We made a day trip up to Los Angeles to purchase some hard to find, peau de soie (a heavy silk double faced satin) fabric in the mango color we needed for our upcoming summer wedding. My bridesmaids are wearing mango colored dresses that were ordered on one of the gazillion wedding websites out there, but my soon to be mother-in-law wanted to sew them matching purses. Super thoughtful and cute of her to want to do that, right?!
Anyway, I've been on the search for this peau de soie fabric at all the local stores all over San Diego, but our fabric stores suck, so that's how I learned of Valentine Textiles thanks to a friend that found this exact fabric in the color I needed and thought it was worth a day trip to the Southland.
It's crazy how some bridal sites charge as much as $50 to $65 for ONE YARD of this beautiful fabric. I told my fiance I was willing to pay no more than $25/yard if Valentine Textiles had the color we needed. Fortunately, the store owner telling me it was $12 a yard and he'll throw in free lining was music to my ears.
It would have been nice if he opened his shop on time, we got there five minutes before their scheduled opening time, but he didn't open up until nearly an hour later. He's definitely a character though, he has regulars that came in with their list and he will swoon you with his words to keep you and him happy. Apparently his help was in the hospital because his wife was having a baby and he was a one man show to run the shop. He also told those in the shop that he himself was in the hospital a few days before because of chest pains. Yes, I learned all this as I patiently waited for him to help us and I was secretly praying that he wasn't going to have more chest pains while we were there, lol!
He didn't utter sweetheart or flirt like he was with the gals that showed up by themselves, probably because my fiance was with me, lol. However, he will certainly acknowledge every customer that walks in his shop by greeting you and asking what you need help with as he tried to multitask to the nth degree.
Anyway, since he lagged on opening up, we had time to wander to the dozens of neighboring textile stores lined up on Maple Avenue. None had the peau de soie fabric in mango that we needed, so we were glad Valentine Textiles had it and at the right price point.
This shop is in a tight space, but the fabric options they have available are simply beautiful and the store layout is a lot prettier on the eyes compared to the other shops we checked out before going into this one. If I were to get a custom made dress done, I'd definitely purchase my fabric from this store since I know I'd find something I'd like.
Definitely worth my time and effort in making a day trip from San Diego to Los Angeles, I'm just happy it's one more thing off my super long wedding planning to do list.!
On a side note: cash is king. Have it readily available here and at any of the stores you buy from in the garment district since you might get a better discount by paying with paper than plastic. At least the parking meters lined along this store front accepts cards, that was super helpful. read more