Replies

1. 
   GhillieC | Jan 04, 2004 03:11pm | #1

   Threads did a London fabric shopping guide as well as the New York one.  It is not too bad, but some of the shops they included are really home dec. places. 

   There is a cluster of fashion fabric shops around Berwick Street, off Oxford Street and quite close to the once famous Liberty's which now stocks relatively few fabrics.  John Lewis's in Oxford Street is not bad, but also a shadow of its former self.  Down a side street opposite JL's is Macculloch and Wallace, which is a good place for 'ordinary' fabrics, haby and millinery.  Joel's in Church Street is the place to go for fabulous designer fabrics, but their prices are very, very high.  In fact, coming from the States you will find everything pretty expensive - that is why us Brits have taken to doing our fabric shopping in New York!

   Do not miss the Victoria and Albert Museum (the V & A) when you are in London, particularly for their collection of embroidery samples and historic fashion displays. 

   Warwick Castle is very well worth a visit, not particularly for textiles, but for its wonderfully atmospheric room displays, complete with waxwork figures.   The Costume Museum in Bath is good too. 

   Cheers,

   Ghillie

1. 
   Bernie1 | Jan 06, 2004 12:06am | #2

   Yes, Joel's is a wonderful store, great help and some of the most beautiful fabrics anywhere. They are very expensive but if you don't mind dropping a bundle, you get fabulous product. Liberty had some pretty things but I was turned off by one of the sales guy there - he seemed rather snooty so I didn't buy anything. But you are right, Ghillie, if you are a serious fabricaholic, NYC is the place to go. Sew News (sorry Threads) actually did an excellent article on stores there several years ago. The Threads article did not seem to get many of the wonderful stores in the garment district. If you ever get to Paris, there are wonderful stores there in the Montmarte area. Cheers.