fashion fabrics
luxury fabrics
James Hare specialises in silks and luxurious materials from around the world for both fashion and furnishing.
Broadwick Silks has the most incredible array of fabrics - over 14,000 sourced from all over the world! They supply fabrics not only to the public but also to the theatre, film, fashion and interior industry - so these fabrics really are top-notch. In fact if there is a fabric you have in mind then they can create it for you. Delve through rolls and rolls of brocades, fancy jacquards, dupion, embroideries, sequins, plain fabrics and beaded fabric. An utter delight.
Japanese kimono silk & cotton
there's the real deal at Clothaholics - silks and cottons imported straight from Japan of the very highest quality to make your very own silk Kimono in, or a casual summer Yukata for hot summer days ... or simply use for anything else!
couture linings, interlinings & interfacings
visit the Macculloch & Wallis online store - they offer over a century of experience from the fashion heart of London.
fabrics for different genres
Borovick Fabrics.com stock
bridal fabrics; velvets, silk, crepe, satin, organza, chiffon, beads, tulle, lace, taffeta's
theatre/dance fabrics; lame, PVC, fun furs, stretch satins, lycra, fancy net, boas, sequins, leatherette, animal print velvets.
evening/daywear fabrics; cotton, linen, corduroy, wool, silk, jacquard's, taffeta's, jersey, microfiber, velvets...
If you know what you are looking for you can send an email with specifications for some fabric samples - incredibly handy if you can't get to the shop!
and of course, there's the wonderful MacCulloch & Wallis who have been in the fabric and haberdashery business since 1902 who stock wool fabrics, cottons, linen and linen types, patterned fabrics, stiff silks, duchess satins, crepes, laces, velvets, leathers, sequined fabrics, stretch fabrics, sheer fabrics, denim, dyes and dyeable fabrics, linings and interlinings ... and so much more
cheaper, or should we say less expensive, fabrics
can be found at Berwick Street Market, in London's Soho (W1F 8TF) which happens every day except for Sundays - primarily a typical British market selling fruit and vegetables and general household goods, but definitely worth scoping out.
retro-inspired fabrics
if you love retro-inspired modern fabrics in wonderful colourways, with many of the designs inspired by the 70s and 80s, the Miller Moon Shop is a great place to look.
vintage-inspired fabrics
maybe you had a pretty floral-print Liberty Tana Lawn dress as a little girl, or maybe you've seen photos of Susan Collier's 'Swinging London' 60s designs, or the positively psychedelic versions of original Art Nouveau and paisley designs worn as shirts and dresses in the 70s ... Liberty of London Tana Lawn first launched in the 1920s, is still going strong with new prints added to the classics every season - processed in England without added chemicals or allergens, its unique silky feel and crisp crease resistant texture (due to is very high thread count) makes it a perfect cotton fabric to sew with, and a beautifully comfortable to wear.
and finally ...
if you find yourself in Paris looking for fabrics, an absolute 'must visit' is the fabric market, Marche Saint-Pierre. Renowned for its variety, quality and prices, it is on Place Saint-Pierre, Rue Livingtson, 18th Arr. (nearest metro station, Barbes-Rochechouart) in an old wooden building with 5 floors of fabrics of every imaginable colour, texture, print and weave. Nearby there is Moline, a big shop selling wonderful buttons, beads, bangles, fringes (and fabrics) and also on neighbouring rue d'Orsel, there more specialty stores selling buttons, braids and fabric trimmings of all kinds.