I can’t explain the joy I get from designing my own clothes. Not only is it rewarding to wear something that actually fits you perfectly but also nice knowing that you wont run into someone on the street wearing the same outfit.
Every garment begins with fabric; it is the fabric that brings a design to life. You can dramatically alter your design’s end result by simply changing the cloth you make it from. So I never plan the design and buy fabric, instead I first pick the fabrics and then decide how I design it based the color, fall and mood 🙂
If you are in Bangalore and looking for some unique fabrics at a very very affordable price (or if you are a fabric junkie like me), you have to check out the wholesale fabric market – Ramchandrapuram ( ). Its an export surplus market and sells fabric by meters and by kilos (you read it right! ) Every few months the fabrics are new and they have a great mix of cotton, linen, felt, sheer fabrics with many modern prints varying from florals to geometric to animal prints. If you are experimental enough, you can even buy fabric for your cushion covers, curtains sofa seats or even sarees.
Though it isn’t always easy to pick fabrics by Kilos as you have to dig and find your favourite one which may be buried under 50 others. Although many shops have wholesale fabrics which they give by meters and is at a very reasonable price.
I visit this place once in six months and always end up picking lots of fabrics . Here are a few pictures of the market and fabrics that I bought. Once I get them all stitched, I will share a post on designing as well 🙂
Things to keep in mind while buying Fabrics here:
1. Don’t end up on a wild goose chase for the perfect fabric, as this may not be the perfect market for that. Rather explore the fabrics to see if that suits your design.
2. Some of the fabric pieces sold by kilos may not be sufficient for your dress/blouse , so please have a rough idea on the length of the fabric you require before you buy it.
3. Know your fabrics: The options and variety can be overwhelming, I know. Some fabrics shrink after wash and some bleed. So stick to the fabrics you know well, like cottons, linens , rayon etc.
4. Finish of the fabric: For me the finish of the fabric is extremely important but that comes with experience. If you are shopping for the first time, just go with your gut feeling 🙂
5. Have low expectations: It is not one of those fancy markets, instead is as local as it can get so don’t go with great expectations.
Two dresses I made from the fabrics I bought from this market!
What do you think of this post? I would love to see your finds too.
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