NY Fabric District

 

The Fabric District of New York covers several blocks between 27th Street and 39^th Street and 6^th Avenue and 8^th Avenue (there are some places beyond these parameters). Many stores are wholesale only, but they are clearly marked. The shop fronts clearly show the type of fabric and notions they sell. Not all stores have fronts on the street, many are located inside of the buildings, involve elevator rides and walks along blank corridors! It all adds to the mystery of the place!

                                                                      Paron Fabrics

On the recent SAGA Meet-Up in NYC, I visited Paron Fabrics on 39^th Street and took advantage of a Groupon coupon! I also walked around M & J Trimmings on 6^th Avenue. I passed Spechler-Vogel- a name we all know as they supply many of the fine batistes to our business members.

If you have the chance to visit the area it is a fun place to wander around, but if you plan on buying my suggestion is to have some idea what it is you want to buy because there is just so much choice and it is easy to get distracted and confused!

SAGA goes to NYC to visit FIT

The SAGA Meet-Up in New York was a great success. Many thanks to SAGA President, Lisa Hawkes for organizing the event, including a lovely lunch at 'Stitch', a restaurant on 37th Street.

There were 19 ladies, mostly SAGA members and a couple of friends. Ladies had traveled from Maryland and Boston as well as New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. There was even a Past President, Kathie Ettinger, who is from Florida (but was in the area visiting).

Many of the group had a chance to shop the Fabric District in shops such as Mood, B& J, M& J Trimmings and Paron Fabrics. Lisa had emailed out an extensive list with location (some places are inside buildings and involve elevators to floors and directions along faceless corridors!) and specialties.

 

The highlight of the day was the visit to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) where we were greeted and lead to the second floor room and shown items from their extensive costume collection and given a brief history of women’s fashions from the early 1900's through to today. Our presenter was Ellen Shanley, a curator at the Museum at FIT and she was extremely knowledgeable and interesting.

 

There was then time to visit the museum at FIT and/or go back to shopping. I am sure everyone was as glad as I was to sit for a while on my train ride home and rest my feet!

You can visit the website for FIT to get more information about the college, Museum and up-coming exhibitions at www.fitnyc.edu