The NYC Garment District
by Paula Nadelstern

Introduction

It's easy to develop a love/hate relationship with New York. (Take that sentence for example. New Yorkers are so self-centered, we refer to the geographical entity known as Manhattan as New York. We know New York is not only a big city that includes four more boroughs, it's a huge, beautiful and diverse state. But to get you thinking like a New Yorker, I'm going to adopt this reference system and not make any other excuses for it.) It's big, it's loud, it's not easy to do the stuff that's probably easy to do where you come from, like parking or getting to the post office. But you probably aren't thinking of coming to New York because you want to mail a letter or test your parking karma.

You might not have been planning to come to New York to fondle fabric either, but think again. New York is a genuine textile lover's shopping mecca. The following recommendations are just a tiny taste of the abundance and variety that overfills the neighborhood known as the Garment District. Instead of hunting for the materials you find in your local quilt shop, expect to bag uncommon species: bargains like mill-ends and cut-rate decorator fabrics, high end goods like silks and fine wools, non-traditional materials like vinyl and metallic, cottons from Indonesia and African. Not to mention shops brimming with embellishments, some arranged with a museum-like precision, others reminiscent of yard sale chaos.

The lists are divided into Fabric Shops, Ribbon Stores, Trimmings-Buttons-Beads-Notions, and a few Out-of-the-Garment-District suggestions. Don't be intimidated. Walk into these shops with attitude: THEY are lucky to have YOU shop in their store. But, if you don't want to look like a tourist, don't ask for or expect anyone to know what a Fat Quarter is and don't expect many shops to cut less than 1/2 yard lengths. At the end of this list, after the restaurant suggestions, there is a short version called The Three Hour Guide to the Garment District.

In compiling this list, I sought suggestions from fellow quilters wrapped up in the fabric of city life. Welcome to our New York. 


FABRIC SHOPS
The fabric shops in the garment district are mostly on 39th and 40th Streets, between 7th and 8th Avenues. Although they are open to the public, they cater to the apparel industry, meaning come with an open mind and don't expect many Fabrics & Fabricscalicoes and traditional quilting fabrics. But don't be shy: ask for cottons. Depending on the season, you could get lucky. Generally, the hours are Monday to Friday 9-6 and Saturday 10-5 (or 4:30). Interestingly, Saturdays are not as busy as weekdays when wholesale customers in the trade make up most of the traffic. A few stores open and close an hour earlier, and some are closed on Saturdays because of religious observance.
 

Mood
225 West 37th Floor, 
3rd & 4th floors
(212) 730-5003, 
https://www.moodfabrics.com/
Open Mon-Fri 9-7
Saturday 10-5

Mood just keeps getting better and better. As of July 1, 2015 their six hundred YouTube sewing videos will go live. Home dec is now at ground level. Inquire about classroom with daily free workshops. Large warehouse ambiance with knowledgeable staff. Many designer end-cuts at great prices. I bought cloth here, shlepped it to Beijing and had a cashmere coat, cashmere pants and two pairs of linen pants made in a week. Act out out your Project Runway fantasy. Consider printing out the lay-outs of each of the thre floors from their website. If you only have an hour and you want to see fabric, start here. A beautiful selection of Liberty of London for $20/yard. And the leather corner is breath-taking. 
     
  B&J
525 Seventh Avenue,
between 37th and 38th Streets,
2nd floor
(212) 354-8150,
www.bandjfabrics.com
Open Monday to Saturday
After 45 years in a multi-level storefront on West 40th Street, B&J Fabrics was forced to move to make way for the new headquarters of The New York Times. Huge selection of expensive, gorgeous, luxury goods. I always start here and I've never regretted a purchase. The stuff I've bought here has become grist for inspiration, sparking new quilts and directions.
 

Paron
257 West 39th Street
(212) 768-3266
http://www.manhattanfabrics.com/
Open Mon-Thurs 8:30-7
Fri 8:30-5:45, Sat 9-5, Sun 9-5

Features designer fabrics at discount prices. Their motto: Your Source for Better Discount Fabrics!
 

Fabrics&Fabrics
270 West 38th, 3rd floor
(212)391-7777
(212)944-9499 (fax)
info@fabrics-fabrics.com
www.fabrics-fabrics.com
Open Monday to Friday 9AM to 6PM

Formerly known as Lace Star, they now have an entire floor which has enabled them to expand their stock. “While we still have our lovely laces in many, many varieties and colors, we now also have a large selection of solid and printed silks (including charmeuse, gazar, satin, to name a few), cottons, linens, a selection of knits, a large amount of beautiful brocades and jacquards, and a very large selection of wools. We even have some leather, ultra suede, and vinyl as well.”

  Sposabella Lace
240 West 37th Street
(212) 354-4729
Open Mon-Sat 9:30-6
Sat 9:30-5 
Bride Heaven. Frank Sena, the owner, is passionate and sincere about being a manufacturer of specialty bridal headpieces and laces. When I got married in 1970, I wore an $8 Mexican wedding dress and eventually three friends wore it, too (=$2 per wedding). This shop, filled with yardage of gorgeous, beautiful lace, makes me want another wedding dress or to figure out a way to make a lace quilt.
 

NY Elegant Fabrics
242 W 36th Street, 2nd floor
(212) 302-4984
NYElegantfabrics.com
Mon- Fri:9:00 am to 6:00 pm 
Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

 

I haven't yet been to this new address for a maze-like store that gave the impressive it is never ending, filled with a very impressive range of beautiful fabrics: silks, woolens, cottons, designer fabrics, laces, imports. Swatches available. Not discounted.
  Butterfly Fabrics
237 West 35th Street #241
(212) 719-9617,
www.butterflyfabrics.us/

Open Monday to Saturday
A full line of metallic silk organza and other wonderful stuff, including a fantastic line of dupioni silks, both 45" and 60" wide, at reasonable prices. (They will offer wholesale prices if you purchase twenty yards.) The proprietors own a factory in India that weaves a two color dupioni seen nowhere else.
  Ayazmoon Fabrics
214 W 39th Street
(212) 869-3315,
ayazmoon@aol.com
Open seven days a week.
Big array of Chinese silk brocades and beautiful saris. Between 7th and 8th.
  Spandex House, Inc.
263 West 38th Street
(212) 354-6711,
www.spandexhouse.com

Open Monday to Saturday
You Have To Take A Peek. This store is a hoot. Everything stretches and the patterns are mind boggling. 
  Fabric for Less
239 West 39th Street
(212) 391-7504
Open seven days a week
Best selection of decent fake fur - all the way in the back.
  Beckenstein Fashion Fabrics
257 West 39th Street #2
(212) 475-6666
http://fabricczar.com/
Open Mon-Fri 9-6
Saturday by appointment

Men's wool suiting, shirting, linens. The have a custom tailoring division on the premises  (Beckenstein Bespoke) but I can't vouch for prices or costumer satisfaction.  

Their home dec store is Beckenstein Fabric & Interiors at 32 West 20th Street. http://beckensteinfabrics.com/

     
  Grayline Fabrics                  
247 W 37th Street
(212) 391-4130
http://www.graylinelinen.com/
Mon-Fri 9-6:30
Sat 10-5 

 Imagine: only linen. Reasonable prices and sale bolts.

 

  Rosen & Chadick                                    A family run business for 50 years with knowledgeable and                                                                  friendly staff. 
  108 West 39th Street                               The cotton inventory is not large. 
  13th Floor
  (212) 869-0142
  www.rosenandchadickfabrics.com
  Open Mon-Fri 9-5 

 
 

Italo Leather
247 West 38th Street, 11th floor
New York, NY 10018
(917) 475-4620
james@italoleather.com
www.italoleather.com
Open Monday to Friday 

Leather Impact
256 West 38th Street
(212) 302-2332
www.leatherimpact.com
Open Monday to Friday

Alan Handbags
247 West 38th Street
Second Floor, Room #201
(718) 685-8247
Alanhandbagsnyc@gmail.com
www.Alanhandbagsnyc.com 

Eurotextil
307 West 38th Street
New York, NY 10018
(212) 221-5324 (phone)
(212) 221-5325 (fax)
http://eurotextil.us/
Call or Email info@eurotextil.us) for appointment Open 9:30-5:30

Serving the apparel, handbags,  accessories and furnishings markets, this immaculate and hospitable leather skin resource has no minimums on stock items (meaning, you can buy a single skin). I'm not a leather maven but I thought the prices were really reasonable and immediately started devising how to use laser cut patterned leather in a quilt. Give me time. Stock includes lambskin, shearling, goatskin, cowhide, calfskin, pigsuede, printed, embossed and hair-on calf.

Everything you could need related to leather. Smells great!

 

 

Reasonably priced repairs of all leather goods: bags, jackets, briefcases, handbags. Also pattern add sample makers. I bought a handsome bag made from an old kilim in Dubai and brought it here for a new, appropriate size zipper and handle. 



This is a new address for this upmarket store. No minimum purchase required for stock in existence ( but no fat quarters!) Lots of bridal, theater and film type fabrics, some novelties, mainly solids and mainly from Italy


Ribbon Stores
Here's a list of the ribbon stores on 38th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, and a few close by additions. (My friend, Robin, wants me to make sure you know that 6th Avenue is also called Avenue of the Americas.) Start at Lord & Taylors on 5th Avenue and walk west. (You might want to stop first at Lord & Taylors to use the facilities.)
  M&J Trimmings
(Button store two doors down)
1008 6th Avenue
between 37th and 38th Streets
(212) 391-9072,
www.mjtrim.com
Open Monday to Saturday
This isn't a store, it's an event. The content is mind-boggling: ribbons and sequins and appliques, oh my! M&J Buttons is two stores away. Don't go midday when it's swarming with garmentos on their lunch breaks. If you only have an hourand you want to see embellishments, start here.
 

Mokuba
137 West 38th Street
Between Broadway and 7th Avenue
NY, NY 10018
(212) 869-8900
Mon-Fri 9-5 

 

Just ribbons. Exquisite variety displayed in a museum-like ambiance. Very Expensive but definitely worth aspiring to. If they ask for a business card at check-out, yiu can say your purchase is for personal use, not business.Here's their idiosyncratic procedure: don't handle anything yourself. After you've decided what you want, an assistant follows you around with a cart and cuts what you ask for. Closes promptly at 5PM.
 

M&S Schmalberg
242 West 36th Street 7th Floor
(212) 244 - 2090
www.customfabricflowers.com
info@customfabricflowers.com
Mon - Fri 9am - 4:30pm


 

This is a MUST-SEE destination! This family run business has the largest selection of silk fabric flowers, petals and leaves in the city; the collection is mind boggling and gorgeous. They do all manufacturing on premises and can even custom make something out of your fabric. They've been using the same toolss and techniques since 1916. They offer tours of the factory; it's living history. Textile lovers should pay a visit just for the experience.

     
  East Coast Trimming Corporation
142 West 38th Street
http://www.eastcoasttrimming.com/
(212) 221-0050 

Purveyors of passementerie. There's something very Through the Looking Glass about this place when you enter the appealing, peaceful interior from the busy urban street. Listen to your fairy god shopper--expect to be inspired and seriously consider buying tht unique stuff if it inspires you. Go with a friend because you're going to want to point out eye-catching ribbons to someone else; it's weird to talk outloud to yourself. 

FYI: Hyman Hendler Ribbon and vintage trim is now located within this store. 


MORE TRIMMINGS/BUTTONS/BEADS/NOTIONS
The Bead District is around 6th Avenue from 36th St to 39th St.
 

B & Q Original
210 West 38th Street
(212) 398-0988

B & Q Trim 
102 West 38th
(212) 869-2930

Shine
228 West 39th
2nd Floor
Open Monday to Saturday

Bridals, veils, lace, trimmings (like to-die-for beaded fringes), laces, appliques, gloves, sequins, costume jewelry, artificial flowers, appliques, and things you've never even dreamed of. 

The 3 stores are grouped together online under Shine Trim.

  Daytona Braids & Trimming
251 West 39th Street
(212) 354-1713,
daytrim@worldnet.att.net

Open Monday to Saturday
Lots of buttons, trim, embroidery thread, and pillow inserts.
  Toho Shoji
990 Avenue of the Americas,
between 36th and 37th Streets
(212) 868-7466,
www.tohoshojiny.com
Open Monday to Sunday
Good assortment of beads, ornaments, and related stuff.
  York Novelty Imports Beads
10 West 37th Street
(212) 594-7040,
www.yorkbeads.com
Open Monday to Friday
A spokesman for this mammoth retail store, in business at the same site for over sixty years, says they are the major New York importer of Czech beads. Good selection of small containers of seed beads.
  Beads World
1384 Broadway
(212) 302-1199,
www.beadsworldusa.com

Open seven days a week
From the outside, this new store looks well lit and well stocked. Large selection of Swarovski crystal, lampworked Czech beads, semi-precious stones and seed beads. I like the prices. If you say you found them on my website, they might give you a discount...if the owner is there.
  Steinlauf & Stoller
239 West 39th Street
Toll Free: (877) 869-0321,
(212) 869-0321-2;
www.steinlaufandstoller.com
,
Open Monday to Friday, 8-5:30
Thread, zippers, tools, shoulder pads, etc. They will put on snap sets. I buy the featherweight fusible interfacing (CL-FW) that enables me to play nicely with silks at this notions distributor; $30.00 minimum for mail orders.
  Panda Threads
247 West 38th Street
(212) 302-9434,
www.zipperbank.com
Open Monday to Saturday
Great prices on giant spools of name brand threads (like Guttermann), elastics, hangers. Plus, they make labels.
  Great Buttons
241 West 40th Street
(212) 869-6811
Open Monday to Saturday
 
  Top Tex
222 West 38th Street
(212) 221-6433,
toptextrim@aol.com

Open: Monday to Saturday
Manufacturers and importers of home furnishings, accessories, trimmings, woolen and pashmina shawls
  Eskay Novelty
34 West 38th Street, 3rd floor
(212) 391-4110,
www.eskaynovelty.com

Open Monday to Thursday,
half day on Friday
Imagine: this shop only sells feathers.
  Stanley Pleating
242 West 36th Street
between 7th and 8th Avenues
(212) 868-2920
Open to the public:
Monday to Friday, 12-1:15, 4:30-5:30
Pleating, stitching, embroidery services

QUILT STORE IN THE GARMENT DISTRICT
  Gotham Quilts
40 West 37th Street
between 5th and 6th Avenues
(212) 220-3958 
u
s@gothamquilts.com
Not open on Monday.
The selection at this bright, creative quilt store focuses on Modern quilting fabric and basics like polka dots and blenders. They offer sewing and quilting classes as well as long arm services. 

 

 OUT OF THE GARMENT DISTRICT

Tinsel Trading
New location for Tinsel Trading: 
828 Lexington Avenue (63rd Street)
NYC 10065 212-730-1030
www.tinseltrading.com
Monday to Friday 10-7 Sat/Sun 11-5       
A tiny boutique jewel box. Highly edited. More gifts.
 

Metalliferous
34 West 46th street
New York, NY 10036
(212) 944-0909 (phone)
(212) 944-0644 (fax)

Metalliferous is a full-service, fully-stocked supplier of metal, tools, and supplies to jewelers, beaders, crafters, hobbyists, metal workers, sculptors, and everyone else interested in metalworking and jewelry. Kaleidoscope makers love this place.
  Tender Buttons
143 East 62nd Street
(212) 758-7004
Open Monday to Saturday
The cream of the contemporary and antique button crop. This tiny shop is worthy of multiple ooh-and-aah moments. Expensive. 
 

Zipper Stop
27 Allen Street
http://www.zipperstop.com/ 
(212) 226-3964
Mon-Fri 9-4:30; Sun 9-3 

YKK zippers in every size and color. Best prices for quantity zippers.
Featured on CBS Sunday Morning.  
 
Long Island
Huntington Fabric Depot
1949 New York Avenue
(631) 424-7333
http://www.huntingtonfabricdepot.com/
Mon-Sat, 10AM-7PM
Eleanor-from-Long-Island and her daughter-the-Salsa-dancer have  great things to say about this mecca: “Garment silks, like Dupioni ($12), silk lining fabric ($5--cheaper than the polyester at Joann’s.), lovely wools ($10), Ultrasuede ($10 to 12). Discounted patterns at 50% off, loads of stock notions, accessories, trims and buttons, not to mention a decorating fabric section, too.
  P&S Fabrics
355 Broadway
(about four blocks below Canal)
(212) 226-1534.
Monday to Friday and Sundays.
Closed Saturday.
According to Shirley Levine, it's the best stocked notion center, with a great selection of brand name rayon threads (including Madeira) and stuff like rat tail and cording for piping, and it's one of the few spots in the city that carries clothing patterns (at 25% off).

According to Judy Speezak, this shop always has a good selection of genuine African cottons, cheaper than most anywhere else in the city. They also have an odd selection of quilting cottons, and she's recently seen woven patterned Chinese silks there, too.
  Erica Wilson
717 Madison Avenue
(212) 832-7390
Open Monday to Saturday
Best place for hard-to-find pearl cotton
  Bruce Frank
215 West 83rd Street
(212) 595-3746,
www.brucefrankbeads.com

Open seven days a week
BEADS!
 

Beads Of Paradise
16 East 17th Street
(212) 620-0642
Mon-Sat 11:00-7:30
Sunday  12:00-6:30
www.beadsofparadisenyc.com

 

Isn't it amazing about the siren song of beads? You donj't think you could possibly need one more thing and then you start shopping. Thisshop, a block off Union Square, is fabulous with exquisite beyond seed-bead-beads. There's everything related to beads, plus lacquerware and African, Asian and Indonesian artifacts with knowledgeable, helpful salespeople.

  Djema Imports
70 West 125th Street
(212) 289-3842,
www.djemaimports.com

Open seven days a week
Specializes in African fabrics: mudcloths, korhogo, and African cotton prints.

Lunch Advice from Friends Who Work in the Area

My friends in the Benartex studio put together this list just for this website:

Pain Quotidien
Trust any one of this franchise wherever you find one. Here's the Bryant Park location.
70 West 40th between 5th & 6th

Mandoo Bar
Korean, suggested by Karen whose fabric designs are breath-taking. She says stop by to watch them make dumplings.
2 West 32nd between 5th and Broadway 

Pig & Whistle
Irish pub with good hamburgers
Corner of 36th & 7th 

Crisp
Falafel, etc
110 West 40th between 6th & Broadway

Mexicue
A melange of Mexican and BBQ

Macy's Stella 34 Trattoria
A lovely place to sit with great salads, elegant pizzas and breath-taking gelato. Dedicated 6th floor express elevator inside Macy's Broadway & 35th Street entrance.
51 West 34th Street, 6th floor

Refinery Hotel/The Rooftop Bar
Great view
63 West 38th Street, corner of 6th Avenue 

Teresa (a talented  patternmaker and art quilter):
Ginger’s (Szechuan & Chinese Classic)
512 Seventh Avenue between 37th & 38th
(212) 768-3100
Order online: www.gingers5127.com

Pret A Manger
Any one of this franchise’s locations is reliable.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe (quiltmaker/owner Bumble Beans Inc;  http://www.bumblebeansinc.com/

“Casa Nonna, Market Cafe, and Il Punto are the better places in the hood. The others are the ones that are a step tier down from the first three mentioned, but are still better than most of the pop up food places in the garment district. “

Casa Nonna
310 W 38th St, New York, NY
(212) 736-3000
casanonna.com

Market Cafe
496 9th Ave # 1, New York, NY
(212) 967-3892
marketcafenyc.com

IL PUNTO Ristorante
507 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10018
(212) 244-3058
ilpuntoristorante.com

Inakaya
231 West 40th Street, New York, NY
(212) 354-2195
inakayany.com

Mercato
352 W 39th St
New York, NY 10018
(212) 643-2000
mercatonyc.com

HK Hell's Kitchen
523 9th Ave, New York
(800) 781-0466
hkhellskitchen.com

FAST BITES:

Dean & Deluca Inc
620 8th Avenue, New York, NY
(212) 221-0308
deandeluca.com

Schnipper's Quality Kitchen
620 8th Avenue, New York, NY
(212) 921-2400 ‎
schnippers.com

Counter
1451 Broadway
New York, NY 10036-7311
(212) 997-6801
thecounterburger.com

Kait (Dimitrios Design Archive)
If you're in the mood for pizza, Kait recommend Lazzara's Pizzahttp://lazzaraspizza.com/
221 West 38th St (btw 7th & 8th Ave)


THREE HOUR GUIDE TO THE GARMENT DISTRICT

 

Consider the following itinerary a sampler of garment district attractions that can be collapsed into three hours (if you stay focused and on task and wear either roller-skates or rubber soled shoes). If you need sustenance, try Ben’s, a NY kosher type deli at 209 W 38th Street, corner of 7th Avenue, (212) 398-2367. Many thanks to Shirley Levine for her clever help compiling this list.

SEGMENT 1

Wander through 3 shops on 40th St between 7th & 8th Ave

1. METRO CREATION
213 Metro West 40th Street
(212) 354-8225

metro@ejoyce.com

Really reasonable prices for trimmings land accessories like rhinestones, sequins, bandings, handbag handles, beads

2. NY ELEGANT FABRICS
222 West 40th Street
(212) 302-4984

NYElegant@aol.com

An impressive range of beautiful fabrics: silks, woolens, cottons, designer fabrics, laces, imports

3. PARON WEST and PARON ANNEX
206 West 40th Street
(212) 768-3266

www.paronfabrics.com

A NYC legend; you’ll either luck into the buy of your life or wander through wondering what the hype is all about. All fabric is 50% off in the Annex.


SEGMENT 2

4. B&J Fabrics
525 Seventh Ave, 2nd floor (38th & 39th)
(212) 354-8150

www.bandjfabrics.com

Beautifully organized, high end, expensive. Check it out for scientific purposes.

5. MOOD
225 West 37th
3rd floor
(212) 730-5003

www.moodfabrics.com

This must-see store is one of the recurring characters on the iconic reality TV show, PROJECT RUNWAY. Jam packed with designer and home dec fabrics, it might behoove you to print out the layout of the three floors from the website. Also, it has restrooms.

SEGMENT 3

Wander between four stores on 38th Street.

6. SIL THREAD
257 West 38th Street
(212) 997-8949

sil@silthreadinc.com

A great range of colored thread

7. LEATHER IMPACT
256 West 38th Street
(212) 302-2332

leatherfacts@msn.com

Smells great!

8. MATCH FEATHER
224 West 38th
(212) 704-0111

Jin1281@gmail.com

Peek inside: feathers, feather trim, Swarovski stone, flowers, buckles

9. PACIFIC TRIMMING
218 West 38th Street
(212) 279-9310

pacifictrimming@aol.com

Inexpensive button source plus much more

SEGMENT 4:

10. TOHO SHOJI (New York)
990 Sixth Avenue
Between 37th and 38th
(212) 391-6200

www.mjtrim.com

Findings, beads, chains, cool stuff you didn’t even know you were looking for

11. M&J Trimming
1008 Sixth Avenue between 37th and 38th St
(212) 391-6200

www.mjtrim.com

Although it might seem redundant after the other trimming stores, a visit to the garment district wouldn’t be complete without trekking a few blocks east to M+J Trimming. You might want to stop for a caffeine break on your way over; you’ll need renewed stamina to stand and gawk. M&J is a bit pricier .The view is fabulous bordering on overwhelming. If you’re into embellishment and you’ve only got an hour, you might want to spend it here.

 

 

Compiled by Paula Nadelstern, June 2004. Revised June 2015, www.paulanadelstern.com