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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
I'll be honest with you, Rosen & Chadick frustrates me. On the one hand, the owners are pleasant and helpful and the fabrics are top quality, so I sincerely hope this store continues to survive and thrive in NYC's Garment District. On the other hand, it never makes my list of
must-visit stores when I'm asked for recommendations. So I went to Rosen & Chadick last week—in between snow storms—to give this store a fresh look. Here are my 2011 impressions:
- It looks the same as it did on my last visit in 2009; still lots of beautiful fabrics
- Ellen Rosen and David Chadick are still two of the nicest and most helpful people in the Garment District
- Rosen & Chadick does not feel like a retail fabric store and is therefore a little unapproachable? off-putting? for the average home sewist shopping in the Garment District
What I mean by that last remark is that the store feels like there should be a sign on the front door:
To the trade only. Missing are
the usual retail indications, like signage or visible price tags. There is another floor filled with the most beautiful wools, but you'd completely miss it unless Ellen or David told you it was there.
Ellen explained to me that much of Rosen & Chadick's business comes from the entertainment industry—costuming for theater, film and TV. For example, the cast of the upcoming Broadway show "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," starring Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame, will be wearing costumes made from Rosen & Chadick fabrics. "We stock a lot of
basic fabrics, the majority of which are
reorderable," said Ellen. While there I saw scrumptious wool tweeds and bouclés, hard-to-find 54"-wide custom silks, silk twills for ties and handbag linings, fine laces, and better quilting cottons. Prices are similar to B&J Fabrics, though Ellen admitted they are accommodating when it comes to pricing.
Bottom line for 2011: Despite my reservations about it feeling like a to-the-trade-only store, I like this store a lot, I really do. If you aren't pressed for time, or are on a very specific fabric hunt, patronize Rosen & Chadick Fabrics. Comment here or email me and let me know
your thoughts on Rosen & Chadick.
My review of Rosen & Chadick from 2008.
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Ellen Rosen, one of the friendly and helpful owners of Rosen & Chadick |
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Cotton prints along the store windows |
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Silk twills for ties and fancy handbag linings. |
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Beautiful tweeds. |
Labels: Rosen and Chadick Fabrics