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New York City - unusual fabric/notions stores? and bookstores?

OK, I know this is rather off-the-wall... but my daughter and I will be in NYC at the end of August and are hoping to visit some fabric/notions/sewing stores that specialize in natural materials and fibers. We both like to sew period clothing, and you really need the natural fibers for not just the fabric but also the trims, buttons, etc. Any suggestions from the RS crowd? I've also posted this on another forum.

We'll also be visiting some bookstores she's picked out - The Strand, Housing Works, and Book Culture. If anyone has other favorites to recommend, we'd love to hear about them!

Many thanks in advance.

Posted by
3200 posts

While the garment district doesn't have as many or the variety of fabric stores that it did say 40 years ago, there are still a lot there. I'm not sure about natural fibers…Last fall, I found a few storefronts with nice wool, but I couldn't tell you the names. Many are obviously fabric for the theatre, but I was just winging it. You might want to try a tour like this for an overview: http://www.seeknewyorktours.com/fashionandstyle2/fabric_trim/ I'm sure they could tell you where to go. If you google, you will find other tours as well.

Here's a good source as well: http://www.designsponge.com/2010/09/top-20-fabric-resources.html Otherwise, download a garment district map or go to the TI and dig in.

Have fun!
Wray

Posted by
4137 posts

While notable bookstores with an ambience of taste , culture , and intimacy , have long been on the wane ( I sadly remember Books and Company , which was next to the Whitney Museum at 75th Street on Madison Avenue ) , have a look at these two remaining havens for the literate mind , both on Madison Avenue on The Upper East Side . They will bring a nostalgic tear to your eye , and are just near the Metropolitan Museum , and The Neue Galerie , two of the fine museums on Fifth Avenue . http://cornerbookstorenyc.com/ and http://crawforddoyle.com/

Posted by
3719 posts

Oh gosh, I remember those, especially The Corner Bookstore! I used to live a couple of blocks east of the Met, on Third Avenue. You may wish to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art ("the Met") on 5th Ave. Their book shop is right inside the front door of the museum, to the right. A great selection of books. The Guggenheim Museum, also on upper 5th Ave., has a great selection of art books in their bookstore/gift shop. (The Upper East Side, my old neighborhood!) Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) bookstore/gift shop is also a good place for art books. And if you're an art lover, you don't want to miss any of those museums.

Posted by
2165 posts

If you enjoy cooking as well as sewing, you might enjoy Kitchen Arts & Letters on the upper east side.

Posted by
1806 posts

Mood Fabrics on West 37th that's featured on nearly every episode of Project Runway would probably have just about everything you would want (although some of those fabrics they carry are quite pricey) as well as a whole lot of "un-natural" materials and fibers. If you are looking for very specific items for creating period clothing, you may want to call around to a few shops before you actually go just to make sure they have what you are looking for. Often, if they don't carry it, they can point you in the right direction to another store that will.

Posted by
339 posts

I second "Mood" fabrics in the garment district. I happened upon it having never heard of Project Runway at the time. It was multiple floors of fabric heaven. I found some wonderful deals on natural fibers. I know there are stores that specialize in notions if you google them.