Have you bought anything from this store? If yes were the prices competitive? I purchase 90% of my fabric at this store, have spent a great deal of money here, and always suggest it to others for thier fabric selection and very competetive prices.
Were the sales people polite and friendly? The sales people are the best part of the store :) They are very friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, experienced sewers and know a great deal about fabric, garment or home decor construction and each have a background in the industry.
I have befrended a few of the sales staff and see them out and about at local fashion events and at sewing classes around Portland. They are all experts at something or other sewing, fashion and/or fabric related.
The sales staff also make the displays and creative inspiration boards in the store with their fabrics for sale. They are all very nicely done and are quite inspirational.
How would you rate the quality of the item this store sells? The quality is nearly the best I know in Portland, Oregon for the price. There is one other store in Portland that has great quality, beautiful fabrics, but the selection is sparse and the prices are far out of my range at this point in my sewing life. I stll pop in there occasionally to see if there is a sale & something fab I can't resist ;). Mill End is still my favorite!
How was your shopping experience. Is there anything you did not like about this store? My shopping experience is always positive at this store. They sometimes offer free technique workshops which are really wonderful for learning a new skill or touching up on a technique.
You can sign up to get their coupons and email specials which always attracts me (even more than normally) in to shop for sales and specials. They also honor competitor coupons which is really nice.
The only downfall is that they don't get in new fabric as often as I would like and that some of the fabric can be very limited and a one time deal with no possibility of re-order. The fabric buyer (also the owner I believe) makes frequent shopping trips to New York and purchases small quantites of fabric.
These small quantities (1-3 yards) can be really gorgeous and beautiful, spendy and sometimes high end designer pieces, and I have purchased many of them and used (or hoarded!) them, but they are usually small amount of yardage, one of a kind and that's it! I suppose that's why they call it Mill End.
Would you shop here again? Absolutely! I am going to shop there tomorrow (can't wait!). I go nearly every weekend and sometimes stop into the other Portland store during the week as well. Yes, I am kind of obsessed with this store!
Would you recommend this store to others? I always do! They have a wide selection of silk, wool, cotton, linen, knits, shirtings, leathers, quilting cottons, bridal and glitzy fabrics, hat and bridal netting, lace and beaded trims home decor fabric, faux fur, fleece and a nice annex section and more. Patterns, notions, trims as well are sold here.
It is a huge store with multiple departments, and one could spend hours here just browsing and dreaming of the possibilities!
Any other comments you would like to add? I truly love this store for the great selection of fabric and notions and the wonderful sales staff. They even know me by name and remember my project ideas and always want to see what I am making!
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Patti B said... Ditto on all you said. Even though I live 2 hours from Mill End, it is my favorite fabric store in Oregon. I may hit it later this week. 2/18/13 9:15 AM
dresscode said... I visited Portland for the ASG Annual Conference several years ago and drove out o this store.....loved it and agree with your review.....bought several nice fabrics. Portland is fortunate to have so many good stores. 2/18/13 9:41 AM
rtorr said... Thanks for the reminder, I haven't been back there in years. I will put it on the list next time I get to Portland, maybe this summer. 2/18/13 12:34 PM
Aixoise said... It's a great store. I make it a point to shop there each time I'm in Portland - which isn't often enough. 2/18/13 7:06 PM
kiddo said... Mill End/Milwaukie is a wonderful fabric store, great prices and people. They are careful when they handle your fabric, cutting or ripping to keep it on grain. They have a second location:
4955 SW Western Ave., Beaverton, OR
(503) 646-3000
It's a smaller store but still wonderful!
To the right of the Beaverton store. across a patch of grass is Uwajimaya. They carry Japanese pattern books and magazines. They also carry the Bunka Fashion College Textbooks in English for anyone interested in fashion design from a Japanese perspective. Uwajimaya's official entrance opens from SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, Beaverton (US10).
Thank you Simstyle for this great review of one of Oregon's fabric treasures. 2/21/13 12:12 PM
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Ditto on all you said. Even though I live 2 hours from Mill End, it is my favorite fabric store in Oregon. I may hit it later this week.
2/18/13 9:15 AM
I visited Portland for the ASG Annual Conference several years ago and drove out o this store.....loved it and agree with your review.....bought several nice fabrics. Portland is fortunate to have so many good stores.
2/18/13 9:41 AM
Thanks for the reminder, I haven't been back there in years. I will put it on the list next time I get to Portland, maybe this summer.
2/18/13 12:34 PM
It's a great store. I make it a point to shop there each time I'm in Portland - which isn't often enough.
2/18/13 7:06 PM
Mill End/Milwaukie is a wonderful fabric store, great prices and people. They are careful when they handle your fabric, cutting or ripping to keep it on grain. They have a second location: 4955 SW Western Ave., Beaverton, OR (503) 646-3000 It's a smaller store but still wonderful! To the right of the Beaverton store. across a patch of grass is Uwajimaya. They carry Japanese pattern books and magazines. They also carry the Bunka Fashion College Textbooks in English for anyone interested in fashion design from a Japanese perspective. Uwajimaya's official entrance opens from SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy, Beaverton (US10). Thank you Simstyle for this great review of one of Oregon's fabric treasures.
2/21/13 12:12 PM