Have We Got Lycra for You January 14, 2007
Both of my daughters take dance, and they had 2 shows this weekend. Usually, they get their costumes about a week before the shows, and in the past these have been your typically heinous El Cheapo quick-‘n’dirty-I-paid-$75-for-THAT-THING? And of course, because I sew, this is even more painful because I could make a dance costume with one hand tied behind my back.
However, this time I was pleasantly surprised to see two well made costumes. I discovered these had been custom made by one of the Moms.Well, when their costumes didn’t appear until the night of the dress rehearsal I figured I should introduce myself to this poor woman. A Sewing Diva to the rescue – as soon as I told her I can sew she looked as if she had seen the Holy Grail! So I might as well help out because I have some sewing resources to share with her and I’ll get paid for it too.
Here on Sewing Divas, we love fine fabrics, but sometimes Italian woolens, Swiss Nelona bastiste, or Thai silks are not what you need. Sometimes you need glitz, glitz and more glitz, and today I want to tell you about Associated Fabrics Corporation, a New York City company that specializes in theatrical fabrics. 250 colors of 4-way stretch Lycra? Got it. Bengaline in 80 colors? Got it. Hologram Foil Lycra in 14 silver and gold color combinations across 20 colors? Got it. Sparkle Crepe Organdy in 37 colors? Got it. Polyester Chiffon in 46 colors? Got it. And don’t forget the stretch velvets (with glitter or without), animal prints of all kinds, netting and stretch laces. Plus trims such as 2 inch sequined elastic waistband in 28 colors. The swatch catalog is huge, it’s a thick 3-ring binder with big 3 to 4 inch square swatches.
