Where to Buy Fabric in NYC

A neighborhood guide to buying fabric and textiles in New York City, from Ankara and African wax print to lace, bridal, and trims in the Garment District.

New York is one of the best places in the country to buy fabric in person, if you know which blocks to walk. Whether you want African wax print for an outfit, lace and bridal for a big occasion, or trims and notions to finish a project, the city has a spot. Here is where to go and how to shop smart.

The Garment District, Manhattan

The Garment District runs roughly through the West 30s and low 40s between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. This is the dense core for fashion fabric: silks, wools, cottons, bridal and lace, plus buttons, zippers, and trims. You can compare a dozen shops in a single afternoon.

Bring a plan. Know your yardage, your budget, and a photo of what you are making. Many shops cut on the spot, so measure before you buy and buy a little extra for mistakes and matching.

Ankara and African wax print in Harlem

For Ankara, African wax print, and bold prints, Harlem is the place to look, especially around 116th Street and the surrounding blocks. This is the area for real wax print by the yard and by the six yard piece, along with tailoring nearby if you want the outfit made.

African fabric in the Bronx

The Bronx also has strong West African fabric shopping, with wax print, lace, and gele and headwrap material. If you live uptown or in the Bronx, you may not need to go to Manhattan at all.

How to shop fabric well

A little preparation saves money and heartbreak:

1. Know your yardage before you go, and round up
2. Check the fiber content, not just the look, so it behaves the way you need
3. Feel the drape in your hands, since a screen lies about weight and stretch
4. Buy all the yardage for one project at once so the dye lot matches
5. Ask about returns, because many fabric cuts are final sale
6. Carry a tape measure and a swatch of anything you are matching

For bridal and special occasion

Lace, satin, tulle, and beaded fabric are their own world. Give yourself extra time and extra yardage, and bring your seamstress or a clear spec if you can. Special occasion fabric is often final sale and hard to reorder in the same lot, so buy for the whole project in one trip.

Browse more fabric shops across the boroughs to find the right cut for your next project.

Written by See The Five · kept current from the directory, last checked 2026-09-07