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NYC fabric shopping

outdoorsew | Posted in The Archives on

I just returned from my first visit to the garment district.  Thanks for all the good advice.  I was looking for outerwear fabric.  Particularly, shell fabrics for parkas, jackets etc.  Lining fabrics that wick and breath.  I know of many mail order sources for these but was hoping to find a source where I could touch and feel the stuff.  Alas, I did not find what I was looking for.  But I did find Active Trimming(activetrimming.com) which had every imaginable zipper in any imaginable color.  They also had hook and loop tape in colors which I can’t find here in NH.  All in all the trip was fun.  I’d go back and spend a couple of days next time.  My head was swimming.  And I’m really looking forward the that info from THreads.

Replies

  1. sarahkayla | | #1

    yes - new york is not the place to go for expedition type outerware fabric - if you want a chanel type tweed or a terrific wool coating- it is your place.. much of the stock in the ny stores is off cuts and overruns from garment manufactureres as well as stuff that is available to smaller custom designers.. there is just less call for gortex and the like - (no one dresses properly for the weather here - i grew up in new england where it is ok to go to a black tie event in galoshes - and change in the coatroom)

    sarahin nyc

    1. GhillieC | | #2

      No call for Goretex in New York!!!  I road tested my home made, city style Goretex raincoat in the streets of New York one very wet day.  It kept me perfectly dry, cool and calm and dried out itself in a couple of hours in the cloakroom of the Metropolitan Museum.  You ALL need Goretex raincoats.

      But I bought my fabric from Textile Outfitters, http://www.justmakeit.com in Canada.

      Sarah, what is this about you exhibiting something?  I should be in New York city for a few days next month.  I might just drop in.

      Cheers,

      Ghillie

      (in Oxford, UK).

      1. Tish | | #3

        Hi, Ghillie,

        I jumped in instead of being polite and letting Sarah answer her own questions because I want to get my voice in here saying that we all want Sarah to post pictures!  But in the meantime, I think this is the show:

        http://www.nyhistory.org/homesewn/index.html

        Tish

        1. stitchmd | | #4

          Yikes I want to go see that! Most of the women in my family could have been featured in this exhibit. What's amazing to me is that I've never been to or even heard of this museum. Born and raised in NYC, lived there on and off during adulthood. My museum addiction is easily fed living in the DC area but this looks worth the trip. Thanks for posting this!

        2. sarahkayla | | #5

          Dear everyone -

          the exhibit is wonderful - and if you are in new york you should go - (this really has nothing to do with the fact that I have a piece in the show)  about half of the exhibit is stuff from the historical society collection - the stuff that gets really interesting are the items that come with thier stories explained either on the museum labels or that you listen to on earphones... there are old sewing notions.. patterns back to the 1920's, wonderful examples of patched turn of the century worker clothing... the last piece in the show is a hoot of a quilt made by garment worker union ladies with quilt block .. each with a barbie dress in the middle.  I stupidly don't have a photo of the chala cover that is in the show.. but i can post some photos of some other pieces...

          sarah

          1. sarahkayla | | #6

            AAAK! now I just have to figure our how to send a photo do it is not  at full resolution. the photo was of the bottom of a tallit or prayer shawl  - the tallit was made of vintage thai and chinese silks embellished with machine stitching and beading..

            if you want to see more of my work.. you can email me and I can send you photos from my ofoto site..

            sarah in nyc

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