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Shop the Garment District in New York City Like a Pro

The first thing to know about shopping the garment district in New York City is that you’re looking for high-quality wholesale pieces. There are several wholesale shops but the quality can vary. It’s up to you to look past the price tag to check seams, notions, fabric weight, and so on.

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New York’s garment district is located in the center of midtown Manhattan, bordered by 42nd Street and 34th Street to the north and south, 5th Avenue and 9th Avenue to the east and west. It’s about a square mile in size and gets its name from the density of fashion wholesalers in the neighborhood. Those wholesalers carry materials such as fabrics, notions, and the like, as well as finished clothing. You can also shop retail designer fashion from names you know and love, including Louis Vuitton and Gucci.

Garment District in New York City: Shops to love

1. Clothingline

Clothingline is located upstairs at 261 W. 36th. The store holds a continuous sample sale with different merchandise every week. Sometimes, you can get some top items from designers like Evisu, Free People, Theory, Nike, and more. I bought a My Flat in London Bag from there for over 50% off the retail price.

2. M&J Trimming

Buy beads, buttons, rhinestones, patches, and more the way top designers do. M&J Trimming is a 5,000 square foot showroom that’ll blow your mind if you’re into accessories. This might be the cheapest way to shop in New York — pick up some unique accessories and bedazzle the clothes you already own.

3. Mood Designer Fabrics

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Mood is another big player on the New York fashion scene, supplying more than 1,200 customer daily with fashion fabrics that later become the city’s hottest designs. And if the Mood name sounds familiar, it’s because the store regularly supplied Project Runway contestants with their fabrics. Thanks to that Project Runway fame, Mood has become a destination shop of shorts for fashionistas from all over the world. You can also shop Mood online.

4. StarSnapsNYC

If you don’t have the skills to apply the buttons and trim you bought at M&J Trimming to your fav denim jacket or handbag, take them to StarSnaps NYC. The service shop specializes in fixing buttons, grommets, nailheads, eyelets, rivets to whatever you want. It’s the easiest and cheapest way to add edge to your look!

5. Modern Vice

Modern Vice will make you a custom pair of shoes right in its Garment District showroom. You pick out the leathers, meet the designers, and watch your shoes being made. That might be one of your most memorable vacation activities ever.

6. Barami

Woman shopping in the city

Barami has been set up in New York for decades. The shop offers affordable women’s clothes for a wide range of occasions. Definitely worth stopping in.

7. La Pateau

La Pateau is a wholesale shop that’s open to the public. Find good quality women’s clothes suitable for work, date night, or a casual Saturday — for prices you can tolerate. Mind you, the prices aren’t rock bottom, but you could spend $100 to $200 for a nice, well constructed dress.

8. Try a shopping tour

There are so many more small shops with great finds in the Garment District in New York city and the district is small enough that you could reasonably wander around and wait for storefronts to catch your eye. But if you prefer to be more organized, try a shopping tour. You can find group tours that’ll show you the highlights one day, so you can return with a strategy the next. Or, take a private tour with a personalized shopper who can walk you right up to the stores that suit your needs.

Kitmeout

Saturday 11th of February 2006

Evisu, the original Japanese premium denim brand, founded by the visionary Hidehiko Yamane, is a relatively nascent designer brand compared to the traditional French, German, British and Italian designer names and

fashion houses. That said, Evisu has undoubtedly shown maturity beyond its years and now leads rather than follows.

Evisu

chang oh

Sunday 16th of October 2005

Dear Budget Fashionista:

I have enjoyed reading your site.  As a fashion afficionado, do you know a wholesale garment district, similar to the one you visited in NY, but located in London?

Thanks,  Chang

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