Hello Everyone:
I currently live in Sweden (I’m a transplant from the US) and have gotten to travel quite a bit throughout Europe (tagging along with my husband while he works). Recently I discovered a Friday Market in Maastricht, The Netherlands that sell all sorts of fabrics at really good prices (from 2 to 5 Euros per meter). This particular market is an outdoor market set up each Friday and it includes flowers, vegetables, ready made clothing and textiles. I was wondering if there are any other markets that include textiles throughout Europe that anyone was aware of. I’m interested in either markets that are weekly or markets that are only at certain times of year – anything that would include textiles. Please let me know if anyone is aware of anything like this.
Thank you for your help!
JT
Replies
Hi, l know there are in the Netherlands several markets like at mon day in Harlemciity and in Amsterdam there is the Albert Cuyp market where are also several shops at this same market which sell fabriics at low prices.
Wish you happy and wise buying,
HJ
Thank you so much for that information. I will take a look the next time I'm there! We are going to Munich and other parts of Germany as well as London next so I'm hoping for some suggestions of markets in those areas, too. Thank you again!
JT
Hello - I don't know about street markets selling inexpensive fashion fabrics -- but consider these tourist-convenient destinations I've found on 2 trips within the last 3 years (a dream come true!)
In Munich, the famous Hertie department store, across a wide street from the Hauptbahnhof, has two fabric departments: decorator/outdoor furniture on one floor, and fashion fabrics on tubes (and a yarn department) on another floor. Also a great food cafeteria/ bar on the top floor. (Tasty & moderately priced and convenient place to park your DH to rest his feet with a beer, both smoking & non-smoking seating areas.)
In Berlin, the famous KaDeWe has fashion fabrics to die for, at splurge prices. Also a great food cafeteria on the top floor (tasty & fairly priced and convenient place to park your DH to rest his feet with a beer, both smoking & non-smoking seating areas), not to be confused with the food hall floors to die for, which also have places to eat (i.e. oyster bar, omelette bar, etc.)
Various branches of the Karstadt department store in Berlin and elsewhere have fashion fabric departments, priced for mere mortals.
Also look for stand-alone fabric stores in moderate-sized towns. Ask a local citizen -- there may be something equivalent to a yellow-pages listing, but my German wasn't adequate to try to do research that way.
In London, 20 years ago the famous Liberty department store had a nice fabric department.
Overall, fabric prices are not cheap in these sources, but as usual it is a LOT less expensive than buying a finished garment. I said that my purchases were my souvenier -- easier to transport than a breakable object?
Carol in Denver
Thank you so much for that information. I will give those places a try in July. My DH will also be thankful! So far the things I've picked up at the street market have been in an effort to build up my fabric reserves and get some things at good prices (there is a 25% sales tax on just about everything here in Sweden). I've purchased muslin because as I sew more and modify more I think I'm going to need to start making a muslin template first, and some denim as well as a few nice cottons and one lace fabric. I haven't really made anything out of high end fabrics, I'm hoping to work up to that! Thank you again!
JT
Hi. If you do get to London Liberty's certainly has the most beautiful cottons and silks at beautiful prices! Unfortunately they do not seem to have any wool any more but perhaps that was because of the season I was there. John Lewis on Oxford Street is a good bet but not markeys as far as I know.
M
I want to thank you both for those ideas. I'm heading to London this weekend to visit a friend and while I currently don't know where she lives in relation to all of these fabric stores I intend to find out! Thank you again!
JT
Berwick Street in the heart of London has several fabric shops. They are kind of pricey but have things you will never see anywhere else. That area also has lots of sex shops so it can make for an interesting stroll. But it's very safe. Also the main east- west road in east London that leads up to the Bethnel Green Children's museum ( I think it's called Bethnel Green Road) has lots of little Indian shops that sell sari fabrics by the 5 metre piece at very reasonable prices. Beautiful things. That's what I used for my mother of the bride dress.
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