Silk Road Fabric

Lisa and Cuong are the nicest, most helpful people and I’m sad that they are closing this store on April 17^th. Fortunately, they are still looking for a new location, so fingers crossed!
They have a pretty wide selection of fabrics to choose from at really affordable prices. I am always able to find something interesting to experiment with. There are great deals on lining fabrics, which you can never have too much of. They also have a lot of trims and notions to dress up your pre-​existing garments with.
Overall, it’s a very easy going atmosphere with chill people who are ready to help you when you need, while giving you space to explore on your own.

I was visiting my sister in Oakland and decided to check out fabric stores. I called Silk Road Fabric and they said they were closing at the end of the month. When I got there, the sales staff were helpful. I bought three pieces of high quality silk that were marked down. I plan to make tops out of the fabric. I hope they find another location as the fabric are beautiful.

Nice silk on second floor. Fun to search for bargains on first floor.

This used to be my go to place for projects. I loved that it was walkable from my job so I could go on my lunch. I recently went for some fabrics for a baby shower banner I was going to make and was really disappointed. Not sure if they are closing up shop, but the were practically empty. Very, very small selection of fabrics and thread. Nothing on the second floor. The place was a mess and was a waste of a trip. Just wanted to warn fellow Unilocalers…

So sad this place is closing. Reasonable prices and a decent selection. I’d say it’s a solid 3 star business as the man in the shop (stated he was the owner) kept telling me that I wanted more expensive fabric. I assured him I knew exactly what I wanted, and he kept asking «Why? Why not get the more expensive one? We’re going out of business!»
I was shocked. I thought– I didn’t make the freaking prices. Geez. It made me uncomfortable, I haven’t been able to stomach the idea of going back again.

This is the place to come for getting cheap fabric from tartan to brocade to felt. If you already are set up as a sewer, this is a great place to buy fabric – but only fabric. You see, they do not carry ANY notions whatsoever– they say they are going out of business, and I believe it. There are no pins, needles, sewing chalk– and of the essentials that you need to actually sew. I found this supremely frustrating, and ended up going to Rite AId instead to get needles, chalk and scissors (where incidentally I found all of what I needed).
The owners are nice. I hope they succeed in their new location. I will miss shopping here.

Update: Apparently the store WILL CLOSE AT THE END OF THE YEAR — assuming the manager told me the truth during my last visit. They had a newer, shinier «Going out of business» banner up, so I had to ask… Apparently they can’t afford to continue their lease at the current location. Yikes!

This is a hidden gem in the outer streets of Oakland’s chinatown. Prices are great for cottons, knits, and polyester blends. They have tons of zippers, buttons, and elastic. I have never gone upstairs to the fancy fabric since I am not an expert sewer. They dont have alot of prints but you can find a solid color of pretty much any fabric and texture.
They do not carry any specialty items other than your basic essentials. You will have to go elsewhere to find things such as elastic thread, scissors, cutting mats, etc.
The staff is very friendly too. They let you shop around without attacking you. They will cut the fabric for you and make suggestions for yardage based on your project. They accept visa and mastercard.

A few days ago, my curiosity got the best of me (also, I was attracted to the HUGE clearance sale banner permanently attached to the awning).
I can’t believe that I almost wrote off this place, basing it on the janky looking storefront. (Never judge a book by it’s cover, right?) Silk Road has really nice variety of high quality fabrics for a really good price. It single-​handedly motivated me to dust of the ol’ sewing machine and start my bucket list item of sewing my own collection.
It’s not a great place for picking up obscure supplies like dressmaker’s tracing paper (the employees referred me to a big box store for that), but if you need fabric, trim, or zippers, this is definitely it.

Silk Road is my new go-​to spot as far as East Bay fabric stores go…
Stone Mountain and Silk Road are the only ones I bother to go to on this side of the bay… (Discount Fabrics on Ashby, my old favourite, has gone WAY downhill, btw)
My #1 is Fabric Outlet on Mission in SF.
Silk Road is my #2.
Love these guys for linings, interfacings, and dressy fabrics!
Finally, a place I can rely on without having to venture out to the city!
They seem to get a lot of new stuff, consistently, I pop my head in every few weeks or so…

It’s a bit ghetto on the outside, but actually cool inside. I thought they were out of business from the exterior… but they are not!
Inside, there is a large selection of fancy fabrics: brocades, silks & synthetics, tulle, suit linings, super plush velvets, lace, and sequined fabric. Fabrics appear to be high quality stuff. If you’re looking for special occasion stuff or to make your own sheer curtains, this if your place. They have a decent selection of buttons, cheap zippers (50 cents each!), ribbon in different widths, velcro, and elastic. They stock Gutermann thread, my fav! There are some patterns, but selection is quite limited.
I came here for Halloween craft supplies and got what I needed to complete a pair of fairy wings. :)
Employees speak English & Cantonese. Friendly, efficient service. Street parking only, but it’s near the 12^th St BART station. Prices are not dirt cheap, but similar to Jo-Ann’s on sale. Prices ARE much less than specialty fabric stores, like Stonemountain and Daughter in Berkeley. And no crazy crowds. Well worth a visit!

I’ve only been here once but plan on going back soon to get some silk as the price is definitely right. Great place for basics and lots and lots of trims and fancy fabric. Like other reviewers have said, it’s not really the place to go to for patterns and notions, but they do have a few racks of nice buttons and sewing needles and other things you might not have known that you’d need.
Also, I think they do alterations, too, on the side.
They’re not out of business! Actually, they’re open Sundays from 11 – 5, I believe.

Although this is not the place to go for patterns and notions selection, it is the place to go for luxurious fabric on a budget! Silks, satins, taffetas, sequins, etc. can all be found here for really low prices. For example, I’ve purchased taffeta for $ 2−3/yard and satin for $ 5/​yard. They always seem to be having a sale. They are never busy so you can get all the attention you want. By no means am I an experienced fabric store patron, but never did I feel intimidated by the staff.
Support small business and shop at Silk Road!

Out of business? :-(

since I used to work as a lingerie designer in Paris & NYC, I have checked out many a fabric store in my time. Silk Road just may be the best-​kept secret in the East Bay for fabric stores.
In the Jenna-​FAbric-​Store-​International Rating System, (JFSIRS), they receive the following scores:
TEXTILE QUALITY: 8
Silk Road has a great range, with a variety of cheaper fabrics & discounts on the ground floor, and rolls of truly beautiful high-​quality silks etc on the upper floor.
PRICE: CANT BEAT IT! 10
for quality of materials, Silk Road is hands down the best priced store in the Bay Area.
LOCATION: 7
I really like that Silk Road is out of the way– every time i come here, i know i am traveling into a different world of well-​selected and well priced imports.
PROFESSIONALISM vs. CRAFTINESS: 9
OK, lets just say it. STone mountain Daughter Fabric irritates me. Theres just this smug and self-​satisfied vibe in there, and while i love craft-​oriented stores, I am a fabric snob, and when I go there, I feel like I’m working on a craft project, not haute couture.
This is exactly why I love Silk Road. It is the real deal.

Contrary to what the previous review said, they are not necessarily going out of business — I was there today and the the proprietor said if they can get enough cash flow from the sale, they will stay open.
So, find time to stop by – there are great bargains, and still a good selection.
I really like this store, let’s support them and hope they can make it!

«Woohoo! As good as it gets!» On this side the Bay, anyways. One would have to be an idiot to expect the world from any fabric store, and this is downtown Oakland.
This place is fantastic for cheap steals when you need silks, not in any particular color or style, as the colors seem to run the gamut Easter Egg pastels, almost cloyingly so. Still, great douppionis, okay charmeuses, lots of plain white pleated georgette, a bit of lace, some peau, suitings… all for outrageously cheap. Like 9 bucks a yard, people, the price for Rayon Bemberg linings or polycotton voile at Britex!
Tons of synthetics in every texture, style and color, but I don’t really buy that junk. Good notions too.

I’ve been here several times, and it’s now part of my list of fabric stores I like to go to to avoid Britex. I come here when Stonemountain fails me and/​or I’m too lazy to make the trek to Berkeley. They do keep the inexpensive crappy fabric downstairs, so don’t let that fool you. Go upstairs, and you’ll find some really nice quality wool & silk. It IS smaller in selection compared to Stonemountain, but worth a trip if you’ve exhausted your east bay options.
Pluses:
–The owners/​people who help you are nice and helpful. They leave you alone for several minutes before they ask if you need help.
–Prices are on par with Stonemountain & Daughter (Berkeley)
–A short walk from 12^th St. BART if you don’t feel like dealing w/​metered parking
–You don’t carry bolts of fabric around because THEY handle that all for you (they cut it right off the rolls, which are hanging).
–The fabric is on hanging rolls = less wrinkles/​creases you need to iron out later
–Lots of lesser quality fabric that mimics the real nice stuff upstairs, if you’re looking for fabric to make up your sample garments before wasting $$$ screwing up nice fabric.
Minuses:
–Their website is wrong = no more validated parking as of last year (i.e. I wish they’d update that)
–All the good stuff is upstairs… and there isn’t much of it.
Long story short: they have an abundance of synthetic bridesmaid/​prom fabric, but they also have some cottons (e.g. ripstop) & upholstery fabric. upstairs is the silk, wool, and lace, but it is just the perimeter of the store. Go here for your mock-​up fabric or when you’ve already looked @ Stonemtn and haven’t found it but aren’t willing to go to the City yet.
BTW, they have a cc minimum. I think it’s $ 9 or so. And use street parking, not the parking garage two blocks away because the store is small enough that you shouldn’t be there longer than 2 hrs (feed the meter)…unless you’re THAT indecisive, of course. =)

I needed curtains to shield my apartment from the hot sun last week.
So at Silk Road the assortment of reasonable fabric was good.
Staff are very helpful.
The owner even cut my panels for me as I cannot cut a straight line.
I found the accessories I needed and spent much less than I anticipated.
Raw silk and dupioni are also on sale right now.
I think I saw a really funky large floral design for my bedroom curtains in here.

This place is impressively large and the moment you walk in, you will see large rolls of beautiful upscale fabrics that popped the following words into my head: couture, wedding, high-​end upholstery. The name Silk Road does not misrepresent the store: they have a large selection of beautiful silks, even Chinese qipao fabric in the upstairs section. This is the best selection for sheer, delicate, shimmering, shiny, silky fabrics in Oakland. They have lots of man-​made materials as well, and if anyone I know ever need something for a wedding, this is a place to check out. This is the place to go if you ever want to make your own veil.
They do not have a good selection of patterns or notions, though they do have them. I found the pattern books here to be a bit dated — it’s a about 3 – 4 years old, so this is not the place I would come to for patterns. If you want a large selection of fabrics, this is the place to go to. The fabrics here are mostly 60″ wide, with a small selection of 45″ wide cottons.
When I am ready for silk and delicate fabrics, I will be back.