The majority of suiting wools made in the UK are woven in Yorkshire - and most of the mills will have a factory shop attached with good prices, so if you're specifically wanting to come to the UK looking for suiting wools, then come up north (we've got beautiful scenery and historical properties to go to as well).
If you're looking for a fabric bargain in London, Walthamstow is the place. Lots of shops / market stalls that carry dead stock- you have to be prepared to sift through a lot of polyester but there are incredible wools and silks to be found for less than £10/metre. Even a few shops that sell everything (including similar viscose shot linings bought from Goldhawk road for £9 in the video) for £1-2/metre.
Deadstock is definitely the way to go. I use a couple of websites that stock deadstock & have had some real bargains. I'm in the NE but #1 son is in London so I get to visit. He and his wife used to live near Walthamstow market & as she sews she knows where the bargains are to be had.
I was going to say the same thing, also little places in Hackney and south London... It's such a shame because a lot of the little fabric shops and market stalls have closed down... However next time you come over just google cheap fabric shops you'll be surprised what pops up.
When I walk into any small shop, I take a deep breathe and prepare to smile and tell any pushy sales people that I don't buy from pushy sales people, so if they want a sale from me they should leave me alone until I ask for help lol. I grew up watching my mother do that and youd be surprised how quickly they just leave you alone and if they don't, I just walk out. It's emotionally exhausting, but worth it for some specialty things in big cities.
@@joannathesinger770 yeah that can be unnecessary and irking huh. Bit like unsolicited linguistics lectures on that last bastion of pure English; a youtube comments section...
@@joannathesinger770 Alright, since you seem properly pressed by this, I'll go with "sewtrix" from now on to just try and keep your blood pressure nice and low. Of course, it has benefits for me too, mostly that it makes me sound badass and like I probably have some form of dual wield scissor based weapon at my disposal. That's my final offer cos I actually have some grass to touch and all that good stuff.
@@joannathesinger770 you're silly. Language is always changing and while you say sewer is gender neutral many of us like sexist rather than sear or seamstress. So you silly lady, if you can say anything nice... keep your opinion to yourself.
Lovely haul! Have you considered selling bags of offcuts from your creations? Even a small snip from the beetle wing fabric would be great in some applique. If you sold mixed bags by weight it would contribute to zero waste and make lots of other people happy, plus some revenue for you.
@TheClosetHistorian Please do! I would love to see how different weights of fabrics you prefer feel - I'm still getting used to what fabrics to use with what projects (and rejecting fabrics in store for being too scratchy but realizing from a remnant that the scratchiness or stiffness is pre-laundry). Bonus points if the scraps were labeled either with what they are or the video they're from if it's not obvious from a thumbnail.
I have been a frequent shopper at Goldhawk Road and while most things are super expensive, some bargains are definitely to be found! In several of the stores that sell suiting wool, they have end of bolt remnants of 100% worsted wool fabric for sometimes as little as £3 a metre. Not I long enough cuts for a full suit but definitely good for a skirt or jacket & waistcoat combo. I have also been made very uncomfortable in a couple of the shops by staff following me, including a couple of times where the staff member has been so rude that I just walked out. I'm not sure why this is such an issue on Goldhawk Road specifically! For gorgeous brocades, your best bet is the fabric shops on Green street in Newham. They are primarily polyester, not silk but can be very cheap and very beautiful.
I’ve worked in retail for years and, in my opinion, pushing customers to buy is not the most effective way to do sales for the exact reason that it’s alienating for customers. People don’t like to be pushed and probably won’t come back so it hurts business in the long run. (I’m also an introvert so being pushy is just not my style lol). I’m so sorry you had a poor experience Bianca. Loving the olive and black damask!!!
I totally agree! I worked in retail too, even at a small fabric store. The store was so small I could see all customers from the spot where I had to cut the fabrics etc. I had the door right in front of me... so everyone who entered was seen. I made sure to greet everyone, if I had no other customers at that time I would ask if they need help or want to browse alone but often times the customers would answer with something like "only here to look" (I'm from Germany so it was in German and I tried to translate...) before I could finish my sentence xD and that's fine. I made sure that they know I'm available if they need help but was doing my own thing (sorting the fabric rolls by color or something like that xD) to not be the creepy salesperson... But I have to say that it's sometimes difficult for the employee to be that way. at the fabric store I could do that because our boss was fine with that. he had an other, bigger store at an other location where he was all day, we only saw him once or twice a week when he brought new fabrics and collected the money. At the big department store I worked later we got told at least twice a day, to greet EVERY customer. and offer help and be more pushy, and I hated it so much! but I needed to keep my job so I did it as less pushy as I could without offending my boss...
I’m glad you found some things you wanted. I do know what you mean about pushy sales people. That wall of embellishments was amazing, all those bottles in colour families. Don’t apologize about the metres. As a Canadian I have to really watch myself on American websites, especially with tutorials.
"Nights at the jazz club that don't exist"... I get it. As a teen (in the 90s) I was convinced that I never got invited to a fancy New Year's gala because I didn't have a glamourous late 1960s shift evening gown with a matching beaded clutch
As someone who lives 2 hours away from London and who has daydreamed about visiting the textile district there, this video was incredibly helpful! To spend money on travel and all the things a day trip requires, to ultimately find it wasn’t what I dreamt of would be an expensive and disappointing experience. You’ve saved my nerves and my bank account. Thank you for documenting this! Having said that, your haul is super pretty! I’m glad you came away with some lovely things. I buy all my fabric online. Not sure if you have this specific supplier over the pond but I buy all my stretch fabrics from Funkifabrics (owned by Friedmans). They have some inSANEEEEE foils and prints that you would surely swoon over (and yes, LOTS of iridescence). In my opinion, their quality can’t be beat. It’s expensive but it’s incredible quality. They have a full range of eco friendly and recycled stretch fabrics too. Other than that I shop mainly at Minerva. Their chiffons and linings etc are fabulous!
@@thebookwyrmslair6757 aw I’m glad you had a look and liked what you saw. I’ve mainly got experience with the nylon spandex (shiny and matte). I use their Alicante mesh as well. You can order samples though (5 for free of the standard fabric ranges. You may have to pay for foil and print design samples). Well worth it to feel them in your hands. I do believe they do sell softer more breathable fabrics but I’m not sure what category best to point you towards I’m afraid. I’ve called and spoken to their customer service department whenever I’ve had specific questions and they’re very helpful, also. So that’s worth a shot! Good luck and happy browsing!
I have this problem here in Germany too. They have some cheap options but most of the fabrics you’d want to work with for clothing is extremely expensive. It’s frustrating needing to choose between making the project you love or a project you can afford.
You are not a metamorphic evil queen, you are a Metamorphic Magical Queen ! I’m a new subscriber and am floored by your fantastic creations, especially your beaded insect brooches & the ice dyeing shirts was epic .Thank You Bianca ❤
With you as an inspiration Bianca I started to sew for myself while living in the US. I'm learning and enjoying the process. I went home to Ireland recently for a visit and just like you in the UK what a shock! So expensive! No wonder the art of sewing our own clothes has fallen to the wayside with the price being so prohibitive. I would love some Irish tweed and I will definitely invest in the future but I think I'll be saving up and waiting until my skills match the price tag! xxx
So much pretty!!! As you experienced, London, like New York, is super expensive overall, but something I've observed in my travels is that we in the US pay BONKERS prices for healthcare, but have access to really inexpensive "dry goods" (in the old fashioned sense of the phrase). In Europe the dry goods are often much more expensive, but the likelihood of going bankrupt due to medical expenses is very low. As much as I love textiles, having experienced a few medical adventures in my life, I personally would much rather have European healthcare.
I will have to wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment! The US healthcare system is indeed BONKERS in the worst possible way 😩 My one prescription medicine costs $15 dollars without insurance, but my insurance is $300+ a month, so that I can get that same prescription for only $5...aka $305+ dollars a month...
@@TheClosetHistorian Yes, but if you--- [insert relevant gods in your pantheon here] forbid!--say, accidentally forget to drink enough water one day and pass out in a lecture hall in front of 100 students and wind up getting special paramedic attention you'll probably need that coverage because the US medical system is crazytown. Not that I have any personal knowledge about such things. Ahem. Hydrate people!
I am British but grew up from the age of 3 in many places in the USA. My father moved back to the UK with my little brother. My brother lived close to Camden and my father lived on Portobello Rd. He met his 3rd wife whilst living there and then they moved back and forth to France and London. I spent a lot of time in London. It became like a second home for me. I live in California but I made the Trek to London once or twice a year. I enjoyed visiting with relatives and seeing historical places. We traveled around Europe as well when I would go over to visit family. Many fond memories were made.
Hello yes watching all the North American sew-tubers with all the fancy fabrics is baffling from the UK, I can't compute the dollars per yard to pounds per metre so thought maybe you are all very rich! There's a few online shops which do really cheap fabrics (including some natural fibres) but I've just accepted I can't afford linen or wool at this point in my sewing skills and I have nowhere to wear silk to. I still wish more creators would share actual costs though, Haley Marie's cost breakdowns are interesting and helpful, even if the economy doesn't translate entirely.
Uk prices and Irish prices where I live are crazy at present. British street markets were fab for fabrics yrs ago. No more bargains to be had. 😢 As for pushy assistances I usually tell them “I prefer to browse around unassisted.” ☺️
🙏🏼 Bianca🌟- Next trip to London checkout Bethnal Green road & Bricklane here in the East End for sumptuous fabrics! It’s a big Bengali community so Sari’s fabric galore 😍 just subscribed to your amazing informative channel and have been binge watching 👏🏼👏🏼💚💫💜
Im not sure why i havent seen your videos until now. Ive been watching YT for a while. But as a newbie im dropping in to remind you how incredibly helpful your videos are! The information youve shared in the videos I’ve watched has already changed the way I sew and i feel less intimated about drafting and fitting patterns/garments. You have a way of explaining things that just clicks for me. Im so excited to see more from and cant wait to see what you do with these fabrics. Also i can relate to being introverted and just wanting to be left alone to browse in the fabric store its almost like going to a library😂(my second favorite place to go)
Thank you!! It is like a fabric library! And having a "stash" of fabrics at home is sorta like the pile of purchased-but-not-read books that many of us surely have as well 🤣
Well, finally relatable prices! As as swiss person fabric shopping is always a struggle. (Crying at 22 CHF, circa 24 Dollars, per meter for a medium weight plain weave cotton) but I love the purchases you made!
Honestly now I'm wondering what secret situation is ensuring such low prices on textiles in the US. I still buy European fabrics (Spanish and Italian brocades for example) but for far less! Something import fees is going on somewhere in the chain!
For anyone thinking of going to goldhawk road soon, I just went to “fabric house” (near the end of the street, right next to the Chinese street food vendor, you can see it in the first shot of this video) and I bought some absolutely gorgeous rayon twill and knit for £3 and £5 per meter respectively. I would have bought way more if I had had more room in my backpack!!! (Very nice salesperson too!!) Ps. thank you Bianca for making me aware of goldhawk road, now anytime I fly to London I make a stop there!!!
i get my fabric at biannual reenactor markets in the uk which are cheaper than goldhawk rd. i get £10pm wools and linens from them but no silk so ive just never made any silk things haha
👍👍 I'm genuinely shocked by those higher prices you mentioned but I am so looking forward to the inevitable retro-future neo-gothpunk Carmen Sandiego meets ancient Egyptian CEO/Oxbridge entomology professor on safari with Hercule Poirot, or whatever immaculate vibed garments that do spill forth from these gorgeous pieces, that I can't even tell you 😁! Whatever you do, have fun with them 👍👍!
This is a great haul!! I love the little brass cicadas. I truly think the fabric shops in London that are still standing are just desperate to not go under. I'm sure they weren't trying to lose your business and I hope people who can afford it while in London will still consider spending at these fabric shops 😊 My cousin lost her job in a textile shop there and it has been devastating. She still can't find any work, let alone in textiles, and it's been 9 months. I can't wait to see what you do with all of your fabrics!
I was so sad the shops I loved to wander around in Berwick street were gone! I was also surprised the soho shops were honestly more affordable than goldhawk. I imagine the import fees must be wild or something for the prices to have grown so different from those in the US. Definitely still a great city to pick up something special in, but maybe save up first 😅❤
Oh, p.s. if you want a romantic themed expedition out of London to the Highlands, there are some wonderful cashmere and woollen mills where they do have sales once a year (Autumn) and go on tours around the mills for free to see the weaving in practice. Oh, and MacCulloch and Wallis is where I’d be sent in a taxi by the ballet company to pick up urgent supplies in the 80’s. I’d love to revisit it, but sad it’s moved. ❤
Yaaay, McCullough and Wallis! I have a soft spot for them, having worked there for a couple of years. I was actually there during the move to Poland Street, which was quite something!
You found some pearls there! Can’t wait to see what you do with those fabulous fabric. I love the lavender on one side and iridescent dots on the other, what an amazing combo color!
22:12 I saw this lace and went slack jawed. It is so beautiful. Then cause my brain is odd, it recalled a song. "That face" from the musical The Producers. It changed the lyrics to that lace. This amused me so I decided to share on the very slim chance it would amuse someone else.
Ooh La La-such a gorgeous haul! My DH and I sometimes play the budget game, where things bought on vacation go under the vacation budget rather than in the clothing budget for example. I love the look of your sparkly jet necklace. Enjoyed this video.
I do the same now .. 🤭 mainly for the reason that I can't found the quality I want for the price that's in my budget here in UK .. so I found that purchasing things on vaccination works out better .. And I feel less guilty for spending on my DIY supplies .. cause basically I am buying "souvenirs" so nobody can't tell me nothin. 😌🤭
I'm in the UK and shopping in London is always more expensive. For wool try Fabworks in Yorkshire, if you are ever looking for anything woollen it's something that's been manufactured in Yorkshire for many years.
Hi, Bianca…yes, prices for fabrics in the whole of the UK is completely insanely high. I really wish I could fly to California (relatives live there) so I could just stock up on fabrics like silks and brocades, which are impossible to buy due to the cost. I have expensive tastes I guess, but if I’m going to spend ages manipulating patterns, fitting them etc. I’ve just spent a whole month trying to get my bodice block perfect, which is no small feat, because I’m a Dd+ and narrow shoulders and back and have no waist, and narrow hips. Skirts and trousers are relatively easy for me to fit but bodices….ohhhh. Your fabric haul is lovely, and glad that you managed to pick up some nice pieces. Love iridescent fabrics, love bronzes and graffiti effects. Unfortunately as an older person, my spending is just getting limited. Hope you will release another podcast soon, cos I’ve been listening to your podcasts from the start, and I’m not yet finished..but I love your voice and your thoughts….if only I was 30 years younger, I would be completely, insanely …..with you. (Add ❤). You are so talented and so beautiful. Now, I will not say this again, cos I don’t want to spook you, and I’m not going to be stalking you…no no no! I just watch your RUclips videos and listen to your podcasts and dream beautiful dreams at night about being young again. I tell you, some person , woman will be so lucky to be your closest friend. Ok, so finishing now. 😊
I went on the same trek as you to buy fabric last September. It was the week after the Queen died but before she was buried. I found most of the shop owners to be friendly. They were distressed about having to close their shops for a day of mourning and losing a day of business. I usually just smile and ask questions of the salespeople who stay nearby but I don't feel pressure to buy. I did find the Londoners to be stand-offish though. If I made a comment like "oh that's pretty" about a fabric they were buying they either ignored me entirely or turned away, lol. In contrast the Indian women I passed were much friendlier, smiling and easy to converse with. The prices were high but I wasn't looking for anything fancy, just cotton dress fabrics, some jersey and rayon. I'm glad I ventured out myself while my husband was at a museum.
Your fabric and buttons are gorgeous! And using those cicadas as zipper pulls is a brilliant idea. They are so cool. I am also an introvert, but now I’m old so I don’t care if I offend someone 😊 who is trying to sell me. I just say I’m browsing and when they try to show me things I look bored and keep browsing. Eventually they leave me alone. You really have to convey the feeling that they are bothering you and they back off.
I used to live in london right next to goldhawk road while I was learning to make costumes. Between 2012 and 2017 it was absolutely the best place to go and WAY cheaper than any of the central london fabric shops near Liberty. There was one shop that felt gentrified toward the end of that period, but i'd say overall it was the cheap and wonderful thing you were hoping for. Generally they left you alone (except the one next to the tube station that would flirt with you relentlessly), and just helped you when you asked. From speaking to owners in 2016-2017 it sounded like the rents were suddenly getting unreasonably high and a lot of them had to shut down or hike prices. I live outside london in the uk now and tend to get most of my fabrics online, which is hard, but some bigger shops have very efficient swatch services and they stock the wools etc you'd want. Occasionally i've just had to accept a certain fabric doesn't exist for a while and I usually blame brexit, and just hope it will return one day.
I live in Birmingham UK, and love going round the rag market, but I always seem to find what I want in Barry's Fabrics. There are a few other fabric shops near the markets too. When I've gone on holiday I've noticed how cheap fabric is elsewhere.
Cloth House moved to Camden after the lockdowns of 2020/21 but alas is mostly only open by appointment, except for one Saturday per month. I live in London but rely mostly on dead stock fabric shops outside of London, e.g. Fabworks up in Yorkshire (great for tweedy & suiting wools) and Ditto Fabrics down in Brighton, both of which offer a swatch services. And then there is Merchant & Mills (which is linen heaven) down in Rye on the so
Oh gosh that purple fabric 😍 and the cicadas 😍... And your comment about having to relearn how to be human... I think I've given up on it, only not really, because I've just given up on trying to be "normal" and now I'm embracing my inner hobby gremlin and letting her out to shine fully. Life is far more interesting that way!
Holy Hannah those are some heckin expensive fabrics! My first thought when I saw the green scarab fabric was a pair of stays or corset. I think stays would show off the fabric better. Whatever you make will be awesome. I'm now subscribed so I can see what you do with that haul!
I went to Goldhawk Road a month or so ago, looking for rayon crepe. One store had a few pieces (pieces, not bolts), otherwise no-one had any (and I asked!). When last I'd visited this area it was bustling and busy, but not so this time when I found myself often the only person in the store. Berwick Street has always been expensive, as others have mentioned Walthamstow is worth a visit, but post-Brexit, post-pandemic and post fall in the global economy, cheap fabrics are no longer something we in London can expect or enjoy. There's a fabulous Walthamstow market stall known to London fabric shoppers in the know as 'The Man Outside Sainsbury's' who often has lovely Yorkshire woven wools at very good prices. Simply Fabrics in Brixton is always my first choice, not just for fabrics at good prices but also because the people who run it are lovely human beings and not at all pushy. London stalwart Geoff Rosenberg (whose business is now blandly re-named 'Stitch' Fabrics) sells at shows and events but also has a warehouse in East London and has nice silks and Italian wools. I still have fabrics from a trip I made to New York in 2017, but I do like your idea of popping over the pond for a weekend for a little fabric shopping! I look forward to seeing the brass cicadas in situ - so gorgeous.
Hi Bianca. You are looking fabulous as usual. It always surprises me to hear you say how uncomfortable you are in social situations. You are one of the most interesting and articulate conversationalists online, in my opinion!
Ha thank you Susan! Mostly I am just /so/ out of practice interacting with other people, I have been pretty isolated in my corner of sanitized suburbia even before the panini for a long time so I have lost the ability to human 😬😅
The yards/meters, plus the price conversion gets to be such a major hassle when you're considering bulk purchases. I ended up creating an excel table with the formulas, for both conversions, plus the shipping cost, with the minimum, so we could compare US sellers to Canadian. Interestingly, while US fabric and notion prices are always better - with shipping costs, and the fact that no particular seller had more than 1 item we wanted at an ideal price - allowing us to minimize shipping, we gave up on the attempts at sourcing outside Canada, until we can buy in a level of bulk that allows us to order 6 months in advance and buy from the suppliers and wholesalers overseas. But those $US per yard prices look like they're going to be so good! Not just a mere 2% savings after shipping to Canada.
My go to phrase is always “just browsing, thanks” unless I actually have questions or need help. A single glance at them while I say it and then turn straight back to whatever I was looking at. If they can’t take the hint, I’m leaving. I can understand some sales people being pushy if they are on commission, but very few retail sales people in the UK are.
Darn! You should have come to Utrecht in the Netherlands- just a Eurostar train ride away! We have a massive fabric market every Saturday morning. You can get fabrics for €1 to €50 per meter. Almost all of it is deadbolt, except for the stalls for curtains and pillows. Next time!!!
This is absolutely amazing timing - I'm going to be making my wedding dress for next year, but my local stores are a bit naff and I plan to go to London soon to see if I can find anything. Between this and the comments, I'm getting good ideas of where to start looking. Also, I had no idea about the price difference between here and the States, but that does make more sense of how productive the sewing channels are. If I find any good places, I'll come back and comment.
Have you considered Paris? The Marché St Pierre in Montmartre is a great place to go for fabrics. My mother made a wedding dress for a family friend years ago, and she found her fabrics there. That said, Joel & Son on Church Street (Edgware Road) would be a great place to look for inspiration, excuse the trashy half of the street.
@@GhislaineBeauce I can't really justify the cost and time it would take to go abroad for fabric, even if it was the Eurostar to Paris. London is manageable since it's only an hour away by train, and I can navigate the public transport relatively efficiently; I'll be feeding back from my fabric shop hunt once I've got my spoons back from yesterday, but even though I didn't buy anything, it was productive just to find out what's out there. I will keep the Edgware Road recommendation in mind for my next foray!
Fantastic colors. Exciting fabrics. You will make stunningly gorgeous fashions from them. I totally enjoyed your tour vlog. Wonderful museums. Welcome home!
Uk has a few fabric shops online that are really good prices. One of the best fabric shops ( if you don't like online shopping) is Lavender Hill, fabrics galore. Liberty also does sales online. Love a liberty fabric.
At 15:33 when you held up the scarab wing fabric, I blurted out HELL YES! That is indeed you, embodied in fabric. That purple taffeta one would be me (well, on a non carpet goblin day). Can't wait to see you using some of these fabrics, that black/white one makes me think you should make a black something with white piping or accents.
There is another excellent, though pricey, fabric store near Paddington Basin. Joel & Son Fabrics has a very large number of all types of silks, some of which I'd never seen before. They also have some nice wools and a few lovely cottons and cotton blends. I managed to get a nice poly/cotton blend for a reasonable price last year when I was there. They don't bother you when browsing, but are helpful when asked. They even have comfortable chairs for spouses or friends! And, of course, they are purveyors to the royal family.
John Lewis fabric department. I also love MacCulloch & Wallis. Plus markets. It's an eye opener the cost of fabric in Goldhawk Road. I sew all the time, and have never paid those prices. Can I say thank you to those of you in the comments for your suggestions. These will be useful to our fashion students.
I went fabric shopping in London the last day of my trip, which I think coincided with the beginning of yours. I bought a beautiful teal cotton velvet in a microscopic shop at the end of portobello Road. If you ever travel back to Florence, I’d be happy to give you a couple of recommendations for warehouses with a lot of deadstock designer fabric in Prato (one town over, which is where the vast majority of super high-end fabrics are produced). I get a lot of VERY nice fabric for dirt cheap like this.
Fabric prices and UK.... yeap. We have an amazing small fabric shop in our town I am lucky (so far). I have watched the fabric - esp. silk prices - gallop. The explanation I have had re this is shipping TO the UK for the fabric. We have almost no manufacture here. While shipping crates come to UK laden: they leave empty because of this lack of industrial output and thus shipping is twice as pricey. And then London shop prices....yeap.
Maybe some day swing north to Canada… Toronto has a great garment district! it’s meters still, but the prices are better, and the conversion in the dollar helps!
I went to goldhawk road a simmilar time to you to get some brocade or jacquard because they were even more expensive online. I think some stuff in goldhawk road was quite pricey, I wanted some tulle for a project and it was up to £5 per metre which is nuts. I luckily only had one shop try to really push me to some fabric. Sadly everything in the UK is very expensive right now, not just fabric but I was lucky to find the brocade I needed at a good price. I'm still new to sewing so finding stuff in my budget can be hard.
Living in the UK is so expensive but most prices have gone up a LOT recently. I actually manage to buy fabric from Mood in New York and get it shipped for the same price as fabric stores here.
I've been to Goldhawk Road once and didn't buy anything because I felt so awkward. Fortunately the salespeople weren't pushy but it was quite overwhelming. I sometimes feel like I'm in the minority for preferring to buy fabric online (and there are lots of great indie fabric shops in the UK that ship nationally) but when the price AND fibre content is listed clearly, that massively outweighs the uncertainty of not feeling a fabric before I use it.
Lovely haul. I can't wait to see what you make with the shiny fabrics! I bet that beetle-wing iridescent one would look amazing paired with your beetle-beaded jacket (which is still pretty much my favorite article of clothing that exists in the world).
Thanks for your content, really interesting you came to London. I have often looked to other types of fabric, home fabric, second hand shops, there are also some fabric shops in the shoreditch area that are reasonable, the original rag trade area.I have a lot of fabric in my loft I need to go and have a look to see what I could make with it. I am defo planning a trip to the US now!
I got back from Ireland last month and the sticker shock was REAL. We had gone from honeymoon couple to Central casting - mom, dad, 2 kids - and that doubled our hotel and food costs, although it did limit our bar tab. 😂 I was smart (?) enough to stay out of the fabric stores and lucky because I DESPERATELY wanted to collect vinyl stickers on the trip but they were NOT around!! I think I spent $25 total on the few that I found. I guess the trend of decorating everything in stickers has remained out of Ireland & Northern Ireland?? 😢
Ive come to realise through following so many costumers and sewists online that fabric/general supplies are so much cheaper in the US than anywhere else. Fabric is pretty pricey here in NZ, I'd say it's fairly similar to UK prices, because it's a smaller country and therefore has less demand and less competition between stores. Buying stuff from the US is tempting but the shipping to here is so astronomically high i haven't bitten the bullet on that yet (it was going to be over $50 on shipping alone for 3 yards of a poly organza i needed but couldnt get anywhere in person or online in the country)
Absolutely. I am constantly disappointed about the lack of choice here in NZ. Thanks to Bianca for informing us about the Gold Hawke road as l had always believed from other UK sewing channels that it was a wonderful place to shop. Clearly not.
@@catinthehat1486 there are a few of good fabric shops here, they often just either don't have a website/their website is borderline unusable, or they're located in such an awkward place that if you're not local you don't know about them and won't shop there. A lot of shops are basically just reselling cheap poly cotton blends for bonkers prices though, and the staff are often either pushier sales people or just lacking in knowledge about the products
The smaller the shop the less quantity they can probably afford to import, which drives up the prices too I'm sure, since I image giant fabric sellers in the US get bulk discounts from mills 😬
Fabrics have got expensive here over the last few years as sewings gained popularity, still a few places where you can get decently priced fabric. I think it, for me anyway, makes me think about how and what I use a bit more, I have certainly gone more towards sustainable processes like upcycling charity shop purchases or going to fabric store that deal in deadstock but nothing will ever replace the fabric buying process, all those lovely fabrics and so much potential! Agree about the pushy sales people, I think I’ve developed a “back off” vibe now as I don’t get it as much as I used to 😂
Moving to the UK from Japan has been a shock, a hard hitting shock to the wallet. I've never bought anything on Goldhawk Rd as I don't deal well with the hovering salespeople and pressure. I immediately back off which is probably for the best. Look forward to your makes and I want at least one of those cicadas!
The majority of suiting wools made in the UK are woven in Yorkshire - and most of the mills will have a factory shop attached with good prices, so if you're specifically wanting to come to the UK looking for suiting wools, then come up north (we've got beautiful scenery and historical properties to go to as well).
Interesting Margaret. Any good suggestions for general fabric shops in Yorkshire my niece is just East of Leeds so am sometimes in the area. Thanks
Bombay stores. Bradford
Seconding this! Bombay stores is amazing.
@@debbiecarter6430 I'm thirding Bombay stores! I'm in Sheffield and it's always worth a trip over to Bradford for them.
If you're looking for a fabric bargain in London, Walthamstow is the place. Lots of shops / market stalls that carry dead stock- you have to be prepared to sift through a lot of polyester but there are incredible wools and silks to be found for less than £10/metre. Even a few shops that sell everything (including similar viscose shot linings bought from Goldhawk road for £9 in the video) for £1-2/metre.
Deadstock is definitely the way to go. I use a couple of websites that stock deadstock & have had some real bargains. I'm in the NE but #1 son is in London so I get to visit. He and his wife used to live near Walthamstow market & as she sews she knows where the bargains are to be had.
I was going to say the same thing, also little places in Hackney and south London... It's such a shame because a lot of the little fabric shops and market stalls have closed down... However next time you come over just google cheap fabric shops you'll be surprised what pops up.
Oh, I wish I had known!
When I walk into any small shop, I take a deep breathe and prepare to smile and tell any pushy sales people that I don't buy from pushy sales people, so if they want a sale from me they should leave me alone until I ask for help lol. I grew up watching my mother do that and youd be surprised how quickly they just leave you alone and if they don't, I just walk out. It's emotionally exhausting, but worth it for some specialty things in big cities.
Honestly, this is why most of the UK sewists don't make as many projects per year as other countries. It's insanely expensive to get good fabrics.
@@joannathesinger770 Wow, ok, calm down there friend.
@@joannathesinger770 yeah that can be unnecessary and irking huh. Bit like unsolicited linguistics lectures on that last bastion of pure English; a youtube comments section...
@@joannathesinger770 Honestly, who asked you?
@@joannathesinger770 Alright, since you seem properly pressed by this, I'll go with "sewtrix" from now on to just try and keep your blood pressure nice and low. Of course, it has benefits for me too, mostly that it makes me sound badass and like I probably have some form of dual wield scissor based weapon at my disposal. That's my final offer cos I actually have some grass to touch and all that good stuff.
@@joannathesinger770 you're silly. Language is always changing and while you say sewer is gender neutral many of us like sexist rather than sear or seamstress. So you silly lady, if you can say anything nice... keep your opinion to yourself.
Lovely haul! Have you considered selling bags of offcuts from your creations? Even a small snip from the beetle wing fabric would be great in some applique. If you sold mixed bags by weight it would contribute to zero waste and make lots of other people happy, plus some revenue for you.
That would be fun!!
Interesting! I did not know folks would be interested, but I could put together some scrap collections the next time I have a sale/clear out!
Great idea to sell scrap bags. Even small trims bits are useful in crafts.
@TheClosetHistorian Please do! I would love to see how different weights of fabrics you prefer feel - I'm still getting used to what fabrics to use with what projects (and rejecting fabrics in store for being too scratchy but realizing from a remnant that the scratchiness or stiffness is pre-laundry). Bonus points if the scraps were labeled either with what they are or the video they're from if it's not obvious from a thumbnail.
I have been a frequent shopper at Goldhawk Road and while most things are super expensive, some bargains are definitely to be found! In several of the stores that sell suiting wool, they have end of bolt remnants of 100% worsted wool fabric for sometimes as little as £3 a metre. Not I long enough cuts for a full suit but definitely good for a skirt or jacket & waistcoat combo. I have also been made very uncomfortable in a couple of the shops by staff following me, including a couple of times where the staff member has been so rude that I just walked out. I'm not sure why this is such an issue on Goldhawk Road specifically! For gorgeous brocades, your best bet is the fabric shops on Green street in Newham. They are primarily polyester, not silk but can be very cheap and very beautiful.
Good to know! Will have to check it out next time!
I’ve worked in retail for years and, in my opinion, pushing customers to buy is not the most effective way to do sales for the exact reason that it’s alienating for customers. People don’t like to be pushed and probably won’t come back so it hurts business in the long run. (I’m also an introvert so being pushy is just not my style lol).
I’m so sorry you had a poor experience Bianca. Loving the olive and black damask!!!
I totally agree! I worked in retail too, even at a small fabric store. The store was so small I could see all customers from the spot where I had to cut the fabrics etc. I had the door right in front of me... so everyone who entered was seen. I made sure to greet everyone, if I had no other customers at that time I would ask if they need help or want to browse alone but often times the customers would answer with something like "only here to look" (I'm from Germany so it was in German and I tried to translate...) before I could finish my sentence xD and that's fine. I made sure that they know I'm available if they need help but was doing my own thing (sorting the fabric rolls by color or something like that xD) to not be the creepy salesperson...
But I have to say that it's sometimes difficult for the employee to be that way. at the fabric store I could do that because our boss was fine with that. he had an other, bigger store at an other location where he was all day, we only saw him once or twice a week when he brought new fabrics and collected the money. At the big department store I worked later we got told at least twice a day, to greet EVERY customer. and offer help and be more pushy, and I hated it so much! but I needed to keep my job so I did it as less pushy as I could without offending my boss...
It wasn't terrible, I just am never prepared to be more assertive 😅😂
I’m glad you found some things you wanted. I do know what you mean about pushy sales people. That wall of embellishments was amazing, all those bottles in colour families. Don’t apologize about the metres. As a Canadian I have to really watch myself on American websites, especially with tutorials.
@@WindspielArtThat is the right way to deal with us German customers 😊 Showing you are there to help, but not being pushy.
"Nights at the jazz club that don't exist"... I get it. As a teen (in the 90s) I was convinced that I never got invited to a fancy New Year's gala because I didn't have a glamourous late 1960s shift evening gown with a matching beaded clutch
As someone who lives 2 hours away from London and who has daydreamed about visiting the textile district there, this video was incredibly helpful! To spend money on travel and all the things a day trip requires, to ultimately find it wasn’t what I dreamt of would be an expensive and disappointing experience. You’ve saved my nerves and my bank account. Thank you for documenting this!
Having said that, your haul is super pretty! I’m glad you came away with some lovely things.
I buy all my fabric online. Not sure if you have this specific supplier over the pond but I buy all my stretch fabrics from Funkifabrics (owned by Friedmans). They have some inSANEEEEE foils and prints that you would surely swoon over (and yes, LOTS of iridescence). In my opinion, their quality can’t be beat. It’s expensive but it’s incredible quality. They have a full range of eco friendly and recycled stretch fabrics too.
Other than that I shop mainly at Minerva. Their chiffons and linings etc are fabulous!
WOW those are GORGEOUS fabrics at Funki! Are any of them breathable or soft? I'm just getting into sewing and don't know my fabrics very well yet.
@@thebookwyrmslair6757 aw I’m glad you had a look and liked what you saw. I’ve mainly got experience with the nylon spandex (shiny and matte). I use their Alicante mesh as well. You can order samples though (5 for free of the standard fabric ranges. You may have to pay for foil and print design samples). Well worth it to feel them in your hands. I do believe they do sell softer more breathable fabrics but I’m not sure what category best to point you towards I’m afraid. I’ve called and spoken to their customer service department whenever I’ve had specific questions and they’re very helpful, also. So that’s worth a shot! Good luck and happy browsing!
Thank you! I would visit The Wallace Collection instead, free and fun 😅✨
I have this problem here in Germany too. They have some cheap options but most of the fabrics you’d want to work with for clothing is extremely expensive. It’s frustrating needing to choose between making the project you love or a project you can afford.
You are not a metamorphic evil queen, you are a Metamorphic Magical Queen ! I’m a new subscriber and am floored by your fantastic creations, especially your beaded insect brooches & the ice dyeing shirts was epic .Thank You Bianca ❤
Thank you Laura!
The prices in Finland are probably not going to be any cheaper, but we are a country of introverts, so you might be more comfortable browsing here.
With you as an inspiration Bianca I started to sew for myself while living in the US. I'm learning and enjoying the process. I went home to Ireland recently for a visit and just like you in the UK what a shock! So expensive! No wonder the art of sewing our own clothes has fallen to the wayside with the price being so prohibitive. I would love some Irish tweed and I will definitely invest in the future but I think I'll be saving up and waiting until my skills match the price tag! xxx
So much pretty!!! As you experienced, London, like New York, is super expensive overall, but something I've observed in my travels is that we in the US pay BONKERS prices for healthcare, but have access to really inexpensive "dry goods" (in the old fashioned sense of the phrase). In Europe the dry goods are often much more expensive, but the likelihood of going bankrupt due to medical expenses is very low. As much as I love textiles, having experienced a few medical adventures in my life, I personally would much rather have European healthcare.
I was going to comment something similar. I’d rather be selective with my hobbies than my healthcare.
I will have to wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment! The US healthcare system is indeed BONKERS in the worst possible way 😩 My one prescription medicine costs $15 dollars without insurance, but my insurance is $300+ a month, so that I can get that same prescription for only $5...aka $305+ dollars a month...
@@TheClosetHistorian Yes, but if you--- [insert relevant gods in your pantheon here] forbid!--say, accidentally forget to drink enough water one day and pass out in a lecture hall in front of 100 students and wind up getting special paramedic attention you'll probably need that coverage because the US medical system is crazytown. Not that I have any personal knowledge about such things. Ahem. Hydrate people!
I am British but grew up from the age of 3 in many places in the USA. My father moved back to the UK with my little brother. My brother lived close to Camden and my father lived on Portobello Rd. He met his 3rd wife whilst living there and then they moved back and forth to France and London. I spent a lot of time in London. It became like a second home for me. I live in California but I made the Trek to London once or twice a year. I enjoyed visiting with relatives and seeing historical places. We traveled around Europe as well when I would go over to visit family. Many fond memories were made.
Hello yes watching all the North American sew-tubers with all the fancy fabrics is baffling from the UK, I can't compute the dollars per yard to pounds per metre so thought maybe you are all very rich! There's a few online shops which do really cheap fabrics (including some natural fibres) but I've just accepted I can't afford linen or wool at this point in my sewing skills and I have nowhere to wear silk to. I still wish more creators would share actual costs though, Haley Marie's cost breakdowns are interesting and helpful, even if the economy doesn't translate entirely.
Poundfabrics has some lovely linen fabrics for quite reasonable.
Herts specialist fabrics do linens and wool, mostly for reenactors but they get some interesting things in. Usually around £10 metre.
Pound fabrics get my money every time, fab online and love the prices 👍👍👍
Uk prices and Irish prices where I live are crazy at present. British street markets were fab for fabrics yrs ago. No more bargains to be had. 😢 As for pushy assistances I usually tell them “I prefer to browse around unassisted.” ☺️
🙏🏼 Bianca🌟- Next trip to London checkout Bethnal Green road & Bricklane here in the East End for sumptuous fabrics! It’s a big Bengali community so Sari’s fabric galore 😍 just subscribed to your amazing informative channel and have been binge watching 👏🏼👏🏼💚💫💜
Im not sure why i havent seen your videos until now. Ive been watching YT for a while. But as a newbie im dropping in to remind you how incredibly helpful your videos are! The information youve shared in the videos I’ve watched has already changed the way I sew and i feel less intimated about drafting and fitting patterns/garments. You have a way of explaining things that just clicks for me. Im so excited to see more from and cant wait to see what you do with these fabrics. Also i can relate to being introverted and just wanting to be left alone to browse in the fabric store its almost like going to a library😂(my second favorite place to go)
Thank you!! It is like a fabric library! And having a "stash" of fabrics at home is sorta like the pile of purchased-but-not-read books that many of us surely have as well 🤣
Well, finally relatable prices! As as swiss person fabric shopping is always a struggle. (Crying at 22 CHF, circa 24 Dollars, per meter for a medium weight plain weave cotton)
but I love the purchases you made!
Honestly now I'm wondering what secret situation is ensuring such low prices on textiles in the US. I still buy European fabrics (Spanish and Italian brocades for example) but for far less! Something import fees is going on somewhere in the chain!
Okay but you look SO good in this video!!
Thank you Rhys!
For anyone thinking of going to goldhawk road soon, I just went to “fabric house” (near the end of the street, right next to the Chinese street food vendor, you can see it in the first shot of this video) and I bought some absolutely gorgeous rayon twill and knit for £3 and £5 per meter respectively. I would have bought way more if I had had more room in my backpack!!! (Very nice salesperson too!!)
Ps. thank you Bianca for making me aware of goldhawk road, now anytime I fly to London I make a stop there!!!
The fabrics are fantastic but what really impressed me is how AMAZING you look!
Aw thank you! I'm having fun figuring out short hair 😂✨
i get my fabric at biannual reenactor markets in the uk which are cheaper than goldhawk rd. i get £10pm wools and linens from them but no silk so ive just never made any silk things haha
👍👍 I'm genuinely shocked by those higher prices you mentioned but I am so looking forward to the inevitable retro-future neo-gothpunk Carmen Sandiego meets ancient Egyptian CEO/Oxbridge entomology professor on safari with Hercule Poirot, or whatever immaculate vibed garments that do spill forth from these gorgeous pieces, that I can't even tell you 😁!
Whatever you do, have fun with them 👍👍!
Thank you Phil!
This is a great haul!! I love the little brass cicadas. I truly think the fabric shops in London that are still standing are just desperate to not go under. I'm sure they weren't trying to lose your business and I hope people who can afford it while in London will still consider spending at these fabric shops 😊 My cousin lost her job in a textile shop there and it has been devastating. She still can't find any work, let alone in textiles, and it's been 9 months. I can't wait to see what you do with all of your fabrics!
I was so sad the shops I loved to wander around in Berwick street were gone! I was also surprised the soho shops were honestly more affordable than goldhawk. I imagine the import fees must be wild or something for the prices to have grown so different from those in the US. Definitely still a great city to pick up something special in, but maybe save up first 😅❤
Oh, p.s. if you want a romantic themed expedition out of London to the Highlands, there are some wonderful cashmere and woollen mills where they do have sales once a year (Autumn) and go on tours around the mills for free to see the weaving in practice. Oh, and MacCulloch and Wallis is where I’d be sent in a taxi by the ballet company to pick up urgent supplies in the 80’s. I’d love to revisit it, but sad it’s moved. ❤
Yaaay, McCullough and Wallis! I have a soft spot for them, having worked there for a couple of years. I was actually there during the move to Poland Street, which was quite something!
You found some pearls there! Can’t wait to see what you do with those fabulous fabric. I love the lavender on one side and iridescent dots on the other, what an amazing combo color!
Thanks Sylvie!
The black lace really reminds me of one of Guo Pei's collection that she did based on gothic cathedrals.
Guo Pei is next level amazing, I would love to see an exhibition of her work someday 🤩
19:50 make something reversible with that fabric since you like both sides!
That black lace is stunning! I can't wait to see what you use it for.
Thank you for making the "frosting" projects for us. It inspires me to make things that are more pretty than just functional.
22:12 I saw this lace and went slack jawed. It is so beautiful. Then cause my brain is odd, it recalled a song. "That face" from the musical The Producers. It changed the lyrics to that lace. This amused me so I decided to share on the very slim chance it would amuse someone else.
that scarob green is killer! ohmygawwd! BELISSIMA!!!!!
YESS! COUTURE FLAVA!! YESSSS!!!!
I am 9 seconds in so far and I paused to say I LOOOOVE this necklace. Definitely has that "possibly cursed" look.
There is a video of her making a similar spider web one.
Not this particular necklace! This one I've had since I was around 12 ish 😅 I may try to recreate it sometime ✨
Thank you Deva!
@@kathyjohnson2043 I've seen it! Of course.
Goth doesnt have to mean satanic, just sayin.
Ooh La La-such a gorgeous haul! My DH and I sometimes play the budget game, where things bought on vacation go under the vacation budget rather than in the clothing budget for example. I love the look of your sparkly jet necklace. Enjoyed this video.
I do the same now .. 🤭 mainly for the reason that I can't found the quality I want for the price that's in my budget here in UK .. so I found that purchasing things on vaccination works out better ..
And I feel less guilty for spending on my DIY supplies .. cause basically I am buying "souvenirs" so nobody can't tell me nothin. 😌🤭
Thank you Beth! At least you budget, any coins left over in my world become "fair game" aka turn into fabric 😅😂
The green and black fabric at 16:09 would be amazing with those brass cicadas... Maybe as a clutch or purse?
I'm in the UK and shopping in London is always more expensive. For wool try Fabworks in Yorkshire, if you are ever looking for anything woollen it's something that's been manufactured in Yorkshire for many years.
That wider black lace is wonderful!
The gothic cathedral lace is so beautiful!! Nice find!
Hi, Bianca…yes, prices for fabrics in the whole of the UK is completely insanely high. I really wish I could fly to California (relatives live there) so I could just stock up on fabrics like silks and brocades, which are impossible to buy due to the cost. I have expensive tastes I guess, but if I’m going to spend ages manipulating patterns, fitting them etc. I’ve just spent a whole month trying to get my bodice block perfect, which is no small feat, because I’m a Dd+ and narrow shoulders and back and have no waist, and narrow hips. Skirts and trousers are relatively easy for me to fit but bodices….ohhhh. Your fabric haul is lovely, and glad that you managed to pick up some nice pieces. Love iridescent fabrics, love bronzes and graffiti effects. Unfortunately as an older person, my spending is just getting limited. Hope you will release another podcast soon, cos I’ve been listening to your podcasts from the start, and I’m not yet finished..but I love your voice and your thoughts….if only I was 30 years younger, I would be completely, insanely …..with you. (Add ❤). You are so talented and so beautiful. Now, I will not say this again, cos I don’t want to spook you, and I’m not going to be stalking you…no no no! I just watch your RUclips videos and listen to your podcasts and dream beautiful dreams at night about being young again. I tell you, some person , woman will be so lucky to be your closest friend. Ok, so finishing now. 😊
I went on the same trek as you to buy fabric last September. It was the week after the Queen died but before she was buried. I found most of the shop owners to be friendly. They were distressed about having to close their shops for a day of mourning and losing a day of business. I usually just smile and ask questions of the salespeople who stay nearby but I don't feel pressure to buy. I did find the Londoners to be stand-offish though. If I made a comment like "oh that's pretty" about a fabric they were buying they either ignored me entirely or turned away, lol. In contrast the Indian women I passed were much friendlier, smiling and easy to converse with. The prices were high but I wasn't looking for anything fancy, just cotton dress fabrics, some jersey and rayon. I'm glad I ventured out myself while my husband was at a museum.
Your fabric and buttons are gorgeous! And using those cicadas as zipper pulls is a brilliant idea. They are so cool. I am also an introvert, but now I’m old so I don’t care if I offend someone 😊 who is trying to sell me. I just say I’m browsing and when they try to show me things I look bored and keep browsing. Eventually they leave me alone. You really have to convey the feeling that they are bothering you and they back off.
I hate to come off as mean so I just get scared instead 😅
Such extraordinary fabric.😊
I lived near Peterborough in the late 80's. It tickled me that a little shop advertized "OPEN LATE TILL 8!" Loved living there we were so welcomed.
I used to live in london right next to goldhawk road while I was learning to make costumes. Between 2012 and 2017 it was absolutely the best place to go and WAY cheaper than any of the central london fabric shops near Liberty. There was one shop that felt gentrified toward the end of that period, but i'd say overall it was the cheap and wonderful thing you were hoping for. Generally they left you alone (except the one next to the tube station that would flirt with you relentlessly), and just helped you when you asked. From speaking to owners in 2016-2017 it sounded like the rents were suddenly getting unreasonably high and a lot of them had to shut down or hike prices.
I live outside london in the uk now and tend to get most of my fabrics online, which is hard, but some bigger shops have very efficient swatch services and they stock the wools etc you'd want. Occasionally i've just had to accept a certain fabric doesn't exist for a while and I usually blame brexit, and just hope it will return one day.
I live in Birmingham UK, and love going round the rag market, but I always seem to find what I want in Barry's Fabrics. There are a few other fabric shops near the markets too. When I've gone on holiday I've noticed how cheap fabric is elsewhere.
I love fabric hauls! You got some lovely things, and I can't wait to see them turned into your amazing projects.
Thank you Megan!
Look at that! LOOK AT IT. 😂😂😂 I'm looking at it. Beautiful. Great find. ❤
Wonderful match, your eye makeup and the beatle wing fabric!
I do love iridescence, and green 🤩💚
welcome to fabric shopping in Europe :P
i am always amazed at the fabric prizes people from the US state in their videos
Cloth House moved to Camden after the lockdowns of 2020/21 but alas is mostly only open by appointment, except for one Saturday per month. I live in London but rely mostly on dead stock fabric shops outside of London, e.g. Fabworks up in Yorkshire (great for tweedy & suiting wools) and Ditto Fabrics down in Brighton, both of which offer a swatch services. And then there is Merchant & Mills (which is linen heaven) down in Rye on the so
Oh gosh that purple fabric 😍 and the cicadas 😍... And your comment about having to relearn how to be human... I think I've given up on it, only not really, because I've just given up on trying to be "normal" and now I'm embracing my inner hobby gremlin and letting her out to shine fully. Life is far more interesting that way!
Holy Hannah those are some heckin expensive fabrics!
My first thought when I saw the green scarab fabric was a pair of stays or corset. I think stays would show off the fabric better. Whatever you make will be awesome. I'm now subscribed so I can see what you do with that haul!
That necklace fills your neckline beautifully. Someday I will get to a fabric district.
I went to Goldhawk Road a month or so ago, looking for rayon crepe. One store had a few pieces (pieces, not bolts), otherwise no-one had any (and I asked!). When last I'd visited this area it was bustling and busy, but not so this time when I found myself often the only person in the store. Berwick Street has always been expensive, as others have mentioned Walthamstow is worth a visit, but post-Brexit, post-pandemic and post fall in the global economy, cheap fabrics are no longer something we in London can expect or enjoy. There's a fabulous Walthamstow market stall known to London fabric shoppers in the know as 'The Man Outside Sainsbury's' who often has lovely Yorkshire woven wools at very good prices. Simply Fabrics in Brixton is always my first choice, not just for fabrics at good prices but also because the people who run it are lovely human beings and not at all pushy. London stalwart Geoff Rosenberg (whose business is now blandly re-named 'Stitch' Fabrics) sells at shows and events but also has a warehouse in East London and has nice silks and Italian wools. I still have fabrics from a trip I made to New York in 2017, but I do like your idea of popping over the pond for a weekend for a little fabric shopping! I look forward to seeing the brass cicadas in situ - so gorgeous.
Hi Bianca. You are looking fabulous as usual. It always surprises me to hear you say how uncomfortable you are in social situations. You are one of the most interesting and articulate conversationalists online, in my opinion!
Ha thank you Susan! Mostly I am just /so/ out of practice interacting with other people, I have been pretty isolated in my corner of sanitized suburbia even before the panini for a long time so I have lost the ability to human 😬😅
The yards/meters, plus the price conversion gets to be such a major hassle when you're considering bulk purchases.
I ended up creating an excel table with the formulas, for both conversions, plus the shipping cost, with the minimum, so we could compare US sellers to Canadian.
Interestingly, while US fabric and notion prices are always better - with shipping costs, and the fact that no particular seller had more than 1 item we wanted at an ideal price - allowing us to minimize shipping, we gave up on the attempts at sourcing outside Canada, until we can buy in a level of bulk that allows us to order 6 months in advance and buy from the suppliers and wholesalers overseas.
But those $US per yard prices look like they're going to be so good! Not just a mere 2% savings after shipping to Canada.
My go to phrase is always “just browsing, thanks” unless I actually have questions or need help. A single glance at them while I say it and then turn straight back to whatever I was looking at. If they can’t take the hint, I’m leaving. I can understand some sales people being pushy if they are on commission, but very few retail sales people in the UK are.
Darn! You should have come to Utrecht in the Netherlands- just a Eurostar train ride away! We have a massive fabric market every Saturday morning. You can get fabrics for €1 to €50 per meter. Almost all of it is deadbolt, except for the stalls for curtains and pillows. Next time!!!
This is absolutely amazing timing - I'm going to be making my wedding dress for next year, but my local stores are a bit naff and I plan to go to London soon to see if I can find anything. Between this and the comments, I'm getting good ideas of where to start looking. Also, I had no idea about the price difference between here and the States, but that does make more sense of how productive the sewing channels are. If I find any good places, I'll come back and comment.
Have you considered Paris? The Marché St Pierre in Montmartre is a great place to go for fabrics. My mother made a wedding dress for a family friend years ago, and she found her fabrics there.
That said, Joel & Son on Church Street (Edgware Road) would be a great place to look for inspiration, excuse the trashy half of the street.
@@GhislaineBeauce I can't really justify the cost and time it would take to go abroad for fabric, even if it was the Eurostar to Paris. London is manageable since it's only an hour away by train, and I can navigate the public transport relatively efficiently; I'll be feeding back from my fabric shop hunt once I've got my spoons back from yesterday, but even though I didn't buy anything, it was productive just to find out what's out there.
I will keep the Edgware Road recommendation in mind for my next foray!
Fantastic colors. Exciting fabrics. You will make stunningly gorgeous fashions from them. I totally enjoyed your tour vlog. Wonderful museums. Welcome home!
Thank you Jeanette!
Uk has a few fabric shops online that are really good prices. One of the best fabric shops ( if you don't like online shopping) is Lavender Hill, fabrics galore. Liberty also does sales online. Love a liberty fabric.
Love a Liberty most things, fabrics, perfumes, home decor 🤩
At 15:33 when you held up the scarab wing fabric, I blurted out HELL YES! That is indeed you, embodied in fabric. That purple taffeta one would be me (well, on a non carpet goblin day).
Can't wait to see you using some of these fabrics, that black/white one makes me think you should make a black something with white piping or accents.
As soon as I saw the scarab fabric there was no way I could walk away without some😂💚🐞
@@TheClosetHistorian Yep, some things just grab your wallet and check themselves through...
I'm waiting for the day mood sponsors you 🐝🍯
edit: the black/lilac fabric looks like marcasite jewelry 🤩
UAL have moved their campus to Elephant and Castle.😊
If the beetle wing fabric weren’t stretchy, I could see it as a beautiful clutch, too.
Would be interesting to see what you think of the fabric area of Birmingham. Areas like the rag market and shops near by.
There is another excellent, though pricey, fabric store near Paddington Basin. Joel & Son Fabrics has a very large number of all types of silks, some of which I'd never seen before. They also have some nice wools and a few lovely cottons and cotton blends. I managed to get a nice poly/cotton blend for a reasonable price last year when I was there. They don't bother you when browsing, but are helpful when asked. They even have comfortable chairs for spouses or friends! And, of course, they are purveyors to the royal family.
Most excellent I shall have to visit next time! Thank you!
John Lewis fabric department. I also love MacCulloch & Wallis. Plus markets. It's an eye opener the cost of fabric in Goldhawk Road. I sew all the time, and have never paid those prices. Can I say thank you to those of you in the comments for your suggestions. These will be useful to our fashion students.
I went fabric shopping in London the last day of my trip, which I think coincided with the beginning of yours. I bought a beautiful teal cotton velvet in a microscopic shop at the end of portobello Road.
If you ever travel back to Florence, I’d be happy to give you a couple of recommendations for warehouses with a lot of deadstock designer fabric in Prato (one town over, which is where the vast majority of super high-end fabrics are produced).
I get a lot of VERY nice fabric for dirt cheap like this.
I think if I went fabric shopping in Italy I would explode with joy 🤩 Talk about needing extra suitcases to bring everything home 🤣
Gorgeous fabric, beautiful outfit, and your eye make up is on point! Home run, sister. Many blessings from Florida.
Thank you Lorraine!
Fabric prices and UK.... yeap. We have an amazing small fabric shop in our town I am lucky (so far). I have watched the fabric - esp. silk prices - gallop. The explanation I have had re this is shipping TO the UK for the fabric. We have almost no manufacture here. While shipping crates come to UK laden: they leave empty because of this lack of industrial output and thus shipping is twice as pricey. And then London shop prices....yeap.
The way I RAN here when I saw you uploaded lol. Interested to here about your experience in London. Hope you had a good time.
Thank you Lisa! I love London 😍
I used those exact textured black buttons recently on a coat
Do a reversible item with the blue, black, and orange fabric. I can really see a full 1950s coat with the fabric, if the weight is good.😊
I love the black lace and the buttons. Just gorgeous.
Maybe some day swing north to Canada… Toronto has a great garment district! it’s meters still, but the prices are better, and the conversion in the dollar helps!
Shorter flight too ❤ Those 9 hour flights are testing!
The buttons remind me of the knobs on antique radios, which is super cool! I like the green wool and also the black lace is very pretty.
Thanks Penny! I would love an antique radio, but maybe one that plays playlists from RUclips 😅😂
Delicious linings for sure! Yummy delicate green and russet! 💖💕
I went to goldhawk road a simmilar time to you to get some brocade or jacquard because they were even more expensive online. I think some stuff in goldhawk road was quite pricey, I wanted some tulle for a project and it was up to £5 per metre which is nuts. I luckily only had one shop try to really push me to some fabric. Sadly everything in the UK is very expensive right now, not just fabric but I was lucky to find the brocade I needed at a good price. I'm still new to sewing so finding stuff in my budget can be hard.
Living in the UK is so expensive but most prices have gone up a LOT recently. I actually manage to buy fabric from Mood in New York and get it shipped for the same price as fabric stores here.
Good to know
I'm from the UK and have never paid over £10/m, it's all about finding good deadstock shops!
I need the secret spots 🤣
I've been to Goldhawk Road once and didn't buy anything because I felt so awkward. Fortunately the salespeople weren't pushy but it was quite overwhelming. I sometimes feel like I'm in the minority for preferring to buy fabric online (and there are lots of great indie fabric shops in the UK that ship nationally) but when the price AND fibre content is listed clearly, that massively outweighs the uncertainty of not feeling a fabric before I use it.
Lovely haul. I can't wait to see what you make with the shiny fabrics! I bet that beetle-wing iridescent one would look amazing paired with your beetle-beaded jacket (which is still pretty much my favorite article of clothing that exists in the world).
Thank you Deva!
Thanks for your content, really interesting you came to London. I have often looked to other types of fabric, home fabric, second hand shops, there are also some fabric shops in the shoreditch area that are reasonable, the original rag trade area.I have a lot of fabric in my loft I need to go and have a look to see what I could make with it. I am defo planning a trip to the US now!
I am so excited to see what these become. Iridescent anything is my favourite 😁
I can't resist iridescent! 😂✨
I just went shopping on goldhawk road and I got some deals, plus some cute shades of wool I had a hard time finding near me
I got back from Ireland last month and the sticker shock was REAL. We had gone from honeymoon couple to Central casting - mom, dad, 2 kids - and that doubled our hotel and food costs, although it did limit our bar tab. 😂 I was smart (?) enough to stay out of the fabric stores and lucky because I DESPERATELY wanted to collect vinyl stickers on the trip but they were NOT around!! I think I spent $25 total on the few that I found. I guess the trend of decorating everything in stickers has remained out of Ireland & Northern Ireland?? 😢
I love the new hair
Thank you!
I can’t decide which fabric was my favorite but I this it is the black with the lilac/white reverse. Please do a fold back collar with that fabric!
Ive come to realise through following so many costumers and sewists online that fabric/general supplies are so much cheaper in the US than anywhere else. Fabric is pretty pricey here in NZ, I'd say it's fairly similar to UK prices, because it's a smaller country and therefore has less demand and less competition between stores. Buying stuff from the US is tempting but the shipping to here is so astronomically high i haven't bitten the bullet on that yet (it was going to be over $50 on shipping alone for 3 yards of a poly organza i needed but couldnt get anywhere in person or online in the country)
Absolutely. I am constantly disappointed about the lack of choice here in NZ. Thanks to Bianca for informing us about the Gold Hawke road as l had always believed from other UK sewing channels that it was a wonderful place to shop. Clearly not.
@@catinthehat1486 there are a few of good fabric shops here, they often just either don't have a website/their website is borderline unusable, or they're located in such an awkward place that if you're not local you don't know about them and won't shop there. A lot of shops are basically just reselling cheap poly cotton blends for bonkers prices though, and the staff are often either pushier sales people or just lacking in knowledge about the products
Yes and it depends where you live. The prices are ridiculous regardless, even in Australia for online purchases. But l am a bit of a fabric hoarder😁
The smaller the shop the less quantity they can probably afford to import, which drives up the prices too I'm sure, since I image giant fabric sellers in the US get bulk discounts from mills 😬
@@TheClosetHistorian yep it's incredibly frustrating but very understandable
Thank you for the practical details and suggestions. Love your style.
Thank you Eliz!
Fabrics have got expensive here over the last few years as sewings gained popularity, still a few places where you can get decently priced fabric. I think it, for me anyway, makes me think about how and what I use a bit more, I have certainly gone more towards sustainable processes like upcycling charity shop purchases or going to fabric store that deal in deadstock but nothing will ever replace the fabric buying process, all those lovely fabrics and so much potential!
Agree about the pushy sales people, I think I’ve developed a “back off” vibe now as I don’t get it as much as I used to 😂
This is a fabulous haul! Looking forward to all those glorious jackets (and velvet skirts)
Thank you Sarah!
I'm so excited to see the projects you'll make with these fabrics!
Moving to the UK from Japan has been a shock, a hard hitting shock to the wallet. I've never bought anything on Goldhawk Rd as I don't deal well with the hovering salespeople and pressure. I immediately back off which is probably for the best.
Look forward to your makes and I want at least one of those cicadas!
I would love to try and find kimono silks in Japan someday 🤩
I live in the UK and think those prices are eye watering - come north next time, wool is a great price up here where it is made.
Got to go to the source for those lovely wools indeed!