B & J Fabrics

Profile

Remnants of military parachutes and uniforms are all that filled B & J Fabrics when Bob Cohen and Jack Ginsky first opened it in 1940; today it carries tens of thousands of fabrics meticulously organized first by type (silks, Liberty of London cottons, wool tweeds), then by print theme (geometric, animal, floral), and finally by color—all handily labeled with price and width. Whereas other fabric shops can feel cluttered and chaotic, B & J is geared toward professionals and maintains a more orderly feel by restricting students (from FIT and Pratt, for instance) who want samples to morning “swatching hours.” A profusion of regular, repeated, hand-selected fabrics—with a focus on European and high-end natural fibers—makes the store popular among everyone from amateur sewers to costume-makers and fashion designers. — Caroline Kinneberg