I usually design my own Asian clothes, which can be as intricately planned as I wish thanks to a…read morefabulous haberdashery that never fails to offer amazing embroidery ideas - Khattak Textiles. They are the largest stockists I know of in the city that have Asian embroidery strips, buttons, iron-on readymade embroidery and decorative jewels for fabrics (sequins, diamante and beads). The shop was renovated not long ago, which is a welcome change! Previously it was difficult for more than three people to cram in to the congested and untidy shop. Now, it's been opened up so you could see the range of products they offer. They also have rolls of fabrics like satin or velvet, material for table covers, cushions and curtain accessories. The shop is now managed by the son of the owner, who seems to have developed a knack for customer service. He offers discount without you even asking and makes a concerted effort to find exactly what you're looking for!

If you're in search of very cheap fabric in large quantities then I recommend you checkout…read moreClearance Fabric. As the name suggests, they specialise in rolls of fabric that is passed on from fabric stores who haven't been able to budge the material. So they reduce the prices to near wholesale rates just to get rid of it! Don't expect anything exquisite or unique, although you can get lucky on the odd occasion. I found some funky bohemian print fabric that was in imitation satin for just £1 per metre! They tend to have simple designs and more in the prints range rather than embroidered styles. They have more synthetics and cottons rather than pure or quality fabrics. Parking on the road is usually limited because it's taken up by residents, which can be frustrating because you could end up parking quite far.

KSM Textiles in Sparkhill is a vibrant shop from the exterior with equally as bright clothing…read moreinside. They're double-fronted so have a fairly large range of fabrics, specialising in unstitched Asian outfits for women. Their styles tend to be quite generic to what is available in the local fabric shops nearby. However, they tend to have more options in terms of colours of the same design outfit. The unstitched outfits are range from simple or print work to heavily embroidered with sequins and stonework. They also have rolls of fabric like cotton, satin, chiffon and crepe. These are sold at competitive rates. Next door they have just opened KSM Boutique, which wasn't open to the public the last time I visited. But they're looking to stock heavier unstitched outfits as well as heavy readymade outfits. It will be worth me popping down again for another visit!

Adalat is a long-established fabric store that is widely known amongst the Asian community. This is…read morelargely down to the excellent customer service and wide range of open fabrics. They specialise in three-piece sets that form a traditional Asian outfit (salwar-top, kameez-bottoms and scarf). Most of their fabrics are synthetics so if you're after pure fabrics like silk and georgette then you're better off browsing elsewhere. However, they do have an extensive range of casual prints, lighter embroidered and heavily embroidered suits that start from as little as £5. A lot of their prints are quirky with some bohemian prints and imitations of designer styles. If you are looking for lining or plain material for a scarf, they have quite a range. The most impressive aspect of Adalat is the hospitality of the owner. He is very polite, helpful and offers discount without you even asking!

One of the best shops for fabrics and unstitched Asian outfits in the Sparkhill area is Midland…read moreTextiles. It's a fairly large shop with a wide range from very simple, causal fabrics to very heavy and pricey outfits. As you enter, you come across the cheaper fabrics. The deeper you go into the shop, the more expensive the fabrics tend to get. These are heavily embroidered designs on pure fabrics like silks and dasheens, so the price is reasonable for what you get. They also have plain fabrics in commonly used fabrics like satin, crepe and chiffon. And they stock various designs of embroidery strips that are fantastic to add to an outfit you get made or as trimmings to home decorations (curtains or cushions). The staff members were helpful but not very warm and welcoming. They could make more of a concerted effort with customers for a better shopping experience.