Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Where to buy beautiful fabric in Paris

Search

Where to buy beautiful fabric in Paris

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 7th, 2004, 08:28 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Where to buy beautiful fabric in Paris

My hubby and I will be in Paris this Sept and I would like to buy some fabric to make pillows for our home. Where is teh best place to buy fabric?

Thank you so much!
jamikins is online now  
Old Apr 7th, 2004, 08:41 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,738
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Rue Jacob has some great fabric shops.
Pierre Deux and others are there.
Scarlett is offline  
Old Apr 7th, 2004, 08:43 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Jamikins, there are many fabric stores in Montmartre in the area northeast of the Anvers metro stop onward to Marche St. Pierre. My wife has purchased wonderful fabrics from which she has made decorative pillows. You will be amazed at the quantity and the variety of the fabrics available.
Glenn52 is offline  
Old Apr 7th, 2004, 08:54 PM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you for the quick responses! I am getting so excited, and have 5 more months to wait!!
jamikins is online now  
Old Apr 7th, 2004, 11:36 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A second for the Rue Jacob area...you'll find several top quality fabric shops. Prices won't be cheap, but the richness of the colors and fabrics is unbeatable.
BTilke is offline  
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 03:00 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just bought some fabric at BHV which I am going to use to make pillows and a table runner. They also have a great selection of tassels. Not too expensive (mine was 12€ per meter). It's on the same floor as the great door/cabinet hardware department. This is the third time I've bought hardware there - in fact my husband is right now making a new storm door so I can use my beautiful French hardware on it.
isabel is offline  
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 07:39 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,007
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Pierre Deux is known as Souleiado in France, and both it and Les Olivades are on rue de Seine. These fabrics, are, of course, the provencal cotton prints. Les Olivades are slightly less expensive than Souleaido.

On rue Jacob you can find Pierre (think that's the correct first name?) Frey for dressier, more sophisticated fabrics. The Maison d'Ivre is also there.
grandmere is offline  
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 07:47 AM
  #8  
dln
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Thanks for asking the question, jamikins! My husband and I will also be in Paris in the end of September and I like sewing for my home, too. Who knows? We might bump into each other in some fabric shop somewhere.
 
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 08:05 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,738
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you grandmere! I got my Pierres confused! also on the corner of rue Benoit and rue Jacob , another wonderful fabric and design store.
Scarlett is offline  
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 08:19 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you all so much!! I cant wait to start looking!

dln, wouldnt that be hilarious, now I'll be on the lookout..we'll be there Sept 10-18, you?
jamikins is online now  
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 08:33 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,546
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 1 Post
pierre Fray 22 rue Royale 8th
for top of the line.
Also Madura but lost the address as one opened here in Boston.
cigalechanta is offline  
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 10:43 AM
  #12  
kjl
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
jamikins,

Just returned from Paris on Tuesday.
While in Paris I also purchased some fabric to make some pillows.

As others have posted the Rue Jacob area is wonderful. I also can highly recommend some other areas to check out.

In the 18th at the base of Sacre Coeur, you can take either the Abbesse or Anvers metro and walk to Saint Pierre. This area is known as fabric alley, they have one fabric shop after another and much to choose from. It will boggle your mind.

I discovered a wonderful fabric store last year while in both Germany & Paris and purchased all my fabric for my living room and dining room from KA International. Just beautiful fabrics!
They have 4 stores in the Paris area. I have posted their website and addresses for you.
() 58, rue Pierre Demours
? () 17, rue de Passy
? () 61 rue de Rennes
? () 5, rue Edouard VII
http://www.ka-international.com/nuev...sh/default.htm

Madura is another wonderful shop and they have many pillows already made and at great prices.
http://www.madurahome.com/sommaire.html
PARIS 6ème
66, rue de Rennes
Tél. : (33) 01 45 44 71 30
M? St-Sulpice
St-Germain-des-Prés

PARIS 8ème
6, rue Tronchet
Tél. : (33) 01 47 42 92 92
M? Madeleine, RER Auber

Bouchara is also another wonderful shop
located in the 9th at 54, bd. Haussman.
It is across the street from Galleries Lafayette on the same side of the street. Also, Galleries Lafayette just opened their new home store and had some fabrics to choose from.

BHV is also a great fun place. Just love this store. Be sure to check out the lower level. Bought some wonderful
French signs this trip. They are located at 52-65 rue de Rivoli, metro Hotel De Ville.

Hope this helps.
kjl
kjl is offline  
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 02:48 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,956
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with Bouchara and all those stores below Sacre Coeur. Just walk down rue de Steinkerque and all the sidestreets off of it and you'll be in fabric heaven! If you're interested in the Provencal cottons, I can add one more, Le Rouvray, 3 rue de la Bucherie in the 5th, not far from the Shakespeare Bookstore. Have fun!
SusanP is offline  
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 03:53 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
th stores below Sacre Coer are great for fabric. Do your homework first and visit a Calico Corners in your area first. Many french fabrics can be had for the same price. But, when in Paris look for the double wide bolts...you can have beadspreads and sofa coverings with no sems...the fabric is a healthy 88 inches wide....a good buy too
seafox is offline  
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 06:08 PM
  #15  
dln
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Jamikins, I've just checked our tickets (arrived via FedEx last week--we're really really going) and we get into Paris on the 23rd. We'll just miss each other! But maybe if I'm really lucky and you're not too wiped out with jetlag upon your return, you'll post your fabric finds??? Good luck shopping and I hope to hear about it!!
 
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 06:46 PM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
One word of caution. I haven't bought any lately, but it used to be that European fabrics were generally sold by the square meter, not the linear meter. That means if it says 50 euro per meter, and the fabric is roughly 59 inches wide (common in European fabrics) then it really costs you 75 euro per running meter, as it is one and a half square meters.
Patrick is offline  
Old Apr 8th, 2004, 11:22 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 696
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've bought (way too much) fabric in the UK and in france and have always been charged by the linear meter, not square. Bring a cloth tape measure with metric on one side, inches on the other. I find this handy when trying to remember how big something is and how many meters/yards I need, I mean want.
If you're trying to match a sofa or certain colors try to bring a fabric swatch. The range of colors is so much greater and the palette can be different.
highledge is offline  
Old Apr 9th, 2004, 04:32 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As a mentioned it's been quite a while since I did so, so things may have changed. Apparently so, because I thought they sold fabric by the yard not the meter in the UK, so it shows I MUST be out of date on the issue. By the way, when I did buy fabric in Paris by the yard, they were then the very new wide width fabrics, so they may have been trying to prevent "sticker shock" by showing prices in square meters rather than linear meaters.
Patrick is offline  
Old Apr 9th, 2004, 06:24 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have bought wonderful fabric all along Steinkerque Street and the side streets off it. The best buys, I think, are in the trimmings, the braid, fringe , tassels etc. They are more unusual and much cheaper than you can find here. As someone else mentioned, the double wide material is great. I have used it for tablecloths, drapes and not having extra seams is a great convenience. Last year at our hotel, I met a woman who had worked for a fashion magazine and her daughter who were there buying all the material for her daughter's wedding, bride, bride's maid and mother of the Bride. Of course here, the good question is, who do you get to do all the sewing!
TravelsWithStDavid is offline  
Old Apr 9th, 2004, 08:00 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,956
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In Paris in the last two years, I have also only purchased fabric by the linear meter. I was also amazed at the widths available. I got some gorgeous reversible fabric for curtains that is 9' wide and was a very reasonable cost.
SusanP is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -