I'm headed to NYC this May to see a broadway show so we will be there for a few days. I'm in the process of decorating a new home we just purchased and I was just told that either the NYC Design Center or Fabric Distric has this big sale once a year when they get rid of discontinued fabrics or orders that haven't been picked up. The person who told me this is a designer friend of mine who lives in Boston so she didn't know anything about the details of this sale...just that it exists. Does anyone know anything about this?

Since no one else has answered yet, I'll give it a try. I was there last week and it seems I remember the fabric district being around 41st or 42nd from 7th Avenue to 8th Avenue. Give that area a try.

Try: www.NYsale.com Also, look in the yellow pages for Manhattan. As I recall, the stores in the garment district sell exquisite fabrics primarily for women's evening wear, bridal, etc.

Thank you both for trying to help but I'm looking for home decorating fabric not clothing fabric.

Simce you mention you intend decorating a new home I assume you are talking about homme furnishing fabrics. If so, I believe the design center you are referring to is at Lexington Avenue and 33rd St. There are also some firms that sell at discount prices.

Paron Fabrics - 56 W. 57th St -- www.paronfabrics.com
Harry Zarin Fabric Warehouse - 318 Grand St. - www.Harryzarin,com
Rae Home - 452 Broadway - http://raetrading.com
.

There are numerous fabric stores - packed to the ceiling - with all kinds of fabrics, including lots of home decor stuff...located downtown. I've frequently stocked up, at decent prices, and lugged large packages of yard goods home. A week ago, strolling on the lower east side, we saw a number of fabric stores, but it was the w/e (not sure whether is was Sat or Sun) and they all were closed. One that looked to be very sizable and worth exploring was, I think, at Orchard and Grand. If you can find one...it's likely you'll find several in the same few blocks. Sorry I can't be more specific, but they are out there....Perhaps you could try a search of NY Yellow pages under fabrics or upholstery?

As mentioned in a previous reply, there will be a number of such stores that are closed from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening. This is typiucally due to it being the Jewish Sabbath. With few exceptions, the stores that are closed on Saturday will be open on Sunday.

The fabrics stores in the garment district are mostly located on 39th and 40th street, not 41st or 42nd. They do specialize in apparel fabrics but there are literally dozens of stores and may carry what you're looking for. A large well known one is Rosen & Chadick (or chaddick?)--you might call and ask for something specific.
The place for upholstery fabrics at great prices,is, as mentioned, Harry Zarin on the lower east side. It is a big mess of a warehouse type place and if you can stomach it, it is the best.

The interior design centers are "to the trade only" and won't let you in without a decorator.

Periodically, some major manufacturers(of clothing and other goods) will sell off their surplus fabrics, usually at a sale at Parson's, a design school with a campus at 40th street and 7th avenue.
You might call the school and ask if there are any fabric sales going on that are open to the public

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