Here’s a little roundup of NZ fabric stores where you can shop online to buy fabrics appropriate for garment sewing! I’m always trying to buy as locally as possible, and shipping from overseas can be agonising (both in terms of wait time and cost), so shopping close to home (and in your own currency) is a great alternative.
Last updated: 28/3/2024
Some of my local favourite shops
First up are some of my favourite local shops, places that I’ve shopped with on numerous occasions and would wholeheartedly recommend!
ChCh sews (Christchurch)
Stocks fold-over elastic, sewing clips and labels for your makes and offers A0 printing. This is my side business!
The Fine Cloth Company (Wellington)
This new online fabric shop is based in Wellington and currently has a great range of linen, silk and wool fabrics. (Use this link to save $25 and I also get $25)
McLean & Co (Oamaru)
Not strictly a fabric store, McLean & Co produce hand-loomed fabric from NZ Wool and you can purchase by the metre. I have several of the scarves from this husband and wife team.
Online fabric shops!
I’ve highlighted the places that I’ve shopped with below.
Angel Fabrics (based in Auckland)
They have a selection of knit fabrics suitable for underwear, dance wear, and swimwear.
Backstreet Bargains (based in Hamilton)
They have a variety of fabrics at very decent prices. They have a system on their website for requesting samples, which you pay for, but I’ve also had luck getting free samples by emailing the store (either way, the samples are very small)
Bower Bird (based in Hamilton)
A small selection of garment-appropriate fabrics.
Similar to what you’d find at a local brick and mortar store- stretch satin, bridal fabrics, etc.
Dance Fabrics NZ (based in Blenheim)
They stock swimwear fabrics, and stretch fabrics which would be appropriate for underwear making (including powernet, stretch mesh, etc)
Drapers Fabrics (based in Auckland)
They have a decent selection of what I would describe as trend forward. They have generous sales relatively frequently throughout the year, and a large selection of natural fibres. Samples are available for $1 and shipping is free in NZ for orders over $75, a much lower threshold than many other businesses.
Fab Fabrics (based in Auckland)
They have a classic selection of fabrics, which you would expect to find in a local bricks-and-mortar fabric store.
Fabric Box (based in Auckland)
This new-comer to online fabric shopping is Auckland stocks a range of natural fibres, organic selvedge denim fabrics, sweatshirt fabrics, corduroy, etc. They offer samples but charge $10 shipping on them, so I haven’t seen any of their fabrics yet.
Fabric Fixation (based in NZ)
They have a small selection of garment fabrics, and a lot of quilting fabrics. Their garment fabrics include cotton blend knit, corduroy, fleece and canvas
The Fabric Store (Auckland)
They have a selection of consistent colours across their linen, heavyweight linen and merino fabric offerings. In addition to selling designer short ends, they also stock a lot of silk, cotton and corduroy fabrics from Liberty Fabrics in the UK.
For Fabrics Sake (based in NZ)
They have a large selection of patterned and plain knit fabrics, organic knit fabrics and a very limited selection of woven, non-stretch fabrics.
They have a curated selection of natural fibres including deadstock fabrics.
Harmless Solutions (based in NZ)
They aren’t a fabric store, but they do sell a variety of undyed cotton, hemp and bamboo fabrics.
Hawes & Freer (Auckland)
They have a selection of what you could describe as high-end fabrics and bridal fabrics. They’re also the only NZ-based folks selling moleskin. They also have a lovely selection of sustainable buttons and a wide variety of interfacings, shoulder pads and lining fabrics. I’ve had success emailing them to ask for samples.
Ikes Geoff’s Emporium (based in Auckland)
They have a limited selection of garment fabrics available online, along with sewing and other craft supplies.
They stock fabrics which are suitable for garment making, but which are predominantly quilting fabrics. They also have a variety of haberdashery and homewares.
Stocks natural fibre garment fabrics, including some vintage remnant fabrics.
Jones and Taylor (based in Taranaki)
They have a selection of Merchant and Mills fabric, and notions from them too. Clicking on ‘Fabric’ won’t show you even half of the fabric which is actually listed. They do have a tidy selection of sustainable buttons.
Marble NZ Fabrics
They have a selection of pre-printed fabrics available for purchase but also offer custom printed fabrics.
Milky Fabrics (based in Birkenhead)
Has a selection of knit fabrics including sweatshirting, ribbing and cotton knits.
Miss Maude NZ (Greytown)
They have a gorgeous selection of really well curated selection of lovely fabrics which are always great quality. They also have a great selection of notions (including bias binding, fancy elastics, etc).
Moreland Fabrics (based in Hamilton)
They have a large selection of well-priced cottons, corduroys and denims and offer a free sample service via post and free shipping for orders over $100.
Nellie Joans (Taranaki)
Primarily a lingerie supply store, they also stock knit fabrics (suitable for lingerie but also make great t-shirts), swimwear fabrics, bra and undies making supplies too.
New Zealand Fabrics & Yarn (based in NZ)
They have a small selection of garment-appropriate fabric, but are predominantly a crafting store (quilting, needlework, felting, etc).
New Zealand Merino & Fabrics (based in NZ)
They have a wide selection of merino fabrics (lots of blends with poly), as the name would suggest. They do also have a ‘fabrics other than merino’ section which seems to always have discounted remnants.
Nick’s Fabrics (Auckland based)
You might already know this Otara-based fabric shop, which has recently started selling fabrics online.
Otara Fabric Shop (Auckland based)
This brick-and-mortar store has put a small selection of their stock online.
OTY Fabrics (based in NZ)
They have a small selection of of plain and striped cotton spandex knit fabric
Paper Scissors Cloth (based in Christchurch)
A quite new store, a lot of their stock is Mind The Maker fabric from Denmark.
Revology Concept Store (based in Wanaka)
They have a selection of fabrics and sewing goods, including Merchant & Mills linen.
Ribbon Rose (based in Auckland)
This Auckland-based shop has added garment-appropriate fabrics to their stock
Sassy Fabric Queen (based in NZ)
Seems like they have custom printed fabrics like cotton jersey.
The Sewing Store (based in NZ)
They have a small selection of garment fabric, mostly natural fibres.
Silks NZ (based in Christchurch)
They have a large selection of silk, silk blends, bridal fabrics and their Christchurch warehouse is open, by-appointment. They do send samples but I’ve found they can get pricey pretty quickly
Stitchbird Fabrics (based in NZ)
They have a limited selection of of garment fabrics (including Nani Iro) and have A Lot of quilt fabrics.
Studio of Sewing (based in Auckland)
They have a small but lovely selection of imported fabric from MeetMILK and Atelier Brunette. They also print PDF Patterns on to A0 paper.
Valley Threads (based in Christchurch)
This local sewing school has recently started stocking fabric. Lots of natural fibres.
Velvet Fabrics (based in Auckland)
They stock exactly what you’d expect.. lots of different kinds of velvet!
Wellington Sewing Centre (based in Wellington)
They have a selection of garment fabrics, including rayons.
Shopping for Sewing Extras
GDL Trading NZ stocks snaps, rivets, tools for leatherworking and more
Greenbeanz NZ stocks snaps, snap presses, and nappy-making items
Lapco stocks a lot of leather and items you might need for leatherworking and leather projects (like bag making)
Minkylicious stocks KAM snaps, snap pliers, snap presses and nappy making supplies
KiwiBagineers stocks bag supplies
Have I missed any? I’d love to keep the list updated! Let me know in the comments!