Modern Fabrics of Charlotte, NC has a genius business idea: rescue quality designer textiles that would otherwise go to waste on the cutting room floor, and offer them to the public at a steep discount. Fabric that might have ended up in a landfill gets a second chance, and you the homeowner can have the designer upholstery, pillows, or drapes you’ve always dreamed of. Wow, a fabric source that is eco-friendly, with high-end products at affordable prices? Now that’s a win-win-WIN!
I visited the Modern Fabric’s new South End showroom last week; they’ve recently moved into larger accommodations at the former American Apparel location. Swishing past sumptuous textiles arranged by color spectrum, I recognized some of the biggest names in the industry: Knoll, Maharam, Donghia, Designtex, and many more. These lines represent some of the finest grade commercial and home decor fabrics, usually only available to the design trade.
The red aisle
Modern Fabrics stocks all different types of fabric, including wool, cotton blends, synthetics, fabrics with recycled content, vinyl, and even some leather hides. The available yardage varies widely, so be sure to know your yardage requirements if you visit the store with a project in mind. Prices are discounted 50-75% off list, and most of what I saw in the store fell somewhere in the $15-35/yard range. Oh, and great news for anyone outside the Charlotte area: Modern Fabrics has an online store too, with a blog that lists recent additions to their stock. They will allow you to request up to four free swatches.
While perusing the selection, I had a small project in mind myself: a wood foot stool at home that’s in need of upholstering. This Donghia jacquard caught my eye – what a fun, exuberant design! It reminds me of travel to far-flung places, and I love the rich colors and patterns of the ladies’ dresses:
With 1.5 yards available, I snatched it up – there will be just enough for my foot stool and maybe a throw pillow’s worth left over. Another DIY project to add to my already long list – and maybe a blog post for another day.
If you do plan a visit to Modern Fabrics, please note their business hours: Wednesday-Saturday 11am-6pm. Happy fabric shopping!