Research - Japanese Fabrics

[Anna Stassen]

Following on from my other research thread regarding supplies here are some questions for those of you that sew:

• What sort of Japanese fabrics do you find hard or too expensive to get hold of in the UK: cotton, linen/cottom mix, kawaii, traditional etc?

• What sorts of sizes of fabrics do you use: fat quarters, half yard, longer?

• What is the average price you pay for say a half yard?
  

To explain a bit of the context of this research, the UKHM team are looking into ways we can help our members. We are exploring the
possibilities of bulk buying if there is enough demand and passing on
the savings to our members.

All feedback greatly appreciated!

Sakura xx

[KirstyFish]

Ummm, am i allowed to say here that i am starting a sort of fabric de-stash shop in folksy???
FabricFish (what else?) and i am going to be putting lots of Japanese imported fabrics up aswell as some Cath Kidston pieces...
That doesn't help your research does it?
I buy as a retailer and as a consumer. As a retailer, i find i buy in bolts but as a consumer i buy in 1/2 yards and pay anything from £2.50 per half yard up to £8.00, depending on how *badly* i want the fabric :)

[nickynackynoo]

Fantastic! Only slightly hyperventilating at the moment. Fabric, tick; Japanese, tick; sold by the awesome KirstyFish, tick!

KirstyFish said:

Ummm, am i allowed to say here that i am starting a sort of fabric de-stash shop in folksy???
FabricFish (what else?) and i am going to be putting lots of Japanese imported fabrics up aswell as some Cath Kidston pieces...
That doesn't help your research does it?
I buy as a retailer and as a consumer. As a retailer, i find i buy in bolts but as a consumer i buy in 1/2 yards and pay anything from £2.50 per half yard up to £8.00, depending on how *badly* i want the fabric :)

[Lynn Wilkins]

Hi Sakura

I live in Scotland and find it no problem to buy Japanese patchwork fabrics from local patchwork shops. I also visit the Quilt Fairs held just outside Edinburgh and the company "Euro Japan Links" (I think that's what it's called) sometimes visit the fair. They have a lovely range of all types of Japanese fabrics and some kimono fabric as well. Prices all in the average range for quilting fabric - around £2.00 - £2.50 fat quarter (it varies depending on how "rare" the fabric is!)

Regards

Lynn

[Monica Strydom]

I use the cute kawaii prints, I prefer cotton, but have bought cotton/linen blend too, I find these expensive in the UK and the shipping costs are too much if buying on etsy from abroad too!

I tend to buy in metres or fat quarters. I will not pay more than around £12 pm.

I would be willing to buy in bolts but have yet to find a wholesaler...please let me know if you have any you know of!

Monica x

[McGintyandMe]

What a great discussion. For those of you who sew you may have seen a similar discussion raised on the sewmamasew forum. I live in Northern Ireland & am so frustrated at how difficult & expensive it is to get nice fabric. For me, like most quilters or sewers, the main fabric type is 100% cotton & Japanese fabrics from Lecien are particularly difficult to come by. I would like to buy the Kona cotton range from Robert Kaufman (from the USA), and the Japanese linens, but again availability is very limited over here. I have bought some lovely fabric on etsy - but again have to pay for postage.
I also have been trying to get my hands on some difficult to obtain patterns &, in desperation have opened an artfire shop in which I sell mainly bag and toy patterns from independant Australian and American designers.
Hope this is of some help

[Anna Stassen]

If we manage to get enough people who want japanese fabrics UKHM may be able to harness our collective purchasing power to buy wholesale and pass the savings onto our members so this is why your feedback is so important.

Thank you!

Sakura
[e-mail]

[The Bothered Owl]

Hi Sakura
We use loads of Japanese and American fabrics in our bags, hats and bibs. We tend to buy them on Ebay or from Fabric Rehab, but they do work out as being very expensive, generally £2.50 plus for a FQ. We really like cute, quirky prints, generally going for a cotton or cotton/linen blend because they have a nice texture.
It would be awesome to be able to get them from somewhere other than Ebay. Fabric Rehab are very reasonable, really, but even so, being able to cut our costs a little bit would be tops!

Sarah

[Clothcat]

I've bought cute patterns in the past, but would also be interested in some of the dress making fabric like Nani Iro that Kokka makes which is really beautiful. I'd be interested in cotton or cotton/linen mix. I also love the linen sewing tape you can get over there. I guess you've probably seen it already, but Kokka have a wholesale website where you can contact them - I'd be interested to know what their minimum order is if you find out. http://www.kokka.co.jp/en/index.html

[BigBlueBed]

I buy from Matatabi on etsy too.

I would be interested though in getting it cheaper (of possible).

I do like the small patterned kawaii prints, but also love Nani Iro and would like to get some in larger lengths as I fancy making myself some clothes.

And I like the sewing tapes too.

[magicpumpkinsandfaerydust]

Wow, that would be sooo cool.

Nina

Sakura said:

If we manage to get enough people who want japanese fabrics UKHM may be able to harness our collective purchasing power to buy wholesale and pass the savings onto our members so this is why your feedback is so important.

Thank you!

Sakura
[e-mail]

[CAROLYN ANNIE YOUNG]

What A great idea! I would love to buy in the UK but find etsy best! I never want to pay more than 3.50 per 1/2 yard unless it is gorgeous in which case i will sell my soul! lol x

magicpumpkinsandfaerydust said:

Wow, that would be sooo cool.

Nina

Sakura said:

If we manage to get enough people who want japanese fabrics UKHM may be able to harness our collective purchasing power to buy wholesale and pass the savings onto our members so this is why your feedback is so important.

Thank you!

Sakura
[e-mail]

[Anna Stassen]

Thanks to everyone for all the input I am going to look into all this further and see if anything can be done!

Sakura
[e-mail]