This review is for Bernie at Discount Fabric Warehouse in Hilo. I would give her 10 stars! She has helped me so many times over the years, and every single time she is consistently kind, patient, and genuinely helpful. She is always smiling when I see her, and she has such a calm, sweet nature that immediately makes you feel comfortable asking questions. When I come in with a project, Bernie doesn't just point me in a direction - she actually brainstorms with me, offers suggestions, and helps me think through what would be most helpful. Even when I change my mind (more than once ), she never makes me feel rushed or annoying. Her patience is something I truly appreciate. I always look for Bernie when I come in because I know she is willing to help and will do so with kindness every single time. Honestly, if it weren't for her, I would probably just go to Walmart - but Bernie is the reason I keep coming back here instead. A lot of customer service these days feels rushed or impersonal, but Bernie is different. She consistently takes the time to be thoughtful, speaks kindly, and makes the experience enjoyable. She is truly an asset to this store, and management should be very proud to have her. Mahalo Bernie! Also for the store itself, I do want to add that I do like the prices I think they're fair, the selection is decent, however I wish people would stop buying out all the palaka. Please put a limit on that if there isn't one yet. read more

Pretty good selection of upholstery fabrics at this Warehouse. Shanda is awesome there! She is very knowledgeable and helpful and friendly... She is living ALOHA read more

We are from the mainland but went looking for some material to reupholster my boyfriend's chair and found a variety of fun Hawaiian prints. Ronelle was very helpful and was able to find some purchase some material on sale and made a blanket for my nephew for a good price. read more

See all

I went on a Saturday afternoon. Masks required. The building is huge. Lots of options for the Big Island. I was looking for a specific fabric to redo cushions on outdoor seating. Eventually, someone did come to assist me. The clerk was very knowledgeable, kind, and patient. She walked the warehouse with me for at least 30 minutes. I didn't end up purchasing anything on this trip, but I'll definitely be back. Great location. Easy parking. Great service. Huge selection of fabrics. Decent pricing. Clearance section. read more

See all

This place is my go-to for everything but I wait till there's a sale because of prices. I write this with a heads-up. Most personnel are good and know what they are talking about, especially Bernie. Unfortunately, there is one woman there I avoid like the plague. Now that Jean retired, this newer employee appears to be thinking she's the new manager. Her attitude is "looking down the nose" and she is not nice. Not helpful either. I will wait for Bernie even if I have to move to the back of a line rather than deal with "R." You also need to check anything on sale as you might get something with holes in it and sometimes things on rolls are pretty dirty. No biggy for me since everything goes directly to the washer when I take it home. The thread is always very dusty too. Plan to give a good wipe to those spools. They run out of thread colors frequently (welcome to Hawaii) do buy what you need when you see it available. The service center is really really good. I highly recommend taking your machine there... however the service prices are super high. read more

Came here looking for fabric for my Hula skirt. There is a large selection of prints and fabrics. Whatever color you are looking for, guarantee they gonne have it. The customer service was fantastic. The lady at the counter helped by cutting my fabric but also help me get the rope for my hula skirt. She knew the measurements and all. They have a section by the counter with sewing machines it said it was something like : sew a bag to donate for charity. I also checked in and got a free item, so dont forget to claim your item when you check in. read more

Discount Fabric Warehouse - Cotton - Fabric Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Found this gem in Hilo, Hawaii. Go see Cat @discountfabricewarehouse . Go see Cat and Roy at Discount Fabric Warehouse. They have a ton of Hawaiian prints!!! My mom is going to love her selections for her quilting panels!! Cat was super helpful and friendly. Mahalo!! read more

See all

This is a great fabric store that used to be a warehouse. They have a good selection of Hawaiian fabrics, cotton, and knits. It does require searching for hidden gems, but they have a nice selection. The people who work there sometimes seem overwhelmed and unorganized, but they are knowledgeable and kind. read more

See all

Jean at the Hilo store is amazing! I was looking at a floor model serger on sale, then she showed me a much higher quality machine. She patiently showed me how to use it 3 times because I didn't catch on. She set it up so when I got home, it was ready to go. It was way more expensive, and I wouldn't have considered it if I didn't trust her. I bought my sewing machine from her years ago and it's still trouble free. She always has time to help me find better ways to do things. Jean showed me tracing paper - I didn't even know it existed. It will save me so much time tracing patterns and last longer than paper. The employees there are the best! read more

Awesome service. I was in serious need of bobbins to run my new machine and they were able to help. Mahalo! read more

Bernie, who works on the Fabric side of the store, is the best. When I have modiste question, she always has an array of solutions.

I really appreciate all the help every time I have come in and have a question or need a little help there very happy to help and very helpful. I really appreciate it even though I have been sewing for a long time there is sometimes you run into something that just needs a little bit of help I have always found them very help and Pleasant thank you everyone at discount fabric warehouse you're amazing read more

Great customer service an an abundance of beautiful quality fabrics and notions at very reasonable prices. Best fabric store I've ever been to! read more

Very friendly and helpful staff. I was having difficulties learning to use my embroidery machine and Jean was kind enough to schedule time to work with me. She is an excellent teacher and very patient. read more

They are amazing! Me and my grandma have been going there for years! They always have what I'm looking for and if they don't they offer to order it. I definitely recommend them for any of your sewing needs! read more

I went to discount fabric looking for something to make table covers. I was helped by Bernie and she was so polite and willing to help me. She suggested polyester rather than cotton because it doesn't wrinkle. Her customer service was AWESOME. Thank you again Bernie for being so friendly. read more

no stars really, only put one star because i wouldn't be able to post this review. customer service is HORRIBLE!!! I had to get fabric for my Hawaiian class and if you know anything about the hawaiian culture they are very protective about their culture, and I didn't want to mess it up getting the wrong fabric, which was muslin fabric, but i don't know what it looks like, so i asked the ladies where it was and all they did was point ‍ i mean come on! I mean would it hurt you if you SHOWED me where it was instead of pointing?! I mean come on! so i took my service to walmart instead! they at least have better customer service there . also there prices are way better $4.88 for 2 yards . just because you have a better selection it doesn't mean crap if you can't sell the stuff. read more

I needed a pattern and fabric to sew a muu for my granddaughter. I needed some feedback about the fabric and Bernie was very helpful and encouraging! Thanks read more

Shatangi got big discounts on hella fabrics. Friendly staff make shopping here easy. I'm not talkin story bra. Shatangi told you read more

Came here yesterday to pick up fabric... when I'm on a hunt for fabric for costume making... I come straight to here... especially since Hilo doesn't have much to offer. DFW is your best bet. Free parking in a private lot. Parking is never an issue. Right in heart of Hilo... easy to find. I don't want to say they have everything... but they have almost everything here. I came in looking for a certain print/fabric and couldn't find it here. But they do have tons of Hawaiian, solid colors, asian and children print. Prices are okay. From treads, material, sewing machines... they got it. Best place in Hilo to get your fabric. read more

The person in the sewing machine section seems quite unhappy and was full of sarcasm and rudeness when i was in inquiring about an accessory piece for my machine. I will be shopping for it online and will not be visiting the shop again......I have been shopping at FD for as long as they have been there.....I do not appreciate poor customer service under any circumstances. read more

Aside from being just about the only option in Hilo I had a great time rummaging through their selection. The clearance area is full of gems id you are low on funds but other than that you can find a decent selection and friendly staff. read more

Awesome selection. Friendly service. Great prices. I especially love the unique choices of fabrics. Inspires me to sew more.

Fantastic customer service!!! Fabulous time!!! Went looking for a sewing table and left with a smile and a nice sewing table too. Jennifer was our salesperson, she had a wonderful personality, patient and very knowledgeable. She helped us to understand the different types of tables and how each one was different. Then gave us plenty of time for us to choose the right table with no pressure whatsoever. I would recommend anyone to do their sewing shopping at the Hilo location. Great service and great products. Special Mahalo to Jennifer read more

There are plenty of fabrics here. Nice warehouse that I would have loved to have spent more time in, but with serious danger to my budget. Some of the staff are a hit or miss in terms of personality. Had to go to the restroom and the woman I asked seemed a bit irritated for a micro-second but warmed up very quickly and escorted me to the restroom (you have to be taken there since it's in the back area). I asked an older woman a question about some fabric I was considering. She was ok at first, but then snapped at me about being with another customer. I didn't realize that, and I would have been ok waiting for help...but I dropped it and ended my shopping at that point. The young girl on the register was nice. Fun place to go if you like or need Hawai'ian print fabric. read more

So many different fabrics! I love checking out the fabric stores in Hawaii . Lots of Hawaiian prints.

Every time I land in Hilo, I can't wait to get my rental car and zoom over to DFW. You never know what they've just gotten in. They always have huge rows of Hawaiian and Japanese prints, both 100% cotton and cotton/poly. Super friendly staff but you betta know how much fabric you want. They want to cut fast! And they have this amazing way of cutting, holding the fabric up in the air. It's amazing to watch. They're so talented. And really fun and funny but you gotta understand the dry sense of humor. They remember you from visit to visit. They say to me, "How much you gonna guy dis time?" Even if you don't buy, it's worth the trip, as the Michelin guides say. It's a touch of old Hawaii in an old warehouse. They also sell sewing machines, and will rent you one while you're on the island. Oh, they have upholstery fabrics too, including bark cloth. Love DFW! read more

Dear Lord - When I die, please leave me with a sewing machine at the great Discount Fabric Warehouse in the sky. I have never been to a better, cheaper or more amazing fabric wonderland. I stocked up on something crazy like 8 yards of fabric for $30. They have an excellent selection of Hawaiian fabrics on the big wide rolls for $5.99 or less. A lot of them are cotton/poly blend, which is not my preference (100% cotton please), but for the price it is a no brainer. I could have done some serious damage if my Dad hadn't been there to give me some sense of shame. The staff is super nice. It's truly a fabric nerds heaven. read more

Wide selection of fabrics, workers can help you find something if you need help, provide helpful advice, slightly disorganized but other than that it's great! read more

Unless you're looking for cheap, Hawaiian fabric this fabric store is useless. They have a LOT of fabric but nothing that I aaas looking for. What kind of fabric store does have bleached muslin? Their selection of thread is also pathetic. All of their 100% cottons were mixed in with the poly blends. Some of them were not even marked and the saleslady tried to convince me that polyblend and 100% were the same thing (hello?). I guess I just have high standards but this place was subpar. read more

If I could sew, this would be my heaven!!! Huge selection of fabrics, lots of cute and colorful prints, hawaiian-themed, asian-themed, and much more. There's so much cute fabric I would love to buy if only I could make something out of it :P I've only come here to buy canvas for paintings though. Great friendly service. There's not many places to get fabric here, so this is your best bet for selection! read more

Joy lies in a warehouse in Hilo. Better than my imagination had speculated... heavenly sigh... I quickly calculated how much room I might be able to make in my suitcase and how many yards that many square inches in a suitcase might translate to be. read the whole review: http://ex-bohica.blogspot.com/2008/06/joy-lies-in-warehouse-in-hilo.html read more

There are not many fabric stores in Hilo and sewers are fortunate to have this venue for a variety of selections. However, when an established company/group asks that several bolts be held for their project and that HUNDREDS even THOUSANDS of dollars would be involved and to the benefit of this fabric store, you'd think they would welcome the opportunity. Word of mouth goes a long way in Hilo. Perhaps the employee who withheld such a favor should reconsider her actions. read more

Wife relies on this store a lot for her dog collars she makes. Huge selection of fabrics and Hawaiian prints.

There are 3 places to get fabric in Hilo. There is an expensive (but really neat) fabric/quilt shop on the bay, Wal-Mart (with a limited, but well-priced selection), and Discount Fabric Warehouse (DFW) next to Wal-Mart in a separate, bright yellow building. DFW is a WAREHOUSE of fabric with Hawaiian and Asian prints, children's prints, upholstery material, sewing machines, quilting supplies, EVERYTHING you need. Prices aren't bad. Make sure to look for coupons before you go. I posted 2 pictures that just show a tiny bit of their selection. Gotta go here! I go here everytime I go to Hilo! read more

Discount Fabric Warehouse - Discount Fabric Warehouse in Hilo - Fabric Stores Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

See all

been going there a lot lately and the workers are nice. Notice that the prices of fabric has went up. But they have a wonderful selection. Its nice to accumulate points to future purchases as well. Lucky to have them in Hilo... read more

I'm a bachelor with very limited sewing skills (I can almost sew on a button!) and I needed to find a seamstress to make some curtains. I contacted Discount Fabric Warehouse and was told they have a binder of business cards for seamstresses -- I went there and got the info for many to choose from, which I'm now doing. While I was there I found the perfect material for my curtains in less than five minutes (honest!) and was helped by a friendly knowledgeable saleslady named Debbie who helped me figure out exactly how many yards of the material would be needed -- thanks so much Debbie! read more

Might be run by the rudest people I have ever met. Not one person said "hello" or "thank you". In fact they pretty much just seemed like they wanted us out. I can't believe I'm saying this but I think I'm better off going to Walmart for any fabric going forward. read more

If there was lower than one star That is what I would give this place. There is not a lot of options for quilting fabric in Hilo, so I am stuck trying this place from time to time. Every time I go in here I vow to never return, but due to lack of anything better I end up here. I took a large stack of fabric to get cut, and the lady at the cutting table told me the items were not on sale. I asked why there was a 20% off sign posted if they did not honor it. She indicated sale prices were only for purchases of over a yard. So I double checked the sign and in very fine print it said for cuts over 1 yard. So, Since I spent over an hour picking out the fabric I said I wanted them anyways. The clerk then said, "we put that on there so we don't have to cut small pieces" as she glared at my stack, which I needed 1/4 yard of each. She just stood there not starting to cut, then helped the woman behind me "since she only had one item" as she put it. This was terrible customer service! It was the last straw, and I walked out. I was someone who was going to spend over $100 to get what I needed, but Now it truly is a place I will not return to. My business and the shopping I do there for my employer will go elsewhere. read more

I never write review comments, but.... This is our only full service fabric store in Hilo, and thank havens for them. The ladies are the best! The selection is awesome. And, if they don't have it here, try the sister store in Kona. read more