While I was back in Vancouver, I had to visit one of my favorite old haunts, the sewing store dream that is Dressew. Although there are some great fabric stores in Toronto, nothing comes close to dressew for having quirky products and cheap prices.
I don’t even bother with the main floor (pictured here, the store is huge!) because the real gold is in the basement, the clearance fabric room. Everything is priced at $2 to $4 a metre, and they often have vintage and unusual prints.
There are also rows and rows of other fun stuff, like zippers….And buttons, this is just part of one row.
Need a buckle? Or some trim?
So what did I end up with? I was pretty restrained given the circumstances. They only take cash or personal cheque (who carries those around anymore?) and I had to fit everything in my suitcase.
I got some nice trim, buttons, purse frames (only $2!), ribbon, and a little fabric. Mostly it was just fun to look around and see all the cool stuff.
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omg, did i die and go to heaven??? this place looks so rad. good thing i don’t live in vancouver or i will have to go drool all over the fabrics!
7/28/2005 @ 8:03 pm
It’s very odd to see Dressew on a computer! Weird…
7/28/2005 @ 9:02 pm
I miss dressew too. It’s one of the first stops on my next trip to Van.
7/28/2005 @ 9:33 pm
Wow… is that a wall of trims?! I think I’ll be dreaming of Dressew now, too. ; )
7/29/2005 @ 2:54 am
I think maybe I’m going to Canada just to visit that store.
7/29/2005 @ 5:50 am
i would trade all of queen and spadina (fabric district) for dressew in a second. making me hanker for a trip back west…(which i rarely do).
7/29/2005 @ 6:45 am
Wow, I want to go to that store… That is so amazing!! I’m impressed with your restraint!
7/29/2005 @ 6:58 am
That’s enough to make a girl pass out! How could you make any decisions with all those choices? I’m jealous.
There is a place in Gastonia, NC, called Mary Jo’s that is kind of like that.
7/29/2005 @ 9:27 am
Oh my!!! Why am I here in Germany when there are so many gorgeous things to be bought over there?? I would have been very bad. I’m still trying to clean the drool off my keyboard.
7/29/2005 @ 11:08 am
oooooo I was just thinking, “man I’m glad we don’t have one of those here in Richmond” cuz I’d be in a lot of trouble and then Heidi said there is a Mary Jo’s in NC and oh my it looks like trouble….
7/29/2005 @ 3:34 pm
I LOVE DRESSEW…I work in Kitsilano so I skip across the bridge quite frequently to visit…LOVE IT!!
7/29/2005 @ 4:55 pm
i am swooning with jealousy
7/30/2005 @ 4:20 am
Ooooh, I’m in awe! Since I don’t think I’ll be on the west coast any time soon, can you recommend any stores along Queen. I’ve been along there but never know where to start?!
8/1/2005 @ 7:48 pm
Wow – I’ve got to Google this place to find out more about it. I live in Seattle… looks like I’ve gotta convince my boyfriend of a new side trip during our next trip to Vancouver!
8/4/2005 @ 1:51 am
How far is it from Scottsdale AZ to Vancouver?
8/4/2005 @ 9:27 pm
Lovely! I live exactly one block from Dressew, and I loveandadore the place!
8/13/2005 @ 8:50 pm
Wow! My heart is racing just looking at that shop…
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8/16/2005 @ 9:59 am
I love dressew too! I’m heading there today to get stuff for my hallowe’en costume.
Another fabulous fabric store – strictly fabric, not all the other stuff – is Rokko’s on Fraser near 49th. The best prices for really nice fabric. And they are so nice there. I bought upholstery fabric to recover my couch at $10/metre. This was stuff that would probably go for about $30/metre or more at regular stores.
10/26/2005 @ 1:48 pm
Did you go to the button Store in gastown too?. I can’t go to Dressew without checking out the button store…
1/6/2006 @ 5:38 pm
Hi we were in town for only one day and found out about dressew when we got to Calgary from another shop would you happen to know if they have three stich sequin not stick
on for a dress we need a couple of yards or one metre in royal blue.
any help would be appreciated
1/26/2006 @ 12:06 am
i love dressew too! it’s so great for finding the right ribbon in the right colour! does anybody know where else you can get good selection of ribbon? i’m looking for something called sinamay ribbon.
2/10/2006 @ 10:33 pm
OMG, I am so damn lucky to be living in Vancouver! I love this city too much sometimes and Dressew is another good example of why I love this place! If I ever have to leave one day I will be very, very, very sad.
7/24/2006 @ 5:23 pm
I love Dressew, in a “Dammit! I want it allll!!” kinda way! Unfortunately I’ve moved like 6 hours away…
Does anyone have the name of that bead store in Gastown? I’m doing a costume that’s gonna need like 50 beads, but the best price I can get locally, if I buy in bulk, is $1.00/bead. Suuuure… Like I’m gonna pay that!
So any help would be greatly appreciated!
9/29/2006 @ 2:27 pm
Does anyone know what the dressew return policy is? I just bought a wig from there and realized it’s the wrong colour. Can it be exchanged? Thanks!
10/26/2006 @ 1:42 am
but does anybody know the program of dressew? I mean, when it opens and closes.
12/12/2006 @ 6:56 pm
lidia — i know you asked this a long time ago but maybe you’ll happen to see this! dressew is open Monday – Saturday, 9am – 5:15pm.
2/8/2007 @ 12:33 pm
I just moved from Van to Toronto and came across your blog while trying to search for good TO fabric stores. Thanks for making me regret moving : )
2/22/2007 @ 11:31 am
Funny, I live in Peachland and was doing a quick search to see if by any miracle Dressew was open today. I am willing to drive down and back just for a look. Also Vancouver has the spectacular fabric in the Punjabi Market around Main and 49th.
3/25/2007 @ 10:48 am
haha!! come see gotta sing gotta dance perform at the JCC in vancouver we rock!
8/20/2007 @ 8:17 pm
haha!! come see gotta sing gotta dance perform at the JCC in vancouver we rock!
8/20/2007 @ 8:18 pm
I work only six blocks away from Dressew! I sew a lot of decorative pillows, placemats, etc. Dressew is the best!
8/27/2007 @ 3:09 pm
Well, I am just off to Dressew at noon (on a typical rainy late October Vancouver day) as they also offer an amazing array of Hallowe’en costumes & related accessories at next to nothing prices!
10/29/2007 @ 2:00 pm
Well, I am just off to Dressew at noon (on a typical rainy late October Vancouver day) as they also offer an amazing array of Hallowe’en costumes & related accessories at next to nothing prices and it is just trotting distance from my down town office!
10/29/2007 @ 2:01 pm
I am in need of a set of replacement ribbed cuffs for sleeves on a man’s jacket. The color I want is Forest Green.
Do you have these available?
Thank you for your assistance.
11/14/2007 @ 8:47 pm
Omigosh. I’ve started sewing more lately and am heading over to Vancouver from Victoria in a couple weeks. I’ve heard about Dressew, but wow, these pictures seal the deal, I’ll definately be stopping by. So excited!
3/20/2008 @ 9:21 pm
Beautiful spring day in Vancouver: +10C, sunshine, flowers blooming. Walked to Dressew on my lunch break, had another encounter with the Fabric Nazi (a la Jerry Seinfeld’s soup Nazi). Don’t even attempt to engage the woman at the cash counter – hello, thank you, goodbye – nothing! You won’t get a response from her. Even so, it’s a great place to shop.
3/24/2008 @ 4:16 pm
I’ve been to Dressew numerous times but recently had the opportunity to browse, alone, for over two hours! Delightful and I came away with some lovely fabric and notions. It’s a sewers heaven.
4/18/2008 @ 4:32 pm
Dressew to me is like disney land to a child!
I could not believe the variety and how cheap everything was.
I want to start one in Calgary, whoe’s with me.
4/22/2008 @ 11:23 am
i’ve been going to dressew for years and i still marvel. two big improvements in recent times: they now have knitting supplies (hooray!) and they’ve started taking debit!! very dangerous…
4/23/2008 @ 1:30 pm
“Does anyone know what the dressew return policy is? I just bought a wig from there and realized it’s the wrong colour. Can it be exchanged? Thanks!”
There’s no refund or exchange on cut goods (fabric, trim, etc) but for everything else, it can be refunded or exchanged within 30 days with the receipt if the merchandise is in its original packaging.
8/14/2008 @ 9:02 pm
I went in this past weekend after many years of not getting downtown and it was awesome! Yarn! Knitting needles! Embroidery floss! Buttons! Ribbons! ahhhhhhhhhhhh! The sheer bliss. Taking debit cards is new and live Violet from Van says.. veeeeeeeeeeery dangerous!
9/8/2008 @ 6:23 pm
I’m moving to Vancouver next month and even though I’ve had countless corporate jobs with high pay, I fully intend to go to Dressew begging for a job. Life is too short. Gotta do what you love.
9/10/2008 @ 11:26 am
I am heading to Dressew this afternoon to get fabrics for my yo yo quilt!
10/4/2008 @ 11:09 am
Guess what, Dressew takes debit now!! YAY!!
I just found your blog and have really enjoyed it!
Janna
11/25/2008 @ 8:28 pm
woah, nice craft soundtrack, Damien Jurado, Calexico….. nice
11/25/2008 @ 8:29 pm
Well……… do I REALLY attempt to go in and only purchase what I need?? for the ONE project or do I bring LOTS of money and think of “future” projects.
It’s only March but I’m starting to think about B-Day and Christmas projects ALREADY.
have LOTS of fabric at home but notions, oh my gosh I need pipping and buckles and that sort of thing… Can I be good???
Hope so…. if I bring my Non sewing friend I might be able to achieve what I need in a short period of time………. YA RIGHT>
wish me luck.
3/26/2009 @ 3:15 pm
I saw your blog and decided to make my way into Vancouver from Coquitlam.
My sister has been to Dressew many times before, so we went together. I had never been and my sister got quite a kick out of my reaction.
This place is fabulous. I was in sensory overload. The notions were like a dream come true to any seamstress.
I had to really keep my spending in check.
Thanks, it was worth the trip and I will be out there again.
4/2/2009 @ 7:03 pm
Sometimes the best deals aren’t even on fabric. Three weeks ago I went in and they had $700 leather jackets on sale for $49. And they’ve been known to sell deluxe chocolates for $1 a box, still fresh.
4/3/2009 @ 2:39 am
OMG!!! i went to Vancouver for a school interview, Fashion Design, and HAD to stop in Dressew. Seriously, this is my heaven
i love the thousands of meters spools of JP Threads for what, 99 cents?!?!? and the quilting supplies are amazing. i won’t let myself explore the trims and such until i actually move over there.
tried to find sum material for pleated curtains, and the amount of choice was VERY overwhelming. this will be my 2nd home when i move there
5/23/2009 @ 1:35 am
Does anyone know if they sell bolts of tulle for decorating wedding halls?
7/30/2009 @ 1:50 am
Do you sell halloween costumes?
10/24/2009 @ 12:50 pm
ah.. Dressew. I used to work their for a few years (like 10!) when I was in highschool and university. There employee discounts were awesome! 40% off! Plus we used to get one free pattern a month. A few years ago, they started to take interact (still no credit card) but it makes spending $$ so much easier.
11/23/2009 @ 3:07 pm
I love Dressew, I’m visiting Vancouver from Toronto as well and have so much to buy. The only thing I’ve found even close to Dressew is Designer Fabrics Ltd. At Lansdowne and Queen, but it’s nowhere close and much more expensive.
12/18/2009 @ 12:52 pm
The thing with Dressew is their stock fluctuates… like they recently bought out some yarn company and now they have a CRAZY amount of gorgeous Italian merino wool, Peruvian alpaca, and lots of cotton & synthetic blends – all $2 a ball… when they first got it in stock, I saw people buying giant bags, like $80 worth!
On the other hand, they’re low on embroidery thread and spools of ribbon right now… so you gotta take what you can get… it’s always an adventure!
2/22/2010 @ 11:03 am