After receiving a request from a friend to check around for scarves with Hawaiian print material and preferably with soft colors and soft material, I went on the hunt. Hmm...looking online and in local stores it was a whopping $30-$60 for A (one) scarf. I needed to find a BUNCH of scarves or else material that one could hem to make scarves and get them to her asap lest she be unable to be 'stylin'".
Ah...one material section in a local department store sufficed for a few picks and then I remembered FABRIC MART in Aiea! I planned to go this morning after setting a few appointments and I finally got out the door at 10:30am.
I walked in to Fabric Mart in Aiea an astounding array of materials! Plain ones, silk ones, rayon and cotton and every kind of material you could think of......and MORE! I wanted soft Hawaiian Prints for my dear friend who needed many different prints and I sought the help of one of the store attendants.
The store attendant at Fabric Mart in Aiea knew exactly what I wanted when I explained what it was for. I picked out four prints and the store attendant called a young man to carry these big rolls of material to be cut. It took just a few minutes with their expert shearing, folding and tagged with a price and I walked out pleased.....and knew my friend would be too.
For all you sewing artists out there....Fabric Mart IS THE PLACE to go in Hawaii! Prices are very reasonable and the assistants (I think they're experts) in the store are helpful, quick and know their stuff!
Offering a large selection of Hawaiian (and other) print material ....at wholesale and discount prices!
Oahu (Honolulu County)
98-023 Hekaha Street
Aiea, HI 96701-4992
(808) 488-8882
1631 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96826
(Near Hawaii Convention Center)
Tel (808) 947-4466, Fax(808) 944-1116
45-681 Kamehameha Hwy., Kaneohe, HI 96744
Tel (808) 234-6604, Fax(808) 234-0644
Kahalui, Maui (Maui County)
55 Kaahumanu Ave.Suite D, Kahului HI 96732
Tel (808) 871-5770, Fax(808) 871-8910
Hilo, Hawaii (Hawaii County)
710 Prince Kuhio Plaza
111 East Puainako St., Hilo HI 96720
Tel (808) 959-0088, Fax(808) 959-8151
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2011 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
Dedicated to TLW....let's hope she has someone to sew the hems for her :)
I will be sending my sister in law there for me....
And I wish I were closer to TLW, my mom can hem like nobody's business. I used to have matching little me and Barbie clothes when I was a kid.
Hi Sally - I saw the fabrics (on facebook) that you picked out for TLW and they are really gorgeous! I can't wait to see her in them. You are a good friend.
Cool! So how much is shipping to the East Coast? =/ ALL of our fabric stores closed! It's horrible =(
Tammy: I'm sure she has someone in mind .... Hey...I had matching stuff too! I should dress up the one TLW sent me a couple years ago....in a Hawaiian Print Scarf....Hmmm idea...
Susan: Those were lovely weren't they? Got more today at Fabric Mart. I love that store...too bad I'm a lousy seamstress....for that matter....cook...washer...hahaah
Lisa: I'm not sure...I don't live there lol...click on the link above....
Hi Sally... just looking at the spools of fabric makes me "feel" Hawaii. Here in Dallas the fabric patterns would be much more conservative!
Sally:
My wife would go nuts in a place like this. What great colors and patterns. Looking forward to seeing TLW all dressed up.
Jeff
Do they have Hawaiian quilting fabric too?
Sally, my mom would have a field day at Fabric Mart. She's been sewing for decades. I remember being 4 years old and sitting by her sewing machine watching her do her thing.
Fabric Mart's gonna love you for this article!
Very nice job of previewing a terrific local business Sally. I am sure they are thrilled with the exposure!
Great localism post! I remember sewing my own clothing when I was A LOT younger - don't know where I found the time.............
Aloha !!
What a great article....Lot of great information....And TLW has some new threads..!!
Thank You,
Robert
Steve: I would think lol
Jeff: No kidding...that pic is only a fraction of what this place looks like!
Leolinda: I wasn't looking for quilting fabric but you can give them a buzz :)
Maggie: My mom too! She would make matching dresses for us and the leftovers I would make something for my Barbies.
Bill: I'm sure they will be!
Barb: Me either.
Robert: Thanks...and yes...she'll be stylin'>
Sally - there was a day when I would have spent hours in such a store. Fashion was my passion while in high school. I spent many hours touring the local fabric wholesalers with my mom as I was growing up and in my early married life as well.
Such beautiful fabric. Can't wait to see TLW all dress up doing her Hula dance. Great info. on the place. Thanks!
Woo Hoo Sally...
I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you've done for me. You located exactly what I've been looking for. I looked every where on the web. The prices are ridiculous. And Lisa is right. We have no decent fabric stores. The ones I went to had nothing I could make work. I even visited web sites specifically designed for woman who need to wear scarves. All I found were bandannas, which are hot and squish my ears. Who knew trying to find decent material to work with would take me all the way to Hawaii :)
Oh. And I'm sorry I haven't been able to talk. It's hard to get any privacy around here. But, we're working on that too. Next stop, an active adult community :)
I've been undergoing a lot of tests and they're wiping me out. By the time I get home I'm too pooped to pop. That's why I've been calling while I'm out and still have a brain that isn't dead :)
P.S. Absolutely loved the way you turned this into a Localism Blog Post. Fantastic work :)
TLW...ROAR!
TLW...the little time we've had was plenty enough ..... maybe too much as I got emotional ...again lol. IN any event....at these times you know...I'm always there. We may not get to blab as much like before but spreading ourselves thin with what little time we have has to suffice with the in betweens. Just take care...and enjoy :)
Thanks Lizetter...brought some color out into this post :)
Kathy: I'm sure we all did...back when lol...in any case I enjoyed just going in that HUGE warehouse ...just that was exciting. :)
Great post about a wonderful local business Sally. My Mother in Law would be in Heaven in that place.
Sally,
From your pics, it looks like Fabric Mart has beautiful material. I dont sew, but if I did.......wow :)
Have a great day
Leander
Aloha, Sally,
I LOVE Fabric Mart! I go to the one in Maui everytime I'm there and get wonderful fabrics for pillows, table runners, etc., even though my sewing skills are suspect. They are high quality fabrics at reasonable prices.
I want to go right now!
This reminds me of the great time we had making costumes for my son's Star Wars party - maybe we can run with a Hawaii theme for our net get-together. (Our vacation in Hawaii 2 years ago was priceless).
I used to sew a lot. Before kids, before real estate, before what's for supper, before I had a little girl that would love me to sew for her and now I don't have time to. I think we shall run away to Hawaii and buy some fabric. Can we sew on the beach?