Replies

1. 
   sarahkayla | Apr 06, 2002 11:27pm | #1

   Try Lacestar on 40th Streen in manhattan - sorry don't have a number, but i'm sure they are listed in information. There used to be a funky store on 39th that had some ancient stock of all kinds of stuff including some amazing lace. the store was run by a cranky guy in his 40's. one of the sales staff was his ancient aunt. i loved her she was a typical new york lady of a certain age. Auntie and the nephew used to have screaming fights out on the floor. It was great! Unfortunately, they are out of business. many of the stores sell their stock to eachother as they go out of business.

   i would also call hyman Hendler on 38th street they carry bridal lace & veiling. They are nice folks - i got my veiling there when I got married.if you are nice to the people you talk to they may be able to hook you up with whoever has old stock of lace. You also may want to call new York Elegant fabric, as well as Rosen & chadick (both on 40th street). be charming. the people on the street all know eachother and have an awareness of who has whose old stock. I don't know the names of all of the stores, i usually just walk in with my swatch or need & just go from store to store. I know that the funny upstairs store run by the italian guy has old stock from Tessutti but i couldn't for the life of me thell you the name of the place. (tesutti itself had stock from other places that had bit the dust years earlier. I bought out their stock of white chenille when they were closing up shop - i needed a quarter yard, but had to buy ten to get any of it, but at a buck a yard, i was willing to splurge) Call the folks at B&J. they may not have what you want but they will know where to send you,

   Hope this was helpful. If you look in the archives you can get numbers for most of these new York fabric stores. The list is from 4 or five years ago and was already out of date when it was posted.

   let me know if this has pointed you in the right direction.

   sarah

1. 
   NansiM | Apr 07, 2002 05:55pm | #2

   Sarah!!!

   I'm dying here!  What a great email about all the lace places!  My daughter and I are in hysterics with giggles picturing all the ones you describe!  I've never been shopping in NYC and my local Sewing Network is planning a trip there in May but it's too close to when I need the lace.  So I'm going to try entering some of those names and see if any have a website.  If not, I'll try phone info for "800" numbers.  Unless you think of anything more specific I can try.  Love to hear more!  Many thanks!

   Nansi

1. 
   sarahkayla | Apr 07, 2002 06:36pm | #3

   Dear nansi -

   My guess is that these places don't have 800 numbers. You may have to just spend a couple of bucks in phone charges. These just are not slick places. These places mostly look like they haven't been changed since the early 60's. They are the kind of places that depend on foot traffic.

   Angelo Lugo- 212.354.0555 (they bought the tessutti stock)

   Art Max

   212398.0755

   Felsen

   212.398.9010

   lacestar

   212.840.0555

   sposabella lace

   212.354.4729

   Hope that gives you a good start. (i just copied from the yellow pages)OK, not to sound unPC, but this is the reality in NY where many business are run by particular ethnic groups - what you are looking for is the older Jewish /italian run fabric stores rather than the newerIndian/pakistani run stores - The two ethnic groupings carry entirely different stock.

   I would try Felsen first - they have a big stock of lace. i usually don't use lace in my work. but they are an older firm and may have what you want left over from 28 years ago. Again, they all know who bought what. Be nice to te olksou areling to and they will help you.

   keep me posted...

   sarah

2. 
   LizMaynard | Apr 08, 2002 07:09pm | #4

   I matched 30y/o lace for a customer at Supreme Novelty Fab.--very nice people that have helped me many times.  They matched my sample I sent perfectly!  http://www.supremefabrics.com

1. 
   NansiM | Apr 09, 2002 12:30am | #5

   Thanks Liz.  I have their catalog and they certainly are very helpful.  Nothing in their catalog matched.  Do you think I should send them a photocopy of the lace?  Do you know if they have more stock than what theircatalog shows?

2. 
   LizMaynard | Apr 10, 2002 12:16am | #6

   Yes, send a photocopy of the lace and a sample so they can match the color.  My lace was the Chantilly and was not in their catalog but they matched both the lace and the color.  The dress was beautiful and no one could tell both old and new lace was used!

1. 
   carolfresia | Apr 10, 2002 04:31pm | #7

   Lace afficionados and experts in matching vintage lace: Just wanted to know I've moved your discussion to this folder, just to try and keep things sort of orderly on the site. Hope you all find it--with the listing of new messages that comes up when you log in, I figured you'd be able to click right on it and get to the new place without trouble.

   Nice to see there's so much in-depth knowledge about how to handle tricky problems like this one--thanks to all who've supplied names and contact info. for locating lace.

   Carol