Trip to NYC Garment District

My good friend Debbie and I took a trip this week to the Garment District.  We were on a waiting list for tickets for a one day trip down to the city, and luckily we got the call that there were some cancellations.  We decided to go without our kids (meaning daughters) because we really had some work to do.

We left at 7:00 am.  Arrived at about 11:15 am.  It was a nice ride, and they actually served coffee and donuts on the bus!!  I had fabric to find for three different customers, as well as find some swatches/colors for another.  We had printed out maps, studies the stores online, and narrowed our perimeter to three blocks.  Maybe four!  It’s pretty amazing just how much can fit in three city blocks.  We went to store after store.  We did not settle for anything that was not just right.  If I found the right color in the right fabric…but the price was too high….we left it and went on to the next store.  We went down every skinny aisle, climbed ever stair, opened every door until we were exhausted.

We really had some adventures.  Trying to find New York Fashion Center was one.  We actually got on an elevator that you could hear what sounded like a chain being pulled, to get us to the 7th floor.  Once we got there, we went into a hallway that had a printed piece of paper for the sign.  Needless to say, it was not exactly a store although it did have stickers of all the major credit cards being accepted.  We met some nice people, and enjoyed checking out their washing machines and what seemed like their mailroom/washroom.

I was able to get most of what I set out for.  All of the fabrics but two.  I was able to get the zipper I needed.

Hot pink, separating, #5, heavy duty, cut down to 8 inches!  All for under $5.00…..well under it too!  All while I stood and watched.  Very nice! Saw some incredible  fabrics……. I think I saw every possible silk, velvet, lace, overlay, underside, and/or sleeve that I have ever seen on an Irish Dance dress.  (Except of course for two of the fabrics I still need.)  It was very inspiring.  I know that for the future solo dresses that I make, I won’t hesitate to jump on the bus and go down for the day to find the fabrics.   It is really worth the money, time, effort….and sweat.  Let me tell you…it is hot down there!!  It was a hot and humid day, but those stores don’t mess with air conditioning.  It does wear you out quicker, I found.

We grabbed some pizza slices for lunch because we both grew up on thin crust pizza and could not wait to have the real thing again!  For dinner we stopped at a cute cafe…..Pret A Mange!

This actually was served on a silver platter!!

It was lunch for 6 dollars and dinner for 8.  While it would have been fun to go to some great city restaurant and have a full sit down meal…..we were there for business and did not want to spend the time or money.  We really enjoyed what we had though.  We actually could not have enjoyed anything else more!!

We met our bus at 6:45 pm at Bryant Park. It was nice to sit down at the end of the day and relax for a few minutes.  There were plenty of tables and chairs.

What I learned about the garment district, is that you can find a few stores that you really love.  Most of the stores have repeats of the same things over and over.  The smaller shops seem more willing to bargain with you.  All of the salespeople were incredibly helpful.  I showed almost all of them the pictures of what I was looking for and they all were genuinely helpful in trying to find my items.  Don’t buy more than what you need, and be willing to give a NO as an answer.  (Thats when the real bargaining starts.)  I did not go into any store looking for a “steal.”  Just by shopping around you learn what is a fair price and what feels like too much.  The selection is amazing, and there is no substitute for seeing things in person as least once.  You can go home an follow up with online orders, every store I inquired at was willing to ship anywhere.

Can’t wait to go back!!