I'm a dressmaker/seamstress are there any "must go" places where I can get fabrics and silks etc at cheap prices. We are travelling Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome. I have Burano on my list of places to visit but that's more for the history of lace rather than purchasing.
Our ticketing hasn't been purchased yet so can still change things around if I need to.
thanks
Posted by
NY
120 posts
I watched this today. I don't know if you will have a car but the place looks cool.
https://dreamofitaly.com/tv-show/tuscany-2/
Posted by
Washington DC
28462 posts
I'm not sure what's covered on the "Dream of Italy" show, but if you Google "silk outlets Como" I think you'll uncover some useful information.
Posted by
boston, bangkok and everywhere in between.
92 posts
i have never found any bargains shopping for fabric in italy. prices for anything made in italy will be more expensive comparatively. but, there are some wonderful fabric stores that stock italian made fabrics (and others) if you don't mind paying a premium. fratelli bessetti tessuti in rome is AMAZING, even just for window shopping.
https://sewingprincess.com/fabric-stores-in-italy/
if you do a google map search around the places you'll be staying, you can enter "tessuti" and you'll come up with a list of closeby fabric shops.
Posted by
Portland
3648 posts
I think the Rome fabric store mentioned above must be the one my sil took me to 30 years ago. It had an astonishing selection. I don't know if this is still true, but then you could bargain down the prices. Jet-lag and the need to convert lira to dollars mentally made me slow to respond to the price the salesman quoted. Actually, it was so low, I was sure I was figuring incorrectly. He took my hesitation as a bargaining ploy and quickly added that there would be a discount. He then gave a price 20% lower. I am not one for bargaining; however, a polite question of whether a discount (sconto in Italian) is available is neither too forward, nor likely to give offense.
Posted by
Green Bay
21348 posts
Shop the central market in Padua. Don't know about prices, but wifey was interested.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7179 posts
Sam, I was also going to suggest the markets in the cities you'll be in. I do remember seeing fabrics in at least one market in Florence but can't remember which one. I'm pretty sure it wasn't Santa Croce, maybe Santo Spirito. I didn't get to any other markets in Italy but there were certainly fabrics sold at the better markets in France, so it's certainly possible.
Posted by
georgetown, KY, USA
114 posts
You must go to Bassetti 's when in Rome. It is an experience in itself just to see all the beautiful fabrics. I always stop by when in Rome. Prices are high but the quality is such that I cannot buy in local fabric stores in the US. http://www.fratellibassetti.com/en/
Posted by
California USA
4135 posts
If you find yourself in Florence on Via Porta Rossa take a look in this shop which features tassels, trims and historically rich fabrics.