Faisal Fashions is one of those fabric shops that you tend not to notice when passing by. That's…read morebecause it has a dated, unstylish and cluttered display window with very ordinary unstitched outfits on mannequins. However, if you venture to go inside, you'll find that the shop front does it no justice. They have suits ranging from as little as £5 to around £100. They tend to be synthetic fabrics and the heaviest embroidery will be sequin or thread work. However, some of their prints and styles are very unique and eye-catching. The owner is a gentle middle-aged man who is very polite and courteous to his customers. His workers are equally as accommodating and offer great customer service. I definitely recommend this place if you're looking for bulk suits to gift at weddings or if you prefer simple Asian suits yourself.

From the owner: We are a long time retailer of exclusive Indian ladies dresses, frocks, salwar suits and saris. We…read moresell unstitched suits, loose fabrics and ready made suits all of which will eventually become available on our online store. Be sure to check us out and share us and our products with your friends and family! Faisal Fashion Fabrics has over 25 years of experience in textiles retail and ladies fashion. We stock a large variety of materials including cotton, satin, KT2000, lining, romalla, velvet, brocade and many more! We sell designer suits such as Bela, Roma, Violet and more - call or see in store for full range. Shopping online at Faisal Fashion Fabrics is easy simply choose the shalwar kameez suit, wedding dress, sari or casual suit you want from our vast branded collections. Our secure check out ensures that your details are kept safe. Pay via credit or debit card, or via PayPal in a few simple clicks. Remember to join our Rewards Program and Newsletter to get the very best discounts and news of all of the latest deals.

So I was on the hunt for a carry bag for my sewing machine. Not wanting to trek across towns to…read moreKings Heath or take my chances at the market, I thought I'd venture down to Soho Road where there was sure to be a haberdashery of some kind. Low and behold, after walking down this same bloody road for about an hour (I live on Constitution Hill which turns into Great Hampton Street which turns into Hockley Hill which turns into Soho Hill which turns into Soho Road...AAARGH!) I finally find Sew-Tek. This store is full to the brim with sewing machines, accessories, buttons, embellishments and anything else you could possibly want, relating to sewing and embroidery. The man serving was very helpful and I got a cheap and cheerful Brother carry bag to match my machine. Sew-Tek is definitely worth a visit if you are over this way and can't make it to the market.

My mum introduced me to this small but crammed full sewing shop. Mum has a range of machines -…read moremostly Janome and Pfaff - and does a massive amount of sewing - from quilting to dressmaking to simple hemming and repairs. Because of all of this, she needed to buy a few bits and bobs to stock up her supplies, and that's where Sewtek came in. We popped in just to buy some more spare bobbins, and mum wanted to find out if they did repairs or servicing. The shopkeeper was super helpful and took details down and let her know what service options they offered. The downside to where they're situated is that the Soho Road is awful for parking, unless you're used to it and ready to just plough on through and block the road whilst you wait for a street space. That was why I'd been dragged along - to be the designated driver and stop her from screaming at other drivers!