NYC Fabric District

The official name of the district is the New York City Garment District. I call the subset dedicated to fabric, trim, ribbons, buttons, etc the New York City Fabric District.

Location Map of the NYC Garment District:

	Fabric, Trims, etc: West 36th through West 40th, between 7th and 8th avenue
	Beads, Buttons, Trims, etc: West 36th through West 39th, around 6th avenue
	Ribbons, Trims, etc: West 38th, between 5th and 6th avenue

I start at West 40th and 6th Avenue (south west corner of Bryant Park) walking west along the north side of West 40th until I reach 8th Avenue where I cross West 40th, doubling back east via the south side of West 40th until I reach 6th Avenue, walk south on 6th Avenue until I reach the north side of West 39th and follow the same routine until I end up on the south side of West 36th where it intersects 6th Avenue.

If I stop in every store along the way, I can easily spend the entire day which includes a much needed sit down break for lunch. If I have any extra time, I head back to West 38th and go on both north and south sides of West 38th between 6th avenue and 5th avenue.

Hours vary by store but most are open:

	Monday - Friday 9am-6:30pm
	Saturday 10am-5:30pm
	some are open Sunday 10am-5:30pm.

A subset of the stores, which I confirmed exist as of April 2008:

A&M Fabric	214D West 39th Street
A.K. Fabrics	257 West 39th Street
Ayazmoon Fabrics	214B West 39th Street
B&J Fabrics	525 Seventh Avenue (between 37th & 38th St, 2nd floor)
B4U Fabrics	228 West 39th Street
Beckenstein Fashion Fabrics	257 West 39th Street
Chic Fabric	225 West 39th Street
Day to Day Textile	214 West 39th Street
Daytona Braids & Trimmings	251 West 39th Street
Diana Fabrics	269 West 39th Street
Fabric for Less	239 West 39th Street
Fabric House, Inc	214A West 39th Street
G&R Fabric, Inc	239 West 39th Street
Hamed Fabrics Inc.	251 West 39th Street
Lace Star	215 West 40th Street
Leather Impact	256 West 38th Street
M&J Trimming	1008 Sixth Avenue (between 37th & 38th St)
Mood	225 West 37th Street (3rd & 4th floors)
Neon Fabrics, Inc	239 West 39th Street
Paron West, Paron Annex	206 West 40th Street
Prestige Textile, Inc	258 West 39th Street
Shaikh Fabric	580 8th Avenue
Spandex House	263 West 38th Street
So-Good	28 West 28th Street
Stretch-It, Inc.	263 West 38th Street
Tinsel Trading	47 West 38th Street
Toho Shoji Inc	990 Sixth Avenue (between 36th & 37th St)
USA Fabric Inc	247 West 38th Street
Weavers Fabrics Inc	257 B West 39th Street

If you only have a couple of hours to spare, then focus on the six stores I have highlighted, where I have repeatedly made purchases over the years and/or customer service is exceptional.

Don't let the names mislead you, I found the satin lining for this cloak at Spandex House and Lace Star carries non lace upholstery weight fabrics on their second floor.

Other links I recommend:

The NYC Garment District

Tips for comfort:

	Wear comfortable, cushioned shoes for walking around all day as there is rarely a place to sit in the fabric stores.
	If the weather warrants a jacket then wear one that quickly opens and closes as you will be walking in and out of stores non stop.
	Put your personal belongings in a 'fanny sack' centered at the front so that you can keep both hands free to pull fabric out as it is often stacked deep with only narrow paths through the stacks. This picture from the Sewing Divas is a great example of what your typical fabric store looks like.
	If you are visiting the city, park nearby or lodge nearby so you can drop off your bags of fabric periodically.

Tips for budgets:

	You can often haggle the price down if you're buying 5 or more yards. I usually offer a price that is 20% less unless it's already heavily discounted. You have more leverage the larger the quantity you are purchasing and if you can keep a poker face about how you really feel about the fabric. Always be courteous and if haggling is getting you nowhere, move on.
	Request a swatch if and only if you are really considering buying it and write down the haggled price on the back of their business card which you should ask them to staple the swatch to. The business card usually has the name of the person you haggled with. I've only had one store deny me a swatch, yet I have had another store hand me scissors to cut my own, so swatch polices will vary.
	I prefer to haggle and swatch on the first day and purchase the next day, if I am staying in the city. That allows me the night in between to lay out all my swatches to make my final decisions. Store owners will remember you the next day and see you are serious about coming back to purchase, which may open up new options as they offer to pull out similar stock that is not on display to their regular customers.
	Multiple stores sometimes offer the exact same fabric at very different prices, find the lowest or show them your swatch with the written lowest price so far to allow them to match it or beat it.
	Pay cash when possible, some stores will not add the taxes or will round down to the nearest dollar if you are dealing in cash.

Tips for costumers:

	Reversible upholsteries offer two design options or the ability to combine both for a perfect match. A friend of mine makes beautifully coordinated renaissance outfits when sewing a bodice for herself using one side of the fabric and a doublet for her husband using the other side.
	Look for upholstery and brocade sections, often labeled with large signs. Sometimes they are only upstairs or downstairs, with the main floor focused on fashion fabrics.
	Carry around average yardage info for patterns you frequently sew in sizes you frequently sew, for example:

	full blouse (woman)	2.5 yds
	full long skirt	6 yds
	bodice	1 yd
	full long gown	7 yds
	long overdress	4.75 yds
	full shirt (man)	4.25 yds
	doublet	4.25 yds
	knickers	2.5 yds
	full pants	3 yds

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