Best Fabric Stores in NYC

New York City is one of the world’s fashion capitals, and it even has its own garment district. It’s also a place where many fashion designers get their start, so it should come as no surprise that there are a variety of fabric stores in NYC for amateur and professional designers to choose fabric from. If you’re living there or just visiting, you may be wondering what are the best fabric stores in NYC?

The best fabric stores in NYC are:

1. B&J Fabrics
2. Beckenstein Men’s Fabrics
3. Berenstein Textiles
4. Brooklyn General Store
5. District Leathers
6. Elliott Berman Textiles
7. Fabric City
8. Fabric House
9. Fabrics and Fabrics
10. M&J Trimming
11. Mood Fabrics
12. New York Elegant Fabrics
13. NY Fashion Center Fabrics
14. Spandex House
15. Zarin Fabrics

These stores are spread throughout the city and are different in their own way as far as what they can offer to designers and sewists.

In this article, I’ll provide you with information for each one. I’ll also explain where they are located within NYC and what they have to offer. That way, you can have an idea of what to expect and where to shop for your next fabric purchase.

The 15 Best Fabric Stores in NYC

New York City has no shortage of fabric stores. This is by no means an all-inclusive list. However, these are the most popular and well-known fabric stores in the city. There isn’t one that is necessarily better than the other. The best one for you will just depend on your needs. So instead, they’re listed in alphabetical order.

New York is also quite a large city. For your convenience, I’ve also provided the location and address for each fabric store so that you can find it more easily. Finally, I’ll also provide a general overview of the store and its merchandise.

1. B&J Fabrics

Location: Manhattan, Garment District

Address: 525 7th Ave. (2nd Floor), New York, NY

B&J Fabrics is located in Manhattan’s Garment District, a few blocks away from the Empire State Building. You can find this store on the 2nd floor of the Fashion Center Building. Their store hours are Monday-Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m, and they are closed on Saturday and Sunday.

This family-owned fabric store stocks a wide variety of fabrics, including linens, lace, silk, and suede. They also stock various natural and synthetic fabrics, including cotton, polyester, and spandex, among others. You can also find interlinings. For the eco-conscious, a variety of recycled and organic fabrics are also available. If you’re not in NYC, you can also shop the selection of fabrics on their website.

2. Beckenstein Men’s Fabrics

Location: Manhattan, Garment District

Address: 257 W 39th St., New York, NY

If you’re looking specifically for men’s fabrics, then Beckenstein is the place to go. They have a website, but shopping is only available in person at their store location. Their store hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are closed on Sundays.

Samuel Beckenstein started the groundwork for Beckenstein Men’s Fabrics in 1919, but today his son and grandson run the business. The store serves several industries, including entertainment, athletes, celebrities, and even government officials. Not only do they sell fabrics, but they also do custom suit making and carry Bemberg linings in a variety of colors. Check out their website for more information.

3. Berenstein Textiles

Location: Manhattan, Garment District

Address: 270 W 39th St., New York, NY

Berenstein Textiles is a wholesale fabric store that supplies fabric for many Fortune 500 companies and the NYC Theater District. They are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are closed on Saturday and Sunday.

The owner, Polina Berenstein, fled Russia in 1973 and opened Berenstein Textiles in 1993, specializing in bridal and embroidery. Today, they specialize in a variety of textiles across all fashion categories. You can visit their showroom and sample room in person or visit their website for more information.

4. Brooklyn General Store

Location: Brooklyn

Address: 128 Union St., Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn General Store is located in Brooklyn, New York. The store is west of the Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill neighborhoods. They are open Tuesday-Saturday from 12-6 p.m. and are closed on Monday.

Brooklyn General Store has been open since 2002. They don’t just sell fabric, as they are a general craft and maker store. However, they have a selection of fabrics that they sell both in-store and on their website. They sell a variety of solid and printed fabrics, including some gorgeous florals and unique patterns. You can find cotton, linens, velvet, corduroy, and other materials in various fabric widths. The prices are very affordable as well.

5. District Leathers

Location: Manhattan, Garment District

Address: 263 W 38th St. (15th Floor), New York, NY

District Leathers is located in the Garment District of Manhattan. They have only been open since 2016 but are world-renowned for their selection of leather fabrics. District Leathers has collaborated with designers such as Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta and organizations such as the NBA and SpaceX. Their hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and they are closed on Saturday and Sunday.

District Leathers provides a wide variety of leather fabrics for apparel, upholstery, and accessories. They sell cow leather, lamb leather, suede, and even exotic leather both in-store and on their website and they ship anywhere in the world. You can also find valuable information on their website such as a leather buying guide and blog. However, to shop in-store, you must make an appointment through the website.

6. Elliott Berman Textiles

Location: Manhattan, Garment District

Address: 237 W 37th St. (7th Floor), New York, NY

Elliott Berman Textiles is a high-end fabric store located in the Garment District of Manhattan. They import all of their fabrics from France, Germany, and Italy. All of their fabrics are ethically and sustainably produced, which is great for those looking to be more eco-conscious with their fabric selections. They’re open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Examples of their fabric selection include activewear fabrics, knit fabrics, wool fabrics, cotton fabrics, silk and silk blend fabrics, and more. It’s easy to shop by fabric type on their website as well. Fabrics are a bit more expensive through this store, but they are also very high quality. They also sell scarves and ponchos on the website and you can inquire about purchasing wholesale fabrics as well.

7. Fabric City

Location: Queens

Address: 100-04 Northern Blvd., Queens, NY

If you live in or are visiting Queens, you’ll want to check out Fabric City. This fabric store is located in the North Corona neighborhood, less than 5 minutes from LaGuardia International Airport. They have been in business since 1979. The store hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and they are closed on Sunday and Monday.

At Fabric City, you’ll find 6,000 sq. ft. of designer fabrics and the largest collection of buttons in Queens. You’ll find apparel and upholstery fabrics, including silks, cotton, wools, linens, velvets, etc. They also sell sewing and knitting supplies and will provide swatches of any fabric if you can’t decide right away.

Another unique service that Fabric City offers is that they will cut foam to size for your upholstery projects at no additional cost. While you can’t shop directly online, you can check out all their services and learn everything you need to know about this fabric store on their website.

8. Fabric House

Location: Manhattan, Garment District

Address: 257 W 39th St. #4, New York, NY

Fabric House is located two blocks away from the famous Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in the Garment District of Manhattan. They are Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and are closed on Sundays. However, shopping is currently only available by appointment only.

Fabric House has a large selection of fashion and home decor fabrics, some of which can be purchased by the yard for 30-60% off retail price. You can also buy fabrics wholesale and save even more money. Just make sure to call to set up an appointment to shop in-store. You can find contact information through their website.

9. Fabrics and Fabrics

Location: New Jersey

Address: 2321 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Suite S4, North Bergen, NJ

Fabrics and Fabrics aren’t located in New York, but rather just across the river in New Jersey. They are near enough to the NYC Garment District in Manhattan while allowing you to avoid some of the hustle and bustle of the city when shopping with them. They are open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but shopping is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment only.

Fabrics and Fabrics has worked with the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to create their designs. They have various fabrics to choose from, including silks, cottons, wools, velvets, tweeds, brocades, special occasion fabric, and more. You can also shop on their website. The fabrics are pricey, but many are designer and high-quality and the prints and patterns are gorgeous.

10. M&J Trimming

Location: Manhattan, Garment District

Address: 1008 6th Ave., New York, NY

M&J Trimming is located in Manhattan, about 3 blocks north of Macy’s Department Store. They have been in business since 1964. They are open 7 days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

M&J Trimming doesn’t sell a lot of fabric, but this is the place to go if you’re looking for the widest selection of trimming and other accessories for your sewing projects. They sell rhinestones, ribbons, buttons, patches, and more to accent your designs and help bring them to life. Their prices are affordable and you can shop on their website as well.

11. Mood Fabrics

Location: Manhattan, Garment District

Address: 225 W 37th St. (3rd Floor), New York, NY

Mood Fabrics is perhaps one of the most well-known fabric stores in New York City, made famous from the TV Show Project Runway. It’s located in Manhattan’s Garment District in the Bricken Arcade Building. Their hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Sundays.

Not only is Mood Fabrics one of the most popular fabric stores in NYC, but they also have one of the largest online fabric selections. You can search for home decor fabrics, fashion fabrics, and designer fabrics. You can also shop for rhinestones, buttons, and fabric remnants. On their website, you can also find a blog along with sewing tips and patterns.

12. New York Elegant Fabrics

Location: Manhattan, Garment District

Address: 242 W 36th St. (2nd Floor), New York, NY

New York Elegant Fabrics is located near Macy’s in Manhattan. They’re open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday. They have been in business since 1987 and are family-owned. They’re well-known for serving the theater and fashion industries both in New York and other places around the world.

New York Elegant Fabrics sources their fabrics from America and Europe and Asia. As of right now, they are only open for in-store shopping. Their website is under construction, so you won’t be able to see their inventory without going to the store in person. However, you can email them for photos and samples of their inventory. They also offer a 20% discount for students, which is beneficial for those that are in fashion design school.

13. NY Fashion Center Fabrics

Location: Manhattan, Garment District

NY Fashion Center Fabrics does not have a storefront location, but they are headquartered in the Garment District in Manhattan. Their store is solely online, where they sell a variety of fashion and home decor fabrics. They operate by working with vendors around the world to sell high-quality fabrics at low prices.

They sell a variety of cotton, silk, linen, and suiting and shirting fabrics. However, they have the widest selection of cotton and silk fabrics, which is also their most popular merchandise. They also sell many of their fabrics in multiple colors. Check out their Facebook page for more information.

14. Spandex House

Location: Manhattan, Garment District

Address: 263 W 38th St., New York, NY

If you’re looking specifically for Spandex fabric, Spandex House is worth checking out. Spandex House was established in 1991 and is one of the world’s largest global suppliers of spandex fabrics. In addition to having a large selection of spandex fabrics, they also have the lowest prices. Their hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are closed on Sundays.

The CEO of Spandex House is Sabu Nath, who migrated from Bangladesh when he was 27 years old. He has over 30 years of experience in the textile industry, working with costume designers in the theater industry. You can shop in-store and online for various spandex fabrics in a variety of colors and patterns.

15. Zarin Fabrics

Location: Manhattan, Lower East Side

Address: 72 Allen St., New York, NY

Zarin Fabrics is one of the few fabric stores in NYC that is not located in the Garment District of Manhattan. Instead, they are located in the Lower East Side neighborhood near the Tenement Museum. They are open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Zarin Fabrics is closed on Saturdays.

Zarin Fabrics specializes in discounted designer upholstery fabrics. They have been in business since 1936, and the store has 3 floors of upholstery and drapery fabrics to choose from. They also offer custom upholstery and drapery services in addition to selling hardware and upholstery supplies and trimmings. You can also shop from various fabric colors, patterns, and types on their website.

What Are the Cheapest Fabric Stores in NYC?

Now that you’ve seen a list of the best fabric stores that New York City offers, you may be wondering which ones are the cheapest? If you’re looking for fabrics, some of the cheapest stores include Mood Fabrics in the Garment District if you’re looking for primarily apparel fabrics or Zarin Fabrics in the Lower East Side if you’re looking for affordable upholstery fabrics.

If you’re in Brooklyn or are willing to travel, you can venture over to the Brooklyn General Store for affordable fabrics and various other crafting supplies. If you’re looking for trimmings and other accents for your designs, then venture back over to the Garment District in Manhattan. M&J Trimming has the best selection at affordable prices.

What Are the Best Upholstery Fabric Stores in NYC?

If you’re looking specifically for upholstery fabric, you may not want to venture through rows and rows of apparel fabric. Zarin Fabrics in the Lower East Side specializes primarily in drapery and upholstery fabric and provides services and tools to help you with your upholstery projects.

District Leathers in Manhattan’s Garment District and Fabric City in Queens also have a large selection of upholstery fabrics. District Leathers is great for a high-end, luxury look, while Fabric City is more affordable and will also provide foam cutting services for your projects at no additional charge. Mood Fabrics also has a large selection of upholstery fabrics and a good reputation for providing high-quality fabrics at low prices.

Conclusion

Being one of the world’s fashion capitals, New York City is full of fabric stores located in both the Garment District and other boroughs. This is by no means an all-inclusive list, but these are some of the most popular and well-known fabric stores with the largest inventory and best prices in NYC. Check out them all if you don’t know what you’re looking for, or visit one or two if you do. If you found this article helpful, share it with others.