My Fabric London

I had taken these pictures todo a write up a few months ago .Oh well at least it is getting done The question of fabric shopping in London comes up often, and while there are resources from search engines to reviews to magazine articles some of the gems are oft omitted.
This is my town , so there is very little about shopping in London I dont know.
The usual responses would probably include West End Crawl , Berwick Street and environs, Edgware Road/Church Street for the couture quality fabrics.
Street markets like Walthamstow, Roman Road , Church Street, S Bush, Borough .
Ethnic type fabrics in Brick Lane, Southall , Ealing Road Wembley.
Old Brompton Road for Libery Prints, Camden Town , Ladbroke Grove blah blah blah

My London underground Fabric Sources
Material World
13 Market Place
Acton London W3 6QS
Tel: 0208 993 1068
Open Mon- Fri
Cash and Cheques.No mail order

Also known as the dive.The pictures tell the whole story.
The fabrics are sourced from design studio , jobbers high street sample studios, even vintage fabrics from defunct shops and costume makers.
Price range from £1-10 with most of the fabrics between two and five pounds.
Regularly designer ends of lines as well as fabrics from M &S***ks, H**bs and a host of UK high street and bridge clothing collections.

Disadvantages.
You may have to develop the stashing personality.I always have danger money in my car so if a visit coincides with the delivery of say interfacings, bemberg linings , lingerie findings , We( as in the west london sewing cartel) clear them out.
End of rolls, may not have enough metres for project, may be missing care labels .
Fabrics often ahead of season , eyelets for example were available last year before they even hit the shops.
Some knowledge of fabric quality, trend forecasting is helpful.
But with savings of up to 90% off for often sensational high end gear , its a no brainer
My last visit I scooped silk satin from Amanda Wakeley , spring boucle and some microfibre knit.
What I left behind this week included a stunning brown and pink mesh fabric with embroidery overlay and fabric flowers, giant dogtooth coating from fall 2006 M & S range, lingerie findings and a very pretty print silk chiffon.

Linings , notions , interfacings shoulder pads , corsages often available.
Italian suitings, VPL(viscose poly lycra) , tweeds , coatings.
Faux furs , raincoatings , quilted linings , even real leather and suede on occaisons.
Impressive selection of prints available all year round.
The secret source for the best quality knits IMHO from some of the top mills in Italy.These are piled high in the wooden box bang in the centre of the store.I have purchased knits that have been seen in J'''''***** for £30-40 a metre.

Full Picture Tour
Well worth putting on your Fabric map , or a hike if local or visiting London.

Jersey Vogue Fabrics
14 Station Road
Edgware Middlesex
HA8 7AB
0208 952 7751
Open Mon-Fri, Sun .Closed Saturday
Cash and Cheques.No mail order
Similar to the dive. Probably have the best selection of linings in a gazillion colours and weights .They have interfacings in a myriad of colours.Above( mid project) is a small colour samplings of the fusible tricot interfacings they stock.The only place I have found silky couture interfacing in colours other than black , white and nude.
They clear Frank Usher , Windsmoor, Mulberry ends etc and have a very good selection of silks, blends and knits ( mainly poly types).
Many fabrics dont have care tags , but they will sample if you have your pyrotechnics kit on you( fabric burn test bits n bobs)
Small selection of regular priced sewing threads, notions.