Shop the Garment District

06/18/2026

Need help? If you are looking for a dressmaker, I can help you find one, via the Find a Dressmaker website, or other private resources to which I have access. Need to fabric shop in Manhattan? You can buy an ever-updated map from me. Need sewing classes? I will be teaching free classes in a practical, easy-to-follow series I’ve named “The Sewing Classes No One Ever Teaches”. DM me for specifics, because the answers are customized to your specific question.

06/06/2026

The garment district holds so many treasures…and endless possibilities. Such an inspiring business-scape to explore. Need a map?

06/06/2026

The garment district holds so many treasures…

06/06/2026

Spent some time today, admiring the Costume Art exhibit. I’ll need to let this one rest in my mind a bit before I have carefully considered impression to share. It inspired thousands of thoughts, taking me well beyond what was actually displayed. This exhibit was a conversation, taken out of its normal habitat in the museum, and outside of the realm of fashion and garments. There is more to explore on the Met’s website.

06/05/2026

The New York Sewing Center. Just what the district needs. This business is an unusual new addition to my Speakeasy map because this is a place to learn, reserve space, use equipment, and grow. Manhattan location is in the heart of NYC’s garment district! Oh, and pssst…. A SHARK from TV’s Shark Tank has come on board! Get ready to watch this business soar!

06/04/2026

Beautiful article about the leader of Custom Collaborative!

https://www.instyle.com/ngozi-okaro-sustainable-fashion-entrepreneur-11983917?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaASN1sNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAacuN8CH4JdAw-MFuWvy372u0LcDTIfdB5UcXehVfHAVOGOGDVWSLycl3TYMFw_aem_XfffgcS_OuG0cFPtD7LGlw

The founder of Custom Collaborative, Ngozi Okaro, is InStyle's June Woman of Impact. Here, she discusses how her non-profit has trained, mentored, and advocated for immigrant and no- or low-income women through design for the past decade.

06/04/2026

More about the exhibit… in a labyrinth of scaffolding surrounding the building, with tons of reading on the walls, and many displays to photograph meaningfully, it is worth the trip… and is FREE to visit. A great thing for NYC.

06/04/2026

Went to today, and experienced the “Self Made” exhibit, which provided a heaping serving of food for thought. Much deeper and more meaningful than I expected, it was the first time I really saw “myself” in an exhibit. As relentless makers, we create costumes, personalities, characters, art for ourselves… it all has value and meaning. Today, I began to understand that.

06/02/2026

Somehow, I managed to misplace my last, trusty, decades-old seam ripper. While i still had my cheaper, emergency ones, i needed to replace my standard. Why am I telling you this? Because I hadn’t noticed until I bought a new one, just how fast and efficient this tool could be. Made a task I had been dreading quick as lightening. I strongly encourage replacing dead tools.

05/29/2026

https://shopthegarmentdistrict.blogspot.com/2025/02/its-time-for-another-speakeasy-tour.html

Come along! There are new “secrets”!

Everything you need/want/didn't know about shopping for fabrics, notions, tools, supplies, and related services in NYC's famed garment district.