LA fabric district?

[Rockstar Dicky]

Hi all. I am planning a trip in December to LA to visit my aunt. I've heard all of these rumors about the LA Fabric District. I've been able to find a little info online about it, but still am not sure of the info I've come across. So I thought I'd ask all the burners in the LA California area. Where are your fabric stores of choice? I'm mainly looking to get funky furs for costumes and cool liners to go with them. I live in Idaho, so I don't have much selection for fabrics or furs. I usually buy my fur from distinctivefabric.com. I've found other websites with furs but they are always the same, and I'm starting to get really bored with the fur choices out there. I'm hoping that I may be able to find something cool and out of the ordinary on my visit to California. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[junglesmacks]

Actually.. funny enough.. I've been researching the Fabric District myself this last week.

What's it like? Is it a collection of shops? I've found tons of factories and online outlet stuff, but am wondering what it's like in reality. Anyone in LA.. help?

[Delrious]

I live in downtown LA right next to the fashion district. If you go to Santee Alley and then make your way towards 8th street, the streets are covered in fabric stores that have everything imaginable in any size hanging everywhere.

[junglesmacks]

Is it just stores or are you able to find manufacturers as well?

We're in need of custom garment manufacturing..

[shykat]

Allows bargin with the store owners. There are some many stores,they all want your biz. You can also get good deals on carpets in the same area.
Santee Alley is like a long swap meet type deal,with great prices on all kinds of crap.
Downtown LA is not very exciting IMO, but the fabric is cheap and there is a lot of it.

[Delrious]

There are stores that have small armies of people with sewing machines that are just waiting for your business.

[junglesmacks]

There are stores that have small armies of people with sewing machines that are just waiting for your business.

Lol.. no.. seriously?

[Elderberry]

Yup, more stores than you'll ever have time to go through in a day, maybe a week. They do bargain--especially if you're paying cash.

[junglesmacks]

Yup, more stores than you'll ever have time to go through in a day, maybe a week. They do bargain--especially if you're paying cash.

Specifically I was wondering about the accessibility to the manufacturing side of it and the comment about the sewing machines.. not so much the retail side.

[Elderberry]

I have no clue. But I do know a few people that make fake fur items like coats. But they charge a pretty penny.

Actually, we found a hispanic seamstress that made our first coats; they were only OK. Sewing fake fur is a whole different animal, and the communication barrier didn't help. I wouldn't recommend you go that route.

Yup, more stores than you'll ever have time to go through in a day, maybe a week. They do bargain--especially if you're paying cash.

Specifically I was wondering about the accessibility to the manufacturing side of it and the comment about the sewing machines.. not so much the retail side.

[junglesmacks]

Cool.. I was actually referring to a mass production type deal. As in.. thousands of the same pattern. Sounds like I need to take a little business trip..

[maryanimal]

so ther are no actual names of places to shop in L.A.? Just head down Santee alley towards eighth?

[junglesmacks]

Check this out: http://www.fashiondistrict.org/

[Elderberry]

Good link.

[maryanimal]

Check this out: http://www.fashiondistrict.org/

WOW!

[Rockstar Dicky]

http://www.fashiondistrict.org/

Wow, that link totally just gave me tons of info, thanks guys! I'm hoping to find some really good prices on fake fur, I like the colored stuff and the monster furs for making funky outfits. And hoping to find some furs that I haven't seen online, something that has more variety. I'm super stoked, that website was perfect!

[junglesmacks]

Deleted since I see that you already know about know about DF