I've long heard tales of the mythical Goldhawk Road in London... a mecca for allsorts of sewing types, including most of the costume makers of the West End, so when Mr Marmalade and I spent the weekend in London a couple of weeks ago (already!!), we navigated our way through the mostly closed underground system to Hammersmith, and walked the rest of the way through Shepherds Bush then up to Goldhawk Road, and OH MY!!! Such a fabric paradise I had never dreamed possible! I had only intended to spend a couple of hours there at most, but by the time we arrived back at our hotel in London Bridge, it was gone 6 - we arrived at midday!!
Fabric shop, upon fabric shop, roll upon roll of beautiful silks, and linens, row upon row of suiting, pile upon pile of other unusual types of fabric - neoprene, pvc, leather, shiny stuff, furry stuff, stretchy stuff, textured stuff... amazing! I wanted a piece of EVERYTHING, but with a restricted budget, here's what I settled upon - needless to say, none of it is what I set out to get - silk...
I fell in love immediately with this Italian design, British made, wool/cashmere suiting. I wanted 1 metre tops, but the shopkeeper persuaded me to buy the rest of the roll! At just under £8./metre, I wasn't complaining and ended up with 3.5m! I will use it to make male corsets - my very next project!
This is powernet - used to make bra's and foundation corsolette's for dresses. It is expensive most everywhere I have looked - the most I have seen this on sale for is £40/m !! I bought this metre for £6.50 but it is a medium weight which may explain the cheaper price tag.
This is suiting lining - polyester. Lovely pattern which doesn't photograph well. In one shop it was £4.50/m, across the road it was £16./m! Bizarre. This will be used to line the aforementioned male corsets.
I couldn't resist this stretch polyester leopard print with green spots which I will use for lining purposes. I'm old enough to remember the Bet Lynch Glory Days, so will opt out of the evening dress option for this though I do think it would be nice!
The same fabric again, in 'traditional' colour. Again for lining. this was £2.50/m
The best - or possibly the worst - thing about Goldhawk Road is that it is very very easy to reach from my house ... A bus, train, tube, is all I need, as easy as a hop, skip and a jump. Oh dear .. oh very dear...
13 comments:
Nothing better than a fabric bargain! Well done.
I do love fabric shopping. Makes me go all shivery! x
he, he Im glad you had a good day. I love the purple lining fabric, I think it is ace!
And like you I remember Bet Lynch and I just wouldnt even think of wearing anything leopard skin - it just doesnt bear thinking about!
Jen
ah, fabric shopping!
what a treat.
And, what was Mr. M doing all this time... he must be very tolerant!
OMG!!! OMG!!! This is soooo dangerous! We are off to London in a week or so for a concert and planned on spending the day... I know where I want to go now... but I don't think my purse is big enough.
LOVE your blog! So interesting, and you are so talented! And lovely to read another UK sewist!
Oh dear indeed - the ease of reaching that area sounds positively lethal!
I love that purple suit lining with a passion. Oooooooh, yum.
I so need a shopping trip to London .....you are so lucky living where you do .
What a find! I never knew!
Looks like you found Aladdin cave (or street as the case may be) of fabrics...what a trip! :o)
Oh dear... a Bet Lynch evening dress... glad you decided against it! Some gorgeous fabrics though.
Oh I know the Goldhawk Road like the back of my hand! It's a treasure trove!
Ooooh a leopard print evening dress...... xx
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