The city of Melbourne has a long and fascinating history of dressmaking and sewing. From the earliest settlers during the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s, there's always been a demand for clothing and textiles and textile manufacturing has always been part of the city's history.
For Melburnians looking for fabrics, there are plenty of options in and around the city and online. Here are some places to find fabrics, haberdashery, dressmaking supplies, etc.
Before we start, here's a table covering all the retailers we mention in this article.
| Store Name | Description | Specialty | Location & Contact Information | Opening Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darn Cheap Fabrics | Offers a wide range of fabrics including cotton, silk, wool, and synthetics. Also sells haberdashery and trims. | Diverse range of fabrics and haberdashery | 161 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia +61 497 350 017 | Mon-Fri: 10 AM–5:30 PM Sat: 10 AM–5 PM Sun: 11 AM–4 PM |
| Fabric Deluxe | Sells knit and woven fabrics, patterns, and books. Fabric sold in 25cm intervals. Offers $12.50 flat rate shipping in Australia. | Knit and woven fabrics | 81 Whitehall St, Footscray VIC 3011, Australia +61 3 9687 6895 | Fri-Sat: 10 AM–5 PM Sun-Thu: Closed |
| GJ's Discount Fabrics | Provides fabrics for costume making, dressmaking, and patchwork. Also offers sewing classes and sessions. | Costume making, dressmaking, patchwork | 31 Steane St, Fairfield VIC 3078, Australia +61 3 9482 5528 | Mon-Fri: 9 AM–5 PM Sat: 9 AM–4 PM Sun: Closed |
| Lincraft | Retail chain offering homewares, crafts, materials, and patterns. Headquartered in Melbourne, with a CBD store. | Homewares, fabrics, craft supplies | 360 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia +61 3 9642 0755 | Mon-Sat: 10 AM–5 PM Sun: 10 AM–4 PM |
| Rathdowne Fabrics | A long-standing fabric store in Brunswick, offering a wide variety of fabrics. Operates both online and through a physical store. | General fabric supply | 154 Victoria St, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia +61 3 9388 5444 | Mon-Sat: 9 AM–4 PM Sun: Closed |
| Shine Trimmings and Fabrics | Specializes in fabrics for dance, performance, and costume wear. Stocks Lycra, Spandex, sequin fabric, and more. | Dance, performance, and costume fabrics | 421 Graham St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207, Australia +61 3 9646 0072 | Mon-Fri: 9 AM–5 PM Sat: 10 AM–3 PM Sun: Closed |
| Silk World | Family-run supplier specializing in couture and bridal fabrics. Offers silk, lace, and sustainable fabrics. | Couture and bridal fabrics | Suite 1/85-87 Charles St, Kew VIC 3101, Australia +61 3 9419 0666 | Mon-Fri: 9 AM–4:30 PM Sat-Sun: Closed |
| Super Cheap Fabrics | Offers affordable fabrics including natural fibres, wool cashmere, and remnants. Regular sales and clearances. | Affordable fabrics and remnants | 153 Sackville St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia +61 3 8456 2500 | Mon-Fri: 9 AM–3 PM Sat-Sun: Closed |
| Tessuti Fabrics | Provides high-quality fabrics, patterns, and materials. Sourced from Europe and Asia. Offers sewing classes. | High-quality fabrics, sewing patterns | 141 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia +61 3 9654 4566 | Mon-Fri: 10 AM–5:30 PM Sat: 10 AM–5 PM Sun: 11 AM–4 PM |
| The Fabric Store | Chain with locations across Australia and New Zealand. Offers a wide variety of fabrics and supplies online and in-store. | Variety of fabrics and sewing supplies | 184 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia +61 3 9416 4455 | Mon-Fri: 9:30 AM–5:30 PM Sat: 10 AM–5 PM Sun: 11 AM–4 PM |
| Tyler's Fabrics | Specializes in couture and bridal fabrics, importing from Italy, France, and Asia. | Couture and bridal fabrics | 58 Cremorne St, Cremorne VIC 3121, Australia +61 3 9421 2848 | Mon-Fri: 9 AM–4:30 PM Sat-Sun: Closed |
Darn Cheap Fabrics
There are a few obviously-named fabric stores in and around Melbourne, including Darn Cheap Fabrics.
Darn Cheap Fabrics is a treasure trove for fabric enthusiasts, offering a wide range of fabrics including cotton, eveningwear fabrics, knits, linen, natural fibres, patchwork, silk, synthetics, wool, and woven fabrics.
You can also find haberdashery, trims, and plenty of information on arts and crafts.
📞 Telephone:
+61 497 350 017
🕒 Opening Times:
- Monday 10 AM–5:30 PM
- Tuesday 10 AM–5:30 PM
- Wednesday 10 AM–5:30 PM
- Thursday 10 AM–5:30 PM
- Friday 10 AM–5:30 PM
- Saturday 10 AM–5 PM
- Sunday 11 AM–4 PM
💻 Website:
www.darncheapfabrics.com.au
📍 Address:
161 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Fabric Deluxe
Fabric Deluxe offers fabrics, haberdashery, patterns, and books. It offers knit and woven fabrics made from a range of fibres, including cotton, linen, wool, cellulose, silk, and synthetics.
Like many other fabric suppliers in Melbourne, Fabric Deluxe sells fabric in 25cm intervals. This unique offering makes Fabric Deluxe more affordable, as you won't need to buy unnecessary amounts of fabric.
Fabric Deluxe offers a $12.50 flat rate shipping in Australia for online fabric orders.
📞 Telephone:
+61 3 9687 6895
🕒 Opening Times:
- Monday Closed
- Tuesday Closed
- Wednesday Closed
- Thursday Closed
- Friday 10 AM–5 PM
- Saturday 10 AM–5 PM
- Sunday Closed
💻 Website:
www.fabricdeluxe.com.au
📍 Address:
81 Whitehall St, Footscray VIC 3011, Australia
GJ's Discount Fabrics
GJ's Discount Fabrics has been operating for over 25 years and offers fabrics and materials for costume making, dressmaking, patchwork, and other crafts.
GJ's Discount Fabrics even offers sewing classes and sessions with sewing groups, costing $10 per session and including tea, coffee, and biscuits.
The classes run by sewing teachers are more expensive and available for between $40 and $80, depending on the class's length. You'll still get some tea, coffee, and biscuits, though!
📞 Telephone:
+61 3 9482 5528
🕒 Opening Times:
- Monday 9 AM–5 PM
- Tuesday 9 AM–5 PM
- Wednesday 9 AM–5 PM
- Thursday 9 AM–5 PM
- Friday 9 AM–5 PM
- Saturday 9 AM–4 PM
- Sunday Closed
💻 Website:
www.gjsdiscountfabrics.com.au
📍 Address:
31 Steane St, Fairfield VIC 3078, Australia
Lincraft
Lincraft is an Australian retail chain that offers homewares, crafts, materials, and patterns. It has stores in Australia and New Zealand from Perth to The Gold Coast.
Founded in 1938 in Melbourne, the company is still headquartered there, and the Melbourne Store is located in the CBD.
📞 Telephone:
+61 3 9642 0755
🕒 Opening Times:
- Monday 10 AM–5 PM
- Tuesday 10 AM–5 PM
- Wednesday 10 AM–5 PM
- Thursday 10 AM–6 PM
- Friday 10 AM–6 PM
- Saturday 10 AM–5 PM
- Sunday 10 AM–4 PM
💻 Website:
www.lincraft.com.au
📍 Address:
360 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Rathdowne Fabrics
Rathowne Fabrics, a part of Melbourne's fabric scene since the early 1970s, is a reliable and trusted source for all your fabric needs.
Rathdowne Fabrics operates both online and through the Brunswick store.
📞 Telephone:
+61 3 9388 5444
🕒 Opening Times:
- Monday 9 AM–4 PM
- Tuesday 9 AM–4 PM
- Wednesday 9 AM–4 PM
- Thursday 9 AM–4 PM
- Friday 9 AM–4 PM
- Saturday 9 AM–3 PM
- Sunday Closed
💻 Website:
www.rathdownefabrics.com.au
📍 Address:
154 Victoria St, Brunswick VIC 3056, Australia
Shine Trimmings and Fabrics
Shine Trimming & Fabrics is a retail and wholesale supplier of dance, callisthenics, ballet, ballroom, swimwear, activewear, ice skating, festival wear, fancy dress, and other types of wardrobes and costumes.
Shine Trimming and Fabrics stocks a variety of fabrics, including 4-way stretch fabrics, Lycra, Spandex, sequin fabric, nylon, lace, tulle, velvet, taffeta, and many more.
Shine Trimming and Fabrics is the go-to option if your next project is for a performing arts project or an event.
📞 Telephone:
+61 3 9646 0072
🕒 Opening Times:
- Monday 9 AM–5 PM
- Tuesday 9 AM–5 PM
- Wednesday 9 AM–5 PM
- Thursday 9 AM–5 PM
- Friday 9 AM–5 PM
- Saturday 10 AM–3 PM
- Sunday Closed
💻 Website:
www.fabricdeluxe.com.au
📍 Address:
421 Graham St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207, Australia
Silk World
Silk World is a family-run fabric supplier that has been operating for over 30 years. It now operates in Australia and New Zealand, with an online store and an office in London.
However, the showroom is located in Melbourne's rag trade district, Kew, and is open to retail and wholesale customers.
Silk World specialises in couture and bridal fabrics; you can find lace, silk, tulles, polyester, and sustainable fabrics.
📞 Telephone:
+61 3 9419 0666
🕒 Opening Times:
- Monday 9 AM–4:30 PM
- Tuesday 9 AM–4:30 PM
- Wednesday 9 AM–4:30 PM
- Thursday 9 AM–4:30 PM
- Friday 9 AM–4:30 PM
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
💻 Website:
www.silkworld.com.au
📍 Address:
Suite 1/85-87 Charles St, Kew VIC 3101, Australia
Super Cheap Fabrics
As you can guess from the name, Super Cheap Fabrics offers affordable options for fabrics and materials, including natural fibre, wool cashmere, upholstery, and remnants.
You can also find patterns and haberdashery, including accessories like ribbons, threads, zippers, etc.
Their warehouse store is open to the public and can be found on Sackville Street in Collingwood, where you can regularly find sales, clearances, and, well, super cheap fabrics.
📞 Telephone:
+61 3 8456 2500
🕒 Opening Times:
- Monday 9 AM–3 PM
- Tuesday 9 AM–3 PM
- Wednesday 9 AM–3 PM
- Thursday 9 AM–3 PM
- Friday 9 AM–3 PM
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
💻 Website:
www.supercheapfabrics.com.au
📍 Address:
153 Sackville St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia
Tessuti Fabrics
Tessuti Fabrics has been providing fabrics, patterns, and materials to dressmakers, sewing enthusiasts, and fashion students for over 30 years.
Tessuti Fabrics sources its materials from Europe and Asia and has stored them in both Sydney and Melbourne.
In addition to fabrics, you can buy sewing patterns and supplies and attend sewing classes in the Sydney store.
📞 Telephone:
+61 3 9654 4566
🕒 Opening Times:
- Monday 10 AM–5:30 PM
- Tuesday 10 AM–5:30 PM
- Wednesday 10 AM–5:30 PM
- Thursday 10 AM–5:30 PM
- Friday 10 AM–5:30 PM
- Saturday 10 AM–5 PM
- Sunday 11 AM–4 PM
💻 Website:
www.tessuti-shop.com
📍 Address:
141 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
The Fabric Store
The Fabric Store has locations in both Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide stores, you can find the Melbourne location of the Fabric Store on Brunswick Street.
In addition to the physical locations, you can also order fabrics, patterns, and supplies online through the Fabric Store. A flat rate of $15 is charged for orders using Aus Post Standard, with shipments taking between 3 and 10 days to arrive once dispatched. There's also an express delivery service available for $25.
📞 Telephone:
+61 3 9416 4455
🕒 Opening Times:
- Monday 9:30 AM–5:30 PM
- Tuesday 9:30 AM–5:30 PM
- Wednesday 9:30 AM–5:30 PM
- Thursday 9:30 AM–5:30 PM
- Friday 9:30 AM–5:30 PM
- Saturday 10 AM–5 PM
- Sunday 11 AM–4 PM
💻 Website:
www.wearethefabricstore.com
📍 Address:
184 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Tyler's Fabrics
Tyler's Fabrics has supplied couture and bridal fabrics in Melbourne for decades. Tyler's Fabrics imports its fabrics from Italy, France, and Asia, specialising in silks, beaded laces, embroideries, and tulles.
📞 Telephone:
+61 3 9421 2848
🕒 Opening Times:
- Monday 9 AM–4:30 PM
- Tuesday 9 AM–4:30 PM
- Wednesday 9 AM–4:30 PM
- Thursday 9 AM–4:30 PM
- Friday 9 AM–4:30 PM
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
💻 Website:
www.tylersfabrics.com.au
📍 Address:
58 Cremorne St, Cremorne VIC 3121, Australia
Choosing Fabrics
There's no right or wrong way to choose your fabrics. It's a question of the project, your level, and your budget.
While we wouldn't recommend expensive fabrics for those new to sewing, dressmaking, or tailoring, nothing is stopping you from spending a fortune.
However, it's a good idea to match your budget to your level and start by practising with cheaper fabrics, moving up to better materials as you improve.
For more advice on choosing the right fabric for your project, you should talk to a member of staff in any of the fabric shops we've mentioned in this article. They're the experts, after all, and we're sure they'll be more than happy to help you.
Learn About Sewing, Dressmaking, and Haberdashery with a Private Tutor on Superprof
Consider learning with a private tutor if you'd like to learn more about sewing, dressmaking, haberdashery, or any other textile arts and crafts.
On the Superprof website, you can find tutors for almost any skill you can think of, including sewing or dress and costume making.
Just search for what you want to learn, and you can browse the profiles of various private tutors, compare their rates, and read what their other students think of them.
Most tutors offer the first session for free, so try a few before choosing the right one for you, determining your budget, and deciding what you'd like to learn.
Just search for “sewing” on the Superprof website today!
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