B&J Fabrics on Seventh Avenue is the place to go when you need to make a drop-dead, one-of-a-kind, red carpet gown.[Note: Please visit my web site Shop the Garment District for the most up-to-date information about fabric and trim shopping in the Garment District.]
I like to visit a Chanel boutique at least once a year. Not to buy (as if I can afford Chanel!) but to observe the styles, the fabrics, the garments' interior finishes and exterior touches. It's the big girl's equivalent of a field trip.
Unless you've got a Chanel-sized budget, B&J Fabrics belongs in the field trip category of fabric stores. Many of the stunning fabrics you'll find here are well over $200USD a yard. I gasped at the $810 per yard price tag attached to a piece of feather-trimmed embroidered organza.
I asked Scot of B&J for a definition of a typical B&J customer. "I'm not certain there is one," he replied, listing Seventh Avenue fashion houses, theater and movie costumers, stylists, boutiques, and couturiers and dressmakers as groups who frequent the store. He named home sewing enthusiasts as well, but I think that should be qualified as home sewing enthusiasts with Park Avenue budgets.
To be fair, I saw lovely Liberty of London cotton lawns that, if I remember correctly, were around $45 a yard, and I even found a Lindsay wool tartan for $10 a yard. Some of the basic materials were similarly priced to fabrics at Rosen & Chadick, Mood Fabrics and New York Elegant Fabrics. But most of what you'll find at B&J is well over $85 a yard and aimed at those in the market for red-carpet gown material.
Bottom line: Go at least once for the gawk factor.
How about some feather-trimmed organza? It's just $510 per yard.
Looking for luscious velvets in spectacular colors?
Or how about embossed leathers?
Here's the beaded and feather-trimmed organza that's a steal at $810 per yard.
At the lower end of the spectrum, how about pailettes on silk chiffon for $155 per yard?
A customer checking out the Liberty of London prints.
I liked the inspiration boards located throughout the store.
Some cotton prints artfully displayed.
B&J Fabrics
525 7th Avenue, 2nd floor
NY, NY 10018
Monday - Friday: 8:00 -5:45; Saturday: 9:00 -4:45
212-354-8150
525 7th Avenue, 2nd floor
NY, NY 10018
Monday - Friday: 8:00 -5:45; Saturday: 9:00 -4:45
212-354-8150
7 comments:
B&J's looks like a great source of entertainment and shopping. Boy, I can't wait 'til my next chance to visit NY.
I love B&J. I've never bought anything there, but it is such great eye candy!
I have such a weakness for Liberty, but $45 per yard? Ouch. It was cheaper in Paris and I got heartburn buying it there.
Still, next time I'm in NYC, I'm going to have to look. I can't NOT look.
wow! I am so jealous! I must say that store is BEAUTIFULLY merchandised. It looks like heaven to me!
The ineffable, beloved, fantastic B&J Fabrics. I have been shopping there since I was a very, very poor college student the 1960s. Yes, many of the fabrics are expensive, but not all. I continue to shop there for the things I do not find elsewhere. Look for the natural fibers with high thread index and test the hand and drape.
I encourage you all to visit. Keep in mind that as your labor and expertise should not be undervalued-- refined, beautifully spun, dyed, printed, woven fabric is designed and produced by highly skilled and experienced people and is worth its fair price.
Yes there is a WOW at some of the high $$$. But ask the (in my experience) friendly staff for information on how that fabric is made..IE hand beaded etc. If they don't know, ask if the owner is around (Melvin, if my memory is good) and can spend a few moments with you.
Tina
I have not been in that particular store but the fabrics look beyond beautiful.
I usually buy my fabrics at a very high end online store but the prices are amazing. It is called iluvfabrix.com.
Donty know if you have heard of it or been there, but they add new fabrics all the time and they ususally semm to have a sale going.
if you want to have a look, try clicking the following link.......sorry if it diesnt work: http://www.iluvfabrix.com
Enjoy!!Lanny
I love B&J. I discovered it while I was still living in NYC 11 years ago. Ever since, every time I visit NYC - which is about once a year - I had to make a pilgrimage to B&J. It's simply fabric heaven!
Yes, it can be expensive. But only when you're going for the statement fabrics. There are so much choices here even in the staple stuff that you don't have to spend a fortune if you don't want to. But my latest damage is close to a grand, though that's for 26.5 yards of fabric or $36/yd.
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