Mood Fabrics NYC

I don’t even recall how I ever first heard about Mood Fabrics, but whenever I mentioned to someone that I was going to be visiting there while in New York, they always replied, “That’s the place in Project Runway!”

Well, I’ve never seen Project Runway, but I can say now that I understand why they would shoot a tv show in that place.  I tried to come up with a way to describe the place without swearing, but it proved to be impossible.  Let’s just say that place is amazing.  What an experience it is.

So to get there, you wander down the sidewalk of the Garment District in Manhattan, trying hard to ignore all the shops with signs out front saying things like, “no trying on” and “wholesale only” and “samples–$5.” Then you stand there looking like a yahoo wondering, “where the hell is it?” because you are standing right at the correct address and Mood is nowhere to be seen. Then a very New Yorker doorman says, “You lookin’ for Mood?  Third Floor.”  So you take this ancient elevator up and when the doors open, the smell of fabric sizing and inspiration fills the air.

I snapped only a few photos because I was so busy running around admiring all the gorgeous fabric.  As someone whose only choice for apparel fabric is Joann, this place is my holy mecca.  With its three huge floors and over 40,000 square feet of floor space, you can find any kind of fabric you can imagine, from faux fur to the finest lace.  The staff is actually really helpful (kind of unusual in my experience of NYC).  There are lots of cute boys working there (What? Why are you looking so surprised?) who are being flirted with constantly (not by me).  Fashion students can be seen wandering the aisles with design sketches in one hand and fabric swatches in the other.

I felt like I was in a tv show, even if I wasn’t.

Pictured above are the leather hides.  I would have loved to purchase some leather to make a purse, but I was completely unprepared, and had no idea what I wanted to make and how much I would need.  It’s really expensive and sells by the square foot.  Someday.

All of the fabrics I purchased there, and I would say almost all of what they have there is 60″ wide, which is a real departure from the 45″ bolts I’m used to.  Also, they are very generous with their cuts, giving a few extra inches of fabric on every cut.

First off, I chose three cotton batistes.  Gorgeous lightweight and crisp cottons, perfect for summer tops.  I’ve already begun working on the one with the blue fruit shapes.  I also picked up a beautiful off-white cotton viole that I just couldn’t resist. Even though it is simple white, everything about it is perfect: the weight, the feel, and even the not-quite-white-and-not-quite-cream shade of off-white.  I can’t explain why I like it so much, but I really do. I’m thinking lightweight pajamas, or a simple strappy top.  These were all $10 a yard each.

Since I’ve never sewn with any silk charmeuse before, I couldn’t resist its shiny texture and slinky drape.  And for only $12 a yard, it felt like a steal.  Did I mention that eggplant purple is my absolute favorite color in the whole world? I know it’s kind of hard to tell the color from that photo above. I see a bias cut camisole and french knickers made of this.  Something like the Nutmeg pattern from Colette Patterns.  I’m a bit hesitant to purchase it though, because I think my girls need a bit more support than that.

And lastly, I picked up the very loud and colorful green and yellow print.  Also $10 a yard.  That’s one for the what-was-I-thinking file.  I really love the colors, and I even like the print, but I don’t know if it’s something I’d wear.  The Girl likes it, so I may make something for her out of it.

Enormous self control had to be used in this place.  I could have really gone crazy, but this is enough to keep me busy for a while.  But I felt the prices were really good, the staff was nice, and the experience is definitely very New York.