primitives discuss getting rid of old fabric

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10261066

Oh my.

REP (19,879 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 03:23 PM

Need ideas for selling a LOT of vintage fabric

When my mother died, I got her fabric. She was a bit of a hoarder, so I have fabric from the '50s, '60s, '70s as well as '80s through this decade, but not as much from those years. The yardage I have is between 6 yards of each pattern to full bolts. I think I have around 4K yards total, maybe more.
 
Are there buyers who are looking to buy an entire collection such as this? How do I go about trying to find them? Heeeeeelp!!

dballance (5,205 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 03:31 PM

1. That is kind of interesting. As a person who likes to sew fabric does interest me.

As a person who likes to sew my own garments I'd have to tell you that I'd need to know what kind of fabrics are in the collection from your mom.
 
Are they fabrics that one could sew into garments or are they fabrics that would make great curtains, pillows, comforters and such?
 
At times I've used all those different sorts of fabrics.

REP (19,879 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 05:37 PM

3. Mostly clothing weight textiles; mostly cotton; all in perfect condition

One bolt I'm definitely keeping for myself: peacock-blue silk embroidered with pure gold thread.
 
I'm not selling it piecemeal ... There's just too much of it.

sinkingfeeling (29,829 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 03:36 PM

2. I'd sort it into lots. Maybe by decade and fabric type. Like '60s cottons. '50s wools. Etc.

REP (19,879 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 05:38 PM

4. I want to sell ALL of it to one buyer

There is so much of it.

safeinOhio (8,101 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 05:45 PM

5. I'd go to a couple of malls and

look for booths that carry that sort of thing..You could have the desk leave them a note to call you.
 
When I go to look at stuff, there is always things I don't deal in. I have lots of friends that are dealers and I give their number to the folks with it for sale.

northoftheborder (4,357 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 05:48 PM

6. I was in a similar situation a few years ago. It seemed like 4,000 yards, but really a lot less.

My mother passed away leaving boxes and boxes of fabrics, many old, mostly cottons and natural fabrics, not many decorator fabrics. She didn't have bolts, though, which would be much easier to handle; I had scraps and small amounts usually. I sorted through every piece (she also had yards and yards of ribbon and lace, rick-rack, thread, a button collection, and assorted buttons.)
 
Since I sew and craft, I saved all the natural fabrics: cotton, linen, silk, wool, and the trims. Anything polyester or rayon I gave to charity.
 
If you do not plan to keep any of it, I would sort according to fabric type (wool, silk, poly, etc..) then weight, if possible. Denim, burlap, canvas, would be used for different things than sheer organdy. I think most people who sew or craft are looking for a particular kind of fabric. If you live in a city, there are groups and clubs who quilt, make hooked rugs, decorator items, etc.. Advertise in Craig's list, or EBay, or Etsy. Be able to provide pictures if asked. Good luck!

REP (19,879 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 05:53 PM

7. I may be grossly underestimating; it may be far more than that

I'll be taking some for myself but I'll still be ass-deep in fabric. I'd much rather sell it to a specialty vintager than dick around with eBay. She bought very high quality yard goods; much too good to give away.

TeamPooka (5,245 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 08:49 PM

8. This is a location based issue. The closer you are to LA/NYC the better off you will be.

That's where your material will be looked at as hip and vintage and you can get a premium price from vintage clothing stores..

The center of the country is a tougher sell.

They just thinks it's old.*

If you are near LA then you need to look up costumers and costume shops in Hollywood and Burbank especially that service the studios.

They prize your material and they need it in bulk when they need it.

*it is; just old fabric.

grasswire (41,186 posts)    Wed Jul 30, 2014, 02:48 AM

10. sure would like to see a few photos

^^^always nosy, always prying, Judy grasswire is.

[JohnnyReb]

4.000 yards? DUmmie will be on the rag for life.

[Big Dog]

grasswire (41,186 posts)    Wed Jul 30, 2014, 02:48 AM

10. sure would like to see a few photos

That's something Judy has never heard before.

[jtyangel]

TeamPooka (5,245 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 08:49 PM

8. This is a location based issue. The closer you are to LA/NYC the better off you will be.

That's where your material will be looked at as hip and vintage and you can get a premium price from vintage clothing stores..

The center of the country is a tougher sell.

They just thinks it's old.*

If you are near LA then you need to look up costumers and costume shops in Hollywood and Burbank especially that service the studios.

They prize your material and they need it in bulk when they need it.

What a snotty, biased, and frankly stupid thing to say. I happen to know quite a few crafters, the two in particular I am thinking of for vintage fabrics are in that center of the country you speak of(one even in Texas) and both raving mad liberals, but quite talented with sewing. Both ladies would LOVE and understand what this lady has on her hands. No wonder these morons usually can't survive even with online business since they willingly choose to ignore the vast center of the country. Bigoted, pea-brained idjits!

Oh and an easy way to unload this would be to contact a local design school and speak with a professor there. I bet an arrangement could be made to purchase quite a bit of it for school/student projects. You could probably contact some local fabric stores as well and see if they could put you in contact with some local buyers/teachers who they know who might be interested. I'm sure it would be far more productive then yacking about it with the morons who would nickle and dime her on DU.

[thundley4]

REP (19,879 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 05:53 PM

7. I may be grossly underestimating; it may be far more than that

I'll be taking some for myself but I'll still be ass-deep in fabric. I'd much rather sell it to a specialty vintager than dick around with eBay. She bought very high quality yard goods; much too good to give away.

They obviously don't want other DUmmies trying to take advantage of them on ebay. What are the chances the DUmmie swiped it out from under other relatives noses when mom died?

[Chris_]

REP (19,879 posts)    Tue Jul 29, 2014, 05:53 PM

7. I may be grossly underestimating; it may be far more than that

I'll be taking some for myself but I'll still be ass-deep in fabric. I'd much rather sell it to a specialty vintager than dick around with eBay. She bought very high quality yard goods; much too good to give away.

I wonder if any of her fellow DUmmies noticed this.

Where's my money, bitch?

[GOBUCKS]

Looks like DUmmy REP has scored one hell of an inheritance.

Four thousand square yards of cloth.

She'll never have to work another day.

Seriously though, she should consider herself lucky compared to stewert, or Big Mo's soon-to-be heiress.

As if mental illness wasn't enough to deal with, Big Mo Junior will inherit weeds, junk cars, chicken shit, and rats.

At least piece goods are clean.

And stewert? He got nothing. Or as nadin would say, bumpus.

[Carl]

Most likely what has happened is she cleaned out the house before mom even turned blue and now is trying to sell it before the rest of the family finds out.