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Designer fabric in Singapore ...what i found during lunch hour
KiarasMom   Advanced Beginner SINGAPORE Member since 5/12/09 Posts: 51	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 4/6/10 5:12 AM I had been having a particularly stressful time at work and so, during lunch, I decided to go on a fabric-petting expedition at Arab Street here in Singapore. After ooh-ing and ahh-ing at yummy Italian silks at Collezione and fondling the rich, nubby Indian silk at Poppy Fabric, I decided to pop into another store I had never visited. And then i nearly died because this treasure trove was stocked with some of the most delicious fabrics I've ever seen in a store here. They had a few Chanel tweeds & boucles, bolts and bolts and bolts of silk sateen, silk chiffon, cotton-silk mixes and such from the likes of Pucci, Ungaro and Valentino .... and oh, the laces! Then, the sweet-talking owner whipped out a few brand-name posh catalogues filled with lovely drawings and fabric samples and said that if I didn't see anything I liked on the shelves, fabric could be ordered. I nearly fainted then and wondered for a brief moment how difficult it would be to rob a bank. LOL! I tell you, it took a lot of willpower to RESIST buying something. Prices are steep, as expected. The Chanel boucles and tweeds were about USD$47 - $60 a metre; the Pucci silk sateens (yummmmmmmmmyyyy) were about USD$90 a metre and the Cavalli silk I adored (the print was an old world map) but had to leave was about USD$60 a metre. The French lace was hundreds of dollars and I didn't dare ask how much the beaded lace was. So if you're ever in this part of the world and want to drool or indulge, go to Alta Moda @ 92 Arab Street. I'm avoiding the place because temptation is too great and my sewing skills aren't quite worthy of such delicious fabric. Yet. LOL! PS. The only other store here where I've seen designer fabric (the odd Ann Klein & Donna Karan/DKNY) is NicoleXavier at Chinatown. Oh, and NicoleXavier carries a selection of Liberty of London tana lawn too. That's another store I try to avoid for the sake of my bank account. ------ Simone ~ Hopeless fabricaholic and momma to a darling, active 2-year-old who thinks she's a pussycat
Jatman   Intermediate MI USA Member since 6/26/06 Posts: 1306	Login to reply to this post In reply to KiarasMom Like this post Date: 4/6/10 6:41 AM I love the way you have termed it - fabric petting! I'm a tactile shopper, too! I envy your access to such wonderful things to pet (on your lunch hour no less!). Can you do a review of the store so if people are traveling to that area they can find it? 'Cuz I never know when I might be in Singapore...... JT ETCorrect spelling -- Edited on 4/6/10 4:55 PM --
Aless Advanced AUSTRALIA Member since 11/29/02 Posts: 2084	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/6/10 7:23 AM Oh NOOOOO Will have to keep my lips zipped about this revelation. DDH and I have an 11 hour layover in Singapore on our way back to Australia from the UK on the July 1, and I've already told DDH that Arab St is the first port of call (then Clarke Quay which we missed last time). I still have all of the fabric that I bought last time (over 2 days) when we were there 5 years ago- can't bear to cut any of it (sad,eh!?). I was delirious with excitement then, and couldn't choose much one the first day,because my mind was totally boggled!! Happily, DS's then girlfriend(now partner) comes from Singapore, and she took me to Arab St w/o DDH, and haggled for me(and encouraged me!!).At one shop I was totally happy with the price per metre that was being asked, and was in a panic that she would upset the vendor and I would lose my find..... Oh, I can't wait!! Who needs chocolate when there is fabric! ETA PS,Simone....any recommendations for medium priced, natural fabric shops (loathe poly/can't wear it..ever!)? Would help with the mind boggling! -- Edited on 4/6/10 7:25 AM -- ------ Aless(Adelaide,South Australia) You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.- Colette
Rita K Advanced Member since 9/22/05 Posts: 378	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/6/10 6:42 PM I have been there when our DD lived & worked in Singapore. I also resisted buying - & noted that the prices were steep by USA comparisons. But I don't know how anyone buys fabric online. I have spent many many happy hours in my lifetime fondling fabrics & imagining. Glad you had a fun lunch hour!
KiarasMom   Advanced Beginner SINGAPORE Member since 5/12/09 Posts: 51	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/7/10 5:11 AM JT ~ Yes, I'm an extremely tactile (and visual) shopper who cannot resist pretty fabric. LOL! I'll do a review shortly - thanks for the suggestion. Aless ~ I'll gladly lead you to temptation .... ummm I mean the fabric stores .... the next time you're in town! As for stores with natural fabric, my favourites are 1) Poppy at Arab St - silk galore (mainly Thai and Indian with some really beautiful embroidered Indian silk) at decent prices and all colours of the rainbow 2) NicoleXavier in Chinatown - Nicole and Xavier go on European buying trips a few times a year and return with some good finds. Lots of cotton, linen and silk here. A bit pricey, though. From about SGD$20+ a metre. 3) Thye Guan Textile in Chinatown - Henry and Lay Keow stock some icky poly, but I've found some gems too, including soft bamboo jersey, some nice linen pique and cotton/spandex. Prices are reasonable (for here), from SGD$12 a metre. I'll PM you the addresses and other contact details. Rita ~ It was such a FUN lunch hour (or more, LOL!). I wish fabric were cheaper here. It's crazy that we have to pay about US$16 a metre for American cotton. But there are places where you can get quality fabric (especially silk and some designer) at prices comparable to what I've seen online. It's just that we don't have the variety that folks in the US enjoy. Oh, and it's especially difficult to find nice notions and even basic sewing supplies such as good interfacing. Forget about paper patterns too. Our only source is Spotlight (as far as I know) and they *never* have those great pattern sales. Thank goodness for US online stores!! ------ Simone ~ Hopeless fabricaholic and momma to a darling, active 2-year-old who thinks she's a pussycat
Siennas mum Member since 5/26/10 Posts: 1	Login to reply to this post In reply to KiarasMom Like this post Date: 5/27/10 6:48 PM Hi there...I have come across your post from NZ! I have a sister working in Singapore who has been tasked with buying some dupioni silk for my wedding dress and bride's maid dresses. On your advice I have emailed Raj at Poppy's fabric and he has told me that it starts at $19 a metre and 115cm width. As we are both not sewers we do not know if there are different grades of the Dupioni Silk and widths as it appears so much cheaper than what we can buy it for here. Also do we haggle with price? Thanks so much
ljubilee Intermediate SINGAPORE Member since 3/18/13 Posts: 2	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/18/13 10:02 PM You can get nice fabrics at the Laughing House Fabrics. Come and visit us at http://www.etsy.com/shop/laughinghousefabric Layminto Jubilee Singapore
Jan Crews Advanced OH USA Member since 9/10/02 Posts: 1	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/21/13 12:31 PM I was in Poppy about 12 years ago and it was everything you've ever heard. My understanding is in Singapore fabric stores you are expected to bargain (hence the steep prices mentioned earlier). I told the owner, "I don't bargain. Please just give me your best price." He gave me the yardage at much less than marked price and I went away feeling lucky.

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