Fabrique Fabrics

I haven’t bought anything from them yet, but when I went to browse, they were super nice. The prices seem reasonable for what you get. Can’t wait to go back for a project!

Yes, it’s expensive. But I had great service when I went to get some Alencon lace to help remake a 30 year old wedding dress for my daughter. The sales person was very knowledgeable and helpful, gave me a suggestion I hadn’t thought of, and even provided some names of dressmakers if I got in over my head. I don’t need people fawning over me, and I know how to find a sales person. They weren’t pushy, even though I might have bought some of the $ 95/​yard stuff just to try it (they didn’t push, I decided to come back later). I was sad that Kay’s closed, as they had a huge selection, lots of unusual things. But with the internet carving off business for independents everywhere, I am just happy to find a store that’s open.

Went for a sewing class that I signed up for and posted on their website. Spent half my Saturday getting ready for it and driving there, to find out they didn’t even put me on their list and bumped the class! Super unprofessional! Go somewhere else!

When I walked in during my lunch hour, the store was EMPTY. I soon discovered why: The 2 older women working were unbelievably RUDE and didn’t acknowledge the only customer they had in their store. Fabrique just carries apparel fabrics and there is a nice/​pricey selection. However, the associates lack basic human graces and for that reason I will NEVER buy anything there. A simple «Hello, how are you? Can I help you find something?» goes along way…

I walked in the store and instead of being greeted by the staff, I was given a dirty look by the woman behind the counter who immediately went back to her bookkeeping or whatever it was she was doing that was more important than the customer in her store. I wasn’t offered any help as I tried to look for something in this relatively small store. There were 3 staff persons on the floor and no other customers. After ten minutes of looking at something that was in a glass cabine with no offers to help me, I walked to the door. I won’t go back there– they are just too rude. If you need something here, get it quick. I predict they’ll be out of business soon.

Great selection, but mercy… Is that really the price per yard? Found a wonderful high-​end tweed (wool/​silk blend) on Harry Hines for $ 38/​yard, and found the exact same bolt here for $ 134/​yard. I did a doubletake when I flipped over the tag. And that wasn’t the only example. This place defines the term «mark-​up».

This place treated my girlfriend like dirt when she wanted a dress made for a special event. Look for better customer service elsewhere.

Being a fashion design student, I generally head to Perth Street off Harry Hines in Dallas and browse the wholesale warehouses for not only inexpensive, quality fabrics, but inspiration in the unexpected selection as well. However, when looking for something specific (ex: medium-​weight black wool) the pickings can be slim, if non-​existent. This is what drove me travel 40 miles to Fabrique.
Fabrique has an absolutely gorgeous collection of materials, all hanging luxuriously off their bolts, waiting to be fondled by the appreciative, and slightly star-​struck, sewing enthusiast. Your jaw may drop, however, once you uncover the price tag, especially as a student used to $ 8/​yd silks suddenly seeing similar fabrics at $ 36+/yd. This can be expected, though — Fabrique is an independent high-​quality retailer, not wholesaler. So the prices aren’t necessarily what earned this place my one star.
Honestly, it was the service that made me loathe Fabrique. I’ve been to this place twice, had the same person «assist» me and had the same horrible experience. I don’t know if the sales reps are working on a commission, but they definitely seemed more concerned with selling product than actually helping out their customers. The first time I went it was for a quick in-​and-​out to buy a quality lining, but the woman working randomly starting pushing me to buy $ 70 scissors, even insisting that I try them out at the cutting table. I felt awkward and frustrated trying to leave the store.
The second time I went in they were short of the original $ 55/​yd wool I’d picked out to make a men’s coat. Rather than suggesting something similar in fiber content and price, the same woman immediately suggested I get the $ 190/​yd cashmere instead. Really? Even with the 20% student discount they offer, that’s completely out of most people’s budget, especially when I said I needed 3 yards (3 x $ 190 = do I even have that much in my bank account?). Then how about this sparkly Chanel tweed?! Um… I want my men to look masculine, not ridiculous. Even when I reluctantly settled on a cashmere blend that was twice the amount I had wanted to spend, the woman got all huffy when I said I didn’t want to the last yard remnant after my amount was cut. She then tried to convince me that I would actually need 4 times as much horsehair canvas and twice as much weft as I intended to buy. Nice try. It’s my pattern, I know how much I need (even after saying so, she still urged me to buy more «for future projects»).
Even as my classmate and I were finally checking out, she was trying to sell us more, completely unrelated to the project we were discussing, fabrics. When we finally escaped, the rest of the day was spent bitching about how much we hated the store as we cut into our purchases.
People, especially fellow students: save Fabrique as your last resort. You’ll find yourself paying and possibly buying way more than you should due to pushy sales reps. Maybe they’re just really excited about their fabrics, but I’m convinced they’re only thinking about their paychecks.

If you’re a sewing-​type girl like myself, walking into this place will make you weak in the knees, and make your heart pound a little faster. There are bolts of amazing silks of all types — satins, duponi, chiffon. and bolts of lace from all manner of European countries. There are also more standard stuff, including cottons, polyesters, etc. But everything is gorgeous.
The service is also great, they’re super attentive, and they know their stuff.
However, I can’t lie. you’re going to drop a pretty penny shopping at Fabrique. Now, really I can’t say that I think they’re super overpriced necessarily, as what you’re buying is very nice fabric, but still, compare it to your average trip to Joann’s or Hancock Fabrics and you’re going to be reeling a little bit after you see the total.
But if you’re looking to do a nice garment out of high quality fabrics — definitely stop by Fabrique and take a look. You’ll feel like a kid in a high end candy store. Yum.

If you’re looking for outstanding fabrics and knowledgeable, great staff in Dallas (or, as in my case in Dallas from AUSTIN, where there’s a dearth of good fabric stores!), please go see Marla et al. at Fabrique!
My mother-​in-​law and I were lace-​hunting yesterday all over Dallas; went to Golden d’Or (amazing selection, just not all that helpful) and Kay’s in Richardson (also helpful, but too expensive). Fabrique was the last stop, and their selection was awesome, and their staff was über-helpful…made sure to show us fabric in natural light and drape it just so…
We’re so glad we made that final stop, and ended up with some AMAZING bridal lace at a great price, and was very happy to give them my business. Will do it again at a moment’s notice!