Fav Button and Trim Stores
By: DIY City
tags: buttons, designers, diy, nyc, stores, textile, trim
Category: Fav Stores, Map it Out
Button and Trim Stores
The best button and trim stores are still located in Manhattan in the Garment District. Check out some of these on your next trip in.
Daytona Braids & Trimming
Daytona Trimming, located at 251 West 39th in the Garment District, is a popular store for affordable trim including lace, woven braids and ribbon. This is a great store to explore and find vintage designer buttons. This is the trim store I head to first - the prices are great and the service is good as well.
Tinsel Trading
Tinsel Trading is really irresistible if you like color and texture. It is a great trim store located at 47 W 38th St. in the Garment District. You will find vintage trim as well as reproductions. The store has a wonderful history - the idea that they still have spools of metal thread from France in the basement is extraordinary. And if you can’t find enough for your projects at Tinsel Trading, visit their other store “The Store Across the Street” for great ribbons. They also have a steady stream of workshops for creating a variety of things with trims and ribbons. If you want to read more about this neat store, see Laurie Davis’ review at: iamadiva.com
tinseltrading.com
M&J Trimmings at 1008 6th Avenue (between 37th and 38th) is a mammoth store. Just standing outside you can be mesmerized by the colors and patterns. The store has every type of trim imaginable from ribbons and buckles to buttons and sequins - you can even find rhinestones of all things. You can also buy other notions and supplies for your DIY crafting projects. Be prepared to spend hours, and bring your pocketbook. On my last visit, I overheard a customer calling her husband to bring the credit card - you can spend the money quickly in a store this size. Floor to ceiling trimming overload - have fun!
mjtrim.com
Wm. N. Ginsburg Co. sells a collection of braids and decorative trims. Ginsburg has been around for over 70 years in the Garment Center. They are located at 242 W. 38th St. You can see some of their collection online. They mainly cater to wholesale buyers, but like many similar businesses today, now also sell retail. ginstrim.com
Lou Lou Button is a small but delightful button shop located at 69 West 38th St. Buttons are so unique and can really add pizzaz to an outfit. In this small shop, you will find the buttons organized and labeled and the staff are helpful.
Tender Buttons
Tender Buttons is a must stop. They have every imaginable kind of button, some old and some new. Some are worth fortunes - imagine for such little items that we lose from our clothing everyday. Of course, the rarity of some of their stock is what makes them so precious. I just like to go to look. Buttons from bygone days seemed to be so much more detailed. It is located at 143 East 62nd St. To get there take the N, R, or W train and get off at Lexington Ave or the 4, 5, 6 and get off at at 59th St.
Baltic Bazaar
Baltic Bazaar in Brooklyn Heights is a great fabric store for DIYs. They receive donated fabric and other sewing supplies from about 90 design houses. You will likely find something you need, especially if you are looking for upholstery fabric. I love to look through the button boxes, you never know what ones you will find that will complete that DIY project you are working on.
balticstreet.org/balticbazaar.html
Others we like:
M & S Schmalberg
M & S Schmalberg makes custom fabric flowers. This store is a real treat if you are looking for special flowers to accent a design you are making. Located in the Garment District at 242 W 36th St. on the 7th floor. The store has passed through three generations and has managed to survive and flourish. This store is really about flower design - they design for the fashion industry, but they also will design something for you with your material or theirs.
customfabricflowers.com
Hyman Hendler & Sons, located at 21 West 38th St, is also a charming trim store. It has been around since 1900. Their yarn dyed grosgrain “Beauvais” can be dyed any color if you are ordering 600 yards. Okay, so for your usual DIY project you probably won’t be ordering 600 yards, but it is fun to know the possibilities. If you are looking for vintage ribbon they have a large selection including jacquards from France, dating back 200 years. hymanhendler.com
Manny’s Millinery (mannys-millinery.com) is going out of business later this year. This is really sad news to small businesses in the hat making business. Manny’s has been in business since 1948 as a wholesaler selling hat bodies. Milliners in NYC have formed a Milliners Guild to work toward ways of sustaining their businesses despite the loss of Manny’s.