Help me find techical, outdoor, and industrial fabrics in LA.
July 13, 2010 9:14 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for industrial, outdoor, military, technical, and specialty fabrics in the Los Angeles area.
I am making some cases and handbags for cameras and optical instruments, and need to check out some fabrics/materials in person.
Examples -- fabrics I might be interested in include Cordura, Neoprene, Hypalon, heavy canvas, and leather. I would also be interested in related hardware -- clips, clasps, buckles, snaps, and mil-spec velcro.
I'm looking for LA-local resources.
I am making some cases and handbags for cameras and optical instruments, and need to check out some fabrics/materials in person.
Examples -- fabrics I might be interested in include Cordura, Neoprene, Hypalon, heavy canvas, and leather. I would also be interested in related hardware -- clips, clasps, buckles, snaps, and mil-spec velcro.
I'm looking for LA-local resources.
Have you been to the fabric district downtown? From their website: "The LA Fashion District is home to the largest selection of textiles and notions in the United States. There are nearly 200 wholesale and retail textile stores selling trim, beading and fabric for apparel, crafts and home decor. Shoppers can find nearly every type of fabric, running the gamut from novelty to exotic silks and European upholstery. Prices range from 99 cents up to thousands of dollars per yard."
Basically, it's a ton of shops in a very few square blocks -- so while I haven't personally looked for the industrial-type fabric you need down there, I think you will find it. (I shop for more common fabric, and I have never been disappointed there.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:11 PM on July 13, 2010
Basically, it's a ton of shops in a very few square blocks -- so while I haven't personally looked for the industrial-type fabric you need down there, I think you will find it. (I shop for more common fabric, and I have never been disappointed there.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:11 PM on July 13, 2010
Response by poster: Well, I went out and spent about 5 hours in the Los Angeles fabric district today.
General comments: For the most part, it is devoid of the kind of hardware and fabric I was looking for. I feel OK saying this because I entered damn near every shop I could find and asked. Another thing: nobody was helpful in referring me from shop to shop. Nobody knew where to buy or find anything, even when it was right next door. I guess no one wants to help the competition.
Geographically: there were two main runs of fabric stores all in a row. The first row I visited was on S Los Angeles between 5th and 9th. These stores were almost exclusively fashion, tapestry, and blah fabrics. Not what I needed at all.
The second run of stores proceeded from the corner of 9th and Maple. That's where things got more interesting.
Some things were available but only with limited selection. For example, I was looking for olive drab webbing, possibly gray webbing. I was able to find both, but only in 1" width, coarse weave. For this kind of material, the best shop I was able to find was
AZI Payless, 800 S. Maple Ave., Suite 104 and 105. 213-622-6161
They also had an interesting surplus bin of zippers, with many Scoville and YKK zippers going for less than a buck each. They also have a very good selection of gray, green, and black velcro, though none of the really industrial stuff where both sides are the same.
Technical fabrics other than ripstop nylon were in very short supply. The only knowledgeable shop (& the only shop that actually had any stock at all) was Em-Be fabric, run by Moez Banayan. He is a very interesting guy who really knows his stuff about fabric. While he suffers the same "I dunno where you're gonna find anything" problem, and he likes to sell only large quantities/whole bolts, he did have some really high quality PVC-backed waterproof nylon (similar to some waterproof Corduras) that was close to what I wanted. I bought five yards of various grays and browns from him.
Em-Be Fabric
305 E 9th St #135 213-627-2202
After all that, I did find one thing I wanted, which was a coarse-weave nylon fabric in a very specific shade of green blue to match a USN survival bag I bought on surplus. That was from
FABRIC 2000
406 E 9th Street 213-622-0073
The guys there were very enthusiastic about their stock, had (by chance) just the shade I was looking for, and didn't mind me taking a tiny sample and melting it with a lighter to check fiber composition (yeah, I'm a pretty annoying customer). They also sold me some really incredible rubber/neoprene upholstery material. Prices were good, and they had other interesting vinyls, fake leathers, and heavier upholstery products that will come in handy. Recommended.
Overall, a very interesting day out, and I did locate enough material to do something like I'd planned, though not perfect by any means. Still interested in pointers if people know where to buy hardware or technical fabrics.
posted by fake at 8:09 PM on July 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
General comments: For the most part, it is devoid of the kind of hardware and fabric I was looking for. I feel OK saying this because I entered damn near every shop I could find and asked. Another thing: nobody was helpful in referring me from shop to shop. Nobody knew where to buy or find anything, even when it was right next door. I guess no one wants to help the competition.
Geographically: there were two main runs of fabric stores all in a row. The first row I visited was on S Los Angeles between 5th and 9th. These stores were almost exclusively fashion, tapestry, and blah fabrics. Not what I needed at all.
The second run of stores proceeded from the corner of 9th and Maple. That's where things got more interesting.
Some things were available but only with limited selection. For example, I was looking for olive drab webbing, possibly gray webbing. I was able to find both, but only in 1" width, coarse weave. For this kind of material, the best shop I was able to find was
AZI Payless, 800 S. Maple Ave., Suite 104 and 105. 213-622-6161
They also had an interesting surplus bin of zippers, with many Scoville and YKK zippers going for less than a buck each. They also have a very good selection of gray, green, and black velcro, though none of the really industrial stuff where both sides are the same.
Technical fabrics other than ripstop nylon were in very short supply. The only knowledgeable shop (& the only shop that actually had any stock at all) was Em-Be fabric, run by Moez Banayan. He is a very interesting guy who really knows his stuff about fabric. While he suffers the same "I dunno where you're gonna find anything" problem, and he likes to sell only large quantities/whole bolts, he did have some really high quality PVC-backed waterproof nylon (similar to some waterproof Corduras) that was close to what I wanted. I bought five yards of various grays and browns from him.
Em-Be Fabric
305 E 9th St #135 213-627-2202
After all that, I did find one thing I wanted, which was a coarse-weave nylon fabric in a very specific shade of green blue to match a USN survival bag I bought on surplus. That was from
FABRIC 2000
406 E 9th Street 213-622-0073
The guys there were very enthusiastic about their stock, had (by chance) just the shade I was looking for, and didn't mind me taking a tiny sample and melting it with a lighter to check fiber composition (yeah, I'm a pretty annoying customer). They also sold me some really incredible rubber/neoprene upholstery material. Prices were good, and they had other interesting vinyls, fake leathers, and heavier upholstery products that will come in handy. Recommended.
Overall, a very interesting day out, and I did locate enough material to do something like I'd planned, though not perfect by any means. Still interested in pointers if people know where to buy hardware or technical fabrics.
posted by fake at 8:09 PM on July 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: After going through all that trouble, I found Foam Mart in Burbank which has every single kind of foam, lots of cordura-like fabrics, and helpful staff. They are expensive, but will order most anything you could want in technical and outdoor fabrics.
posted by fake at 7:35 AM on August 11, 2010
posted by fake at 7:35 AM on August 11, 2010
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posted by indyz at 10:58 AM on July 13, 2010