Tuesday, June 10, 2008

NYC Fabric Store Review: Rosen & Chadick Fabrics

Address: 561 Seventh Avenue (west side of 7th, enter on 40th), 2nd floor and 3rd floor, New York, NYC
Phone: 212-869-0142
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:45 pm; Saturday 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Online store: n/a
Best for: the personalized service

Since 1952, Rosen & Chadick Fabrics has been a customer service favorite of designers, fashion students and home sewing enthusiasts alike.

Rosen & Chadick Fabrics is the rare Garment District store that manages to do two things at once: Sell top-quality fabrics while providing top-notch customer service. I'm placing the emphasis on customer service here because that's a quality shoppers have reported lacking at some of the other well-known garment center stores.

I got a warm welcome from David Chadick when I walked into his store on a recent Saturday. When I told him I was in the market for interlinings for a coat I was making, he knew right away what I needed and pulled out several bolts for me. (Asking about interlinings at another popular fabric store in the area got me nothing but blank looks.) I saw David give the same level of customer service to other shoppers in the store—and this was before I told him I write a blog about stores in the garment district!

I found scrumptious high-end fabrics of all kinds in this bright, well-lit store that overlooks the garment district: silks, cottons, wools, shirtings, necktie silk twills, laces, velvets, brocades and more. I fell in love with silk charmeuse chain prints created just for Rosen & Chadick in several colorways. The windowsill on the second floor that faces W. 40th Street is lined with bright cotton prints—something you tend not to see so much of in the garment district. While I was there a woman was picking out cotton prints for a quilt she was making.

Will you be jumping for joy over the bargains you found at Rosen & Chadick? Nope. Their prices are what you would expect for fabrics of this quality. I paid $32.95USD per yard for a silk twill print. But the blouse I made out of that silk twill turned out great—every time I wear it I say to myself it was worth every penny and then some.


That's David Chadick on the right helping a customer. He wants you to know that he's usually dressed in a suit, but it was a Saturday when I snapped this photo.

Loads and loads of fabric to choose from, but it's just the right amount. You can shop here without going into shock from fabric overload.

Making a bridal gown in the future? Look at all this exquisite lace.

Colorful cotton prints line the windowsill that overlooks W. 40th Street.

These silk charmeuse prints were created exclusively for Rosen & Chadick.

Rows and rows of silk prints. I think I spent 45 minutes here trying to decide which one I wanted to take home most—tough because I wanted them all!