A Trip to New York│Fabric Shopping

Hello, there!!

Let me first start off by saying that today was pretty adventurous for my mom and I. She and I took a trip to New York early this morning. Why? Well, let me explain.

At the end of last year, I was browsing through one of the pages of one of the groups I am a part of on Facebook. Someone had posted an event of the Black Fashion Designers exhibition that is currently running at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Museum. An exhibit highlighting fashion designers of African descent and their influence on fashion? Now that's something that has been long overdue. This was a no-brainer, I absolutely had to go see this for myself!!

I booked today's bus trip for my mom and I about a week ago, only to realize this morning when we arrived to New York, that the FIT Museum is closed today. So please do learn from my silly mistake and check the museum's hours before going to visit, especially if you have to take a two hour bus ride and a 15-20 minute walk to get there.

Considering the fact that the last day for the Black Fashion Designers exhibition is in only a couple of weeks, I will be taking a trip back up to New York; I can't afford to miss the opportunity to see it!!

So there my mom and I were, sitting in a cafe, finishing up our breakfast and wondering what, instead, we would do for the next couple of hours before hopping back on the bus ride home. Luckily, this was my second time being there in Manhattan at the FIT area, so I was somewhat familiar with what stores were around there, thanks to a class trip back in my undergrad at the University of Delaware (my draping class went to see an exhibit at FIT and go fabric shopping). The first thing that came to mind was the plethora of fabric stores.

My mom agreed that we should use this opportunity to for me to go fabric shopping, since I did not end up buying any fabric when I went on my class trip a few years ago. So we went from store to store, and I'm shocked that I was able to find fabric in the first couple of stores we visited (usually I'm much more picky than that). I guess it was easier for me to find fabric this time around since I was not choosing anything based on a theme/project. I was choosing fabric that I the option of making multiple things from, whether they were dresses, tops, skirt, etc.

I ended up selecting a couple of knit fabrics, since I never used knit before. One was a hot pink/salmon/white chevron print, while the other one was a solid green. I am working on trying to fabrics and techniques as far as my sewing skills are concerned; so improvement is very essential to me.

I also chose a velvet (teal), silk (multi-color), and cotton fabric (blue floral) as well. Might I add that the store fronts/displays of many of the fabric stores were so lovely!! I could just stare into the windows forever. Check out the pics in the slideshow below!!

fabric collection

I hope you enjoyed this post; be sure to check out the Black Fashion Designers exhibit at the FIT Museum if you have not already (the last day is May 16)!! Oh, and for aspiring fashion designers like myself, or those who love to sew, make sure you browse on and around 7th avenue for fabric; you won't be disappointed!!

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