The Ultimate Textile Travel Guide to the Garment District, Fashion Museums, and Creative Inspiration
If your dream vacation includes fabric stores instead of souvenir shops, New York City belongs at the top of your travel bucket list.
As a costume designer, sewist, quilter, fiber artist, or fashion history enthusiast, there are few places in the world that offer the creative energy found in Manhattan's Garment District. Within just a few city blocks, you'll discover world-famous fabric stores, specialty trim shops, fashion museums, and historic streets that helped shape the American garment industry.
Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning for another fabric-shopping adventure, these are ten stops every textile lover should experience.
1. Mood Fabrics
No textile pilgrimage is complete without a visit to Mood Fabrics.
Known around the world from Project Runway, Mood has become one of New York City's most iconic fabric stores. Multiple floors are packed with thousands of bolts of fabric ranging from affordable cottons to luxurious silk, wool, designer deadstock, sequins, bridal lace, faux fur, and specialty textiles.
Even if you don't have room in your suitcase for fabric, simply walking through Mood is an inspiring experience. You'll see professional designers, Broadway costume shops, fashion students, and hobby sewists all searching for the perfect material.
Don't miss:
Designer fabrics
Bridal textiles
Fashion fabrics
Specialty notions
Endless inspiration
2. B&J Fabrics
Just a short walk away is another legendary destination: B&J Fabrics.
Unlike the warehouse feel of some fabric stores, B&J offers a beautifully organized showroom featuring premium fabrics from around the world. It's an excellent place to study fiber quality, texture, and drape, even if you're only window shopping.
You'll find everything from couture lace and silk charmeuse to luxury wool suiting, linen, velvet, and cashmere.
If you're planning a wedding gown, historical costume, or heirloom sewing project, this is a stop worth making.
Best for:
Couture sewing
Historical costumes
Bridal projects
Luxury garments
3. Pacific Trimming
Every sewist eventually needs the perfect zipper, buckle, snap, or piece of elastic—and Pacific Trimming probably has it.
This longtime Garment District favorite specializes in sewing notions and hardware. The shelves are filled with ribbons, bias tape, thread, boning, interfacing, closures, buckles, cords, webbing, and countless specialty supplies that can be difficult to find elsewhere.
Professional costume shops have relied on Pacific Trimming for decades.
4. Metro Textiles
Metro Textiles is a favorite among fashion designers looking for unique, high-quality fabrics at competitive prices.
The store carries an ever-changing inventory, so every visit feels like a treasure hunt. You never know when you'll discover designer wool, beautiful linen, colorful knits, or an unexpected luxury fabric at an excellent price.
If you enjoy finding one-of-a-kind materials, allow yourself plenty of time to browse.
5. New York Elegant Fabrics
Looking for sparkle?
New York Elegant Fabrics specializes in dramatic textiles that are perfect for evening wear, dance costumes, pageants, bridal gowns, and theatrical productions.
You'll find sequins, embroidered tulles, lace, metallic fabrics, and glamorous materials that instantly inspire creative ideas.
Even if you're not shopping for formalwear, it's worth visiting simply to admire the incredible selection.
6. Hamed Fabrics
For bargain hunters, Hamed Fabrics is a hidden gem.
Known for discounted designer fabrics and closeout finds, this shop rewards careful browsing. Inventory changes frequently, making every visit different from the last.
If you're creating costumes on a budget or enjoy the thrill of discovering unexpected treasures, add this stop to your itinerary.
7. Daytona Trimmings
Fabric is only half the story.
Daytona Trimmings is filled with decorative details that bring garments to life.
Browse rows of ribbons, fringe, decorative braid, appliqués, tassels, lace, beads, and specialty trims perfect for costumes, historical garments, dancewear, and creative sewing projects.
Small embellishments often become the feature people remember most.
8. The Museum at FIT
After shopping, spend some time exploring the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Best of all, admission is free.
The museum regularly features outstanding exhibitions covering fashion history, textile innovation, couture, accessories, and influential designers. The permanent collection contains garments spanning centuries of fashion history, making it one of the best museums in the country for anyone interested in clothing and textiles.
Whether you're a professional costume designer or simply love fashion history, the Museum at FIT offers endless inspiration.
Allow at least an hour or two to explore the galleries.
9. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute
If you're visiting New York between May 2026 and January 2027, don't miss the Costume Institute's special exhibition "Costume Art."
Presented in the museum's newly opened Condé Nast Galleries, the exhibition pairs more than 400 garments and accessories with paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and other works from across The Met's collection. Rather than presenting clothing only as fashion, the exhibition explores costume as an art form and places garments in conversation with centuries of artistic expression.
For costume designers, fashion historians, and textile lovers, this is one of the year's must-see exhibitions.
Be sure to check The Met's website before your trip for current hours and ticket information.
10. Wander the Historic Garment District
One of the best experiences isn't inside a store at all.
Spend time simply walking the streets between Seventh and Ninth Avenues.
Imagine the thousands of garment workers, cutters, pattern makers, sample sewers, and designers who transformed this neighborhood into the center of the American fashion industry.
Keep an eye out for:
The famous Garment Worker Statue
Historic factory buildings
Fashion-inspired public art
Window displays
Small independent fabric shops
Hidden trim stores
Unexpected creative inspiration
Some of the best discoveries happen when you step into a store you've never heard of before.
Tips for Planning Your Textile Adventure
Before heading out, a little preparation will make your day much more enjoyable.
Wear comfortable walking shoes—you'll easily walk several miles.
Bring a reusable tote bag or foldable shopping bag for your fabric finds.
Carry a small notebook or sketchbook to capture ideas and color palettes.
Compare prices before purchasing larger cuts of fabric.
Leave extra space in your suitcase—you'll almost certainly come home with more fabric than you expected.
Visit on a weekday when possible, as more businesses are open and crowds are often lighter.
Why Every Textile Lover Should Visit New York City
New York City isn't just a place to buy fabric—it's a place to experience the history, artistry, and creativity behind the textile industry.
From legendary fabric stores and specialty trim shops to world-class fashion museums and historic streets, every stop offers something to inspire your next creative project.
Whether you're designing costumes, quilting, sewing garments, researching fashion history, or simply appreciating beautiful textiles, the Garment District is one of the most rewarding destinations a creative traveler can visit.
If you're planning a trip, set aside an entire day—or even two—to explore. Trust me, you'll wish you had more time.
More Textile Travel Guides Coming Soon
Love combining travel with sewing, fashion history, museums, and fiber arts? Be sure to explore my growing Textile Travel series, where I'll be sharing creative destinations, fabric-shopping guides, museum recommendations, and inspiration for makers around the world.