purposes/types of garments.)

2PM-3PM

Lunch (included in your fee)

3PM - 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 $75 per person. If you use this trip to shop and participate in what NYC has to offer, you will save at least as much as you are paying, and probably far more.



Wanna come? Click below the date you wish to attend, send payment, and the details on meeting time/place will be provided.

From outta town? If you need hotel and/or travel help, I will advise some of the BEST NYC secrets I know! Also, you can click on hotels above (this page - to your right) for the most standard and convenient choices. 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, and healthy. These are the dates for all remaining Garment District Speakeasy Tours:

November 30, 2012

December 21, 2012

March 22, 2013

April 12, 2013

Getting into the holiday season...

You know the phrase "Everything s/he touches turns to gold"?

Well, what word would you use to replace "gold", when you are having just the opposite experience? Yeah, me too...

So I'm resting my hands for a bit. When it comes to clients that is...

After taking a rest, I will embrace my inner "Selfish Seamstress"(I loved that blog, for those who know who I am talking about.  I miss her terribly.), and sewing for just me and mine for a little while, so I can do the quality of work I want to do, within the budget and timeframe I need to complete it.  Sound selfish?  Well, it isn't, because I will share on the blog, and you all will benefit.

Part of my thinking here, is that every year I scramble around to earn enough to buy wonderful gifts for friends and relatives, and every year I fall short on time, energy, and money.  And suddenly, a bell went off in my head. Guess what the equivalent is? Make the things you can, and carefully plan the rest, keeping the budget low, with enough time to spare before Christmas.  In my case, that means I'll stop the flow of client work, and finish LAST YEAR'S gifts this year.  I know I'm not alone on this.  Chime in on this folks, so I'll know I'm not crazy. Your comments of support will be much appreciated. Seriously.

So yes.  I know EXACTLY where to get the fabrics I need, and they are waiting for me out there in the garment district right now.  Today's shopping and speculating trip is delayed due to exhaustion, and I expect to be back in full swing tomorrow.

Over the past year or two, I have amassed quite a spectacular stash, in terms of quality and beauty, and I cannot wait to turn those fabrics into the items I have planned for them.  I have even managed to finish a TEN year quilt project this fall, and am very pleased to see that it has finally come to fruition.  One of the work hazards of writing this blog, is that I see and am inspired by so much, I just can't stop dreaming and creating!

So here we go, folks... Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah.  That's plenty to take in for all of you who celebrate!  I am inspired by such an eclectic bunch of things, that it makes no sense when you roll them all together. My son wants to dress in a similar costume as the one I made for client's child some time ago.

Two years ago, I made a crazy dinosaur costume for a toddler, using fabrics I found at NY Elegant.

And it had scaly feet you could attach with elastic cord over the child's shoe.

These are the kinds of projects I love to do when the clock is not ticking in an oppressive way, and I need that freedom just about now...

And, on a final note, yes, you can still come on the November 2 Speakeasy tour!  I will accept more participants, if you want to join in!  Details can be found by following this link!

Pssst... And now... adding a November 2 Garment District Speakeasy Tour!

I'm scheduling a second one-day, "best-kept-secret" garment district shopping trip on Friday, November 2, 2012.  Friday is the chosen day of the week because all garment district businesses will be open.   You can still even catch a Broadway show or museum exhibit while you're here!  Space is limited.  Too big of a crowd is no fun. Registration requires advance payment.  There will be no others during the cold winter months, but, if demand merits it, I will schedule another one for the spring.

This is a rain or shine event!

Itinerary below:

10AM - 2PM - Shopping (Will include several very special fabric stores with a wide variety of offerings suitable for many different purposes/types of garments.)

2PM-3PM - Lunch (included in your fee)

3PM - 5PM armed with your "Secret Map", 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 tour is $75 per person. If you use this trip to shop and participate in what NYC has to offer, you will save at least as much as you are paying, and probably far more.

Wanna come?  Click below, send payment, and the details on meeting time/place will be provided. From outta town? If you need hotel and/or travel help, I will advise some of the BEST NYC secrets I know! Also, you can click on hotels above (this page - to your right) for the most standard and convenient choices. 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, and healthy.