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    Narain's Outdoor Sewing & Repairs

    4.5 (143 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Services - Narain's Outdoor Sewing & Repairs

    Clothing alterations

    Clothing mending and repair

    Narain's Outdoor Sewing & Repairs Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Narain's Outdoor Sewing & Repairs

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    First Red Flag:  Billy misses a confirmed appointment
    Daniel S.

    What happened to Narain's Outdoor Sewing ?? Executive Summary: 8-Week Pattern of Promises & Missed Appointments: I Paid $1,500 in Cash. Billy no longer picks up his phone or answers his Instant Messages. And NOT returning my Grandson's Jackets & Synergy Works Backpack Hip Belt + Shoulder straps This review is consistent with 11 other One Star Reviews / Complaints on Yelp below. I imagine you will rely on what REI does - if you read to the end. Project Overview: I read some of Narain's positive Yelp Reviews and set up an appointment in Berkeley. I brought 3 jackets, a backpack + photos = What needed to be Sewn. We reviewed each item. Billy quickly understood everything: Narain's Outdoor Sewing was originally his father's shop and Billy's father had sewn the repairs at North Face for many years in the 1970s. Billy worked as a cutter at North Face - for many years in the 70s. I both liked Billy and believed him when he promised he could do everything - just right - for my Grandson's Graduation. I retained Billy on 17 April 2025 for these two straightforward outdoor gear projects: 1) Sewing a pair of 24" YKK coil underarm zippers, into three garments (one fleece jacket + two waterproof parkas) - See photo 2) Replacing Synergy Works backpack components - using the original sewn examples + photos with the details and exact measurements. I paid Billy $1,500 total = $300 for initial consultations + $1,200, in 5 chunks, to get Billy's promised completions. I provided the Jackets, hip belts, and shoulder straps including the zippers, sliders, buckles, fasteners, fabrics, and two rolls of EVA foam; All materials needed for completion. Timeline of Service Failures: First Red Flag: April 24, 2025 I arrived for a second working appointment at 12:19 PM. Billy's car was present at 1049 Camelia Street, but he failed to meet me or answer the doorbell. or acknowledge my arrival. I sent a Text Message from the driveway and waited. After being left waiting in his driveway, I diplomatically rescheduled for the following Thursday. See photo April-May 2025 - Continued Investment: I paid $1,500 in Cash and continued to answer Billy's questions and to provide exact examples. I made 5 cash payments - in person - in good faith. Thursday, May 29 - Noon working appointment - with Billy in his Berkeley workshop - Billy expressed gratitude for the $1,500 in cash I had given him - and told me "To be perfectly honest I have not yet sewn your jackets" Then he asked me for more money to get 5 pairs of 1-inch Quick Release Metal Strap Adjusters. I was nonplused. I told Billy, I would get the buckles. Billy sensed that I was no longer going along with the gag. I told Billy that I needed a written pro forma invoice - giving me a written quote for the work he was going to do - but had confessed he had not yet sewn. And I needed a receipt for my $1,500 in cash. This exchange occurred at 12 - 1 PM @ Narains Outdoor, 1049 Camelia St, Berkeley - in person. I told AND texted Billy to STOP - until I had a Receipt for $1,500 cash & Quote: Standard practices for professional custom sewing projects. I repeated each point in Instant Messages sent to Billy's Apple iPhone the same day. We see in the photo - that all of these messages were received :| I still do not have my quote for the sewing Billy promised to do - but had still not sewn. Nor a simple receipt. Now I can not get Billy to answer his phone. or return my Grandson's Jackets and backpack parts. June 2025 - Complete Communication Breakdown: Monday, June 2: I called during posted business hours (12-2 PM) No one answered the phone. I left a voicemail requesting the return of my grandson's backpack shoulder straps and hip belt and each of the jackets I had entrusted to Billy in mid-April. See photo Tuesday, June 3: Billy Missed the scheduled noon appointment for Uber pickup. Wednesday, June 4: Third missed appointment, no response to calls/messages Current Status (June 4, 2025): Billy's wife claims that Billy moved all of my jackets and zippers to an unnamed "warehouse" for "safety." She has no warehouse key access. She refused to provide the project's exact completion status. Biilly's wife claims that she has not received the messages I sent. She claims she can not read the messages and documents I sent to Billy's iPhone and her Android phone. Narain's business telephone line recording claimed that Billy's iPhone "Voice and Instant Message service have been out of order since Friday 30 May" - While Apple iOS visually confirms the delivery of all messages sent. See photo On Friday, Saturday, and Tuesday, June 3, I offered to have Billy write the Yelp review they would like to see me publish. Billy and his wife have simply disappeared. Professional Comparison: Similar projects were completed by Rainy Pass Repair (REI-recommended) in 10 days with transparent tracking and communication protocols. See the last photo.

    Narain's at their popup tent at the REI Berkeley front entrance.
    Bryce N.

    I'm so glad they're still at it. As of this writing their original retail store is closed. Repairing outdoor gear one piece at a time is not the road to riches. The new post-covid-19 Narain's is a pop up, they rent the back room of Precision People's Car Repair, at the REI entrance. Check Yelp for the hours, as Narain's own website is inaccurate as of this writing. That said Narain's is not always the right solution for a repair, and they're not really the right place to go for advice. For many small holes and tears consider the excellent KENYON Ripstop Pressure Sensitive Repair Tape or K-Tape (REI no longer carries it). Or try an online Fixit Clinic near you.

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    2 years ago

    Excellent work from kind, thoughtful people. They are not the cheapest, and only take cash, but it is worth it for a job well done.

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    2 years ago

    Great selection at Narain's, and their team is very helpful. Will definitely return for other repair projects.

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    This place is amazing and OPEN! This is the place to go for repairs to backpacks and outdoor gear. Thank you Narain's!

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Narain's Outdoor Sewing & Repairs

    Does Narain's repair/replace wetsuit zippers?

    Is this business still open? I went during their "open hours" and the building was locked with no…

    Yes. They are open with limited hours. They've moved. They're in the building nearREI. I'm not sure they have put up signs yet because they're still organizing. I caught them open around 11 on Saturday.

    Do you replace drawstrings and cinches on outerwear?

    They do that...

    View All 14 Questions

    Review Highlights - Narain's Outdoor Sewing & Repairs

    I have every confidence that the repair will last as long or longer than the rest of the backpack around it.

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    New Pieces Quilt Shop - Appliqué class (beginners) : 3 koi in a pond with Nancy Brown

    New Pieces Quilt Shop

    (49 reviews)

    $$

    West Berkeley

    I have not been here but they gave me great advice on what to do with a quilt over the phone and…read morehow to clean it. They are amazing. Thanks!

    PLEASE READ Some of the staff were absolutely flummoxed with…read moremy presence in their store. I might return just to improve their cardiac output again. Other than that I will never go back there. Following me around the store? For what? To put their macro-aggression on full display to the other customers so that they feel safe in my presence. Apparently this is a pattern and I thought it was just me but I see other 2 star reviews describing the same treatment from years gone by. Are you kidding me Berkeley? It's just friggin' fabric. What am I going to do? Put a whole bolt in my pocket? You all are being too much with your silliness. Especially when "quilting" has a deep history in the cultures of customers that you are disrespecting with this behavior. Get a history book before you decide that you need to follow me around your store. Please realize that some of us are quite aware of your message when we're the only shoppers being asked, "May I help you?" It's not original, people. Do you think I'm incapable of looking at fabric? If your establishment is that exclusive, make it by appointment only. And don't start with the "Some of my friends are... (fill in the race or culture). This isn't a "MAGA" thing. This is a "born with it" thing. Disclaimer: not every staff person or customer decided that I was there to rob them blind.

    Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles - And the entire section devoted to books about lace and fiber art.

    Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles

    (82 reviews)

    $$$

    South Berkeley

    Open since 1965, charming lace & sewing shop with a cute wedding dress museum located upstairs…read more Upon entering store, you can see the various classes that are offered. Vintage-esque feel with handwritten prices. Random button items in a basket 10c + up to $12 for a small pack of buttons marked antique. Aisles of lace, ribbons, purse handles, purse charm pulls, knitting. & crochet items. Cozy Book section. Wedding veils & hoop skirts. And many sewing needles, measuring tape & Scissors. Lucky enough to be offered to take the self guided tour of the various vintage wedding dresses and photos to see how these special dresses have evolved .

    I am a seamstress, and I always try to support my local sewing stores first and foremost…read more The owner of Lacis accused me of stealing while I was deciding which (full priced) books and patterns to buy, because I was taking pictures to send to my sewing partner. She made assumptions, saying that I knew what I was doing - which she repeated over and over. I asked what I could do to make things right, to which she said there was nothing. She started listing all of her expenses as a business owner, and kept accusing me. As I went to buy the pattern and book I had chosen, which I could have got elsewhere for half the price at least - she said "you don't need to do that." It made absolutely no sense. She said "Thank you for bringing to my attention that I need a sign not to take pictures." She also told me I should tell everyone about what happened, so I suppose she will be glad that I am writing this review. So if you dare venture inside, look for the sign and think of me at Laci's!

    Narain's Outdoor Sewing & Repairs - fabricstores - Updated May 2026

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