[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.]
A.K. Fabrics is the Gap of the garment district: When you want the fabric equivalent of a plain white t-shirt or a pair of khakis, this is the place. Stocking the basics in mostly natural fibers, A.K. Fabrics carries cottons, denims, wool, silk and velvet.
And the customer service is first-rate. Sali Raddani, whose father opened A.K. Fabrics thirty years ago, helped me with the fabric I bought, and her cuts were generous. (Love a store with generous cuts, don't you? Paron's is also good this way.) As I browsed the store, her two brothers Azam and Khan asked if I needed any help but then didn't hover when I told them I was just looking. A couple of times, people walked in off the street asking for fabrics and if they didn't have what they were looking for, Sali, Azam or Khan pleasantly directed them to other stores in the area.
I bought some lightweight stretch denim ($7/yard) that I plan on turning into this BWOF 02/09 shirtdress, and some white stretch cotton sateen ($6/yard) that will hopefully bloom into a shirt or jacket this spring. (You may be thinking, well Lindsay, I can get stretch denim at my local JoAnn's or Hancocks. Yes you can, but not as nice as this stuff. I've washed both my A.K. fabrics twice now and they still look great.)
A.K. Fabrics has an online site, though it really represents only a fraction of what the store on W. 39th has to offer. Sali says you can call and describe what you're looking for and they'll be happy to send swatches or fabric to any state or country. Daytona Braids & Trims is just a couple of doors down from A.K. Fabrics, so you can get your fabric and trim in one fell swoop. If you don't need to be wowed by designer fabrics and want quality basics at affordable prices, check out A.K. Fabrics the next time you're in the area.
That's Sali Raddani in the corner. Her father opened A.K. Fabrics 30 years ago.
A.K. has an ample selection of cotton prints, many with stretch. Perfect for summer sundresses.
I also saw wool suitings, gabardine and cotton shirtings at A.K. Fabrics. Fabric prices range from $1 to $35 per yard, according to Sali Raddani.
A.K. Fabrics257 W. 39th Street
NY, NY 10018
212-944-5693
email: akfabricscorp@yahoo.com
Mon-Fri: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
NY, NY 10018
212-944-5693
email: akfabricscorp@yahoo.com
Mon-Fri: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
15 comments:
Looks like heaven. You are so lucky! The longer I sew, the pickier I get about quality.
Wow, what a store, lucky you, Lindsay.
Oh - I've been there - I remember it! It is a wonderful place - Glad to see you like it too. Thanks for the pictures and your comments. It's always a high point when you've been to NYC with a pictoral report!
Swoon! What amazing choice! I would say that is the one thing (apart from family and friends) that I miss about the UK, although fabric shops were getting thin on the ground I could usually find something I loved!
Hopefully one day I can visit NYC and do some stash buying Lol!
Everytime you post about a fabric store, I want to go there! AK sounds like my kind of place - full of basics. Maybe I can get to NY during spring break.
Oh geez! Look at those bolts!!! Lots and lots of them. And good basics to boot. I have to get some nice cotton twill or whatever is used in Docker's style pants. With our public schools going to a standardized dress code (aka uniforms), I need to stock up on basics for pants, especially for the boys. I love stores that provide personalized customer service over the phone/mail. Leather Suede Skins is wonderful about this and it's good to know this store is A#1 on customer service as well. Will keep this one in mind over the next few months.
Ahh, I so jealous.
And I have the same book addiction!!! I keep buying them even though I have too many really for my current storage. I'm not really planning on stopping though, LOL!
Oh--I'm glad you profiled this place. It was my favorite when I was in New York last month. (Does this say something bad about my taste in fabrics?) Being a total beginner I don't feel up to designer fabrics yet. But I got a nice stretch twill in a lovely shade of sienna brown here as well as a very soft gray fabric that I used to line my jacket--both for $5/yard! Thanks for you nice comment on my jacket BTW.
One day I "will" visit NY and all this information will be appreciated :) Thanks for sharing it!
Guess I will just have to live vicariously! All those wonderful fabric's... heavy sign.... good to know that there are still "Good" fabric stores out there.
Thanks for sharing, maybe I will have to do some on-line shopping!
I've been in Cleveland Ohio for 15 yrs now, oh how I miss the garment district, Orchard street(lower east side), and Fulton street in Brooklyn. Oh how I miss them. My only true regret for leaving NYC.
I don't remember going in this one. Shame on me. Nothing is harder to find when you need them than good quality basics. I can't tell you how much money I've wasted on cr@ppy, flimsy khaki twill and denim that screams "I made these jeans myself!"
Oh, goody, a store I don't know! Can't wait to give this one a browse.
Sounds interesting,I love shopping so sure I will visit your fabric store soon.
Linda are there any home dec fabric stores in the garment district?
I planning a bus trip from Baltimore on April 13.
Thanks
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