Find fabrics for your new custom-made outfit
Though there as many clothing shops in Kyiv as in any other big city, sometimes it is difficult to find an outfit that suits you perfectly. Most of the stores are filled with standard designs. Another option is to visit a fabric shop and choose a color and texture, then either have it made by a private tailor or sew it yourself, if you have enough time and skill. Despite the fact that Ukrainian designers argue about the absence of good and unique fabric, there are still stores in Kyiv offering a decent assortment. After all, Vogue and other fashion magazines can serve not only as the guides for shopping but for sewing as well.
The largest fabric store, Budynok Tkanyn (House of Fabric), used to be located on Khreschatyk, right in the place of the recently opened Zara store. While some Kyivans may have thought it was closed for good, it has in fact merely moved to the building near the circus. The new Budynok Tkanyn still has that peculiar atmosphere reminiscent of Soviet times, as it didn’t change much since then. The store is now divided into three separate stores according to the quality and price of fabric. The smallest section offers German lining fabric at the cost of Hr 22, satin at Hr 39, and sparkling fabric usually used for designing classic dancing outfits. The second part of the store appeared to be closed for stock-taking the time I dropped in, but the third one was open and had far more to offer. Among its assortment I found flax costing Hr 42 to Hr 47 depending on the texture, relatively wide choice of silk at Hr 99 – Hr 158, and of course lots of costume fabric of different wool mixtures. Budynok Tkanyn offers not only fabric but also accessories, like buttons, zippers, and braids. Moreover, there is a working atelier, where your clothes can be sewn or fixed according to your figure.
Naturally, there is the TSUM (Central Department Store of Ukraine) that sells fabric. The assortment of fabric focuses mostly on fabric for curtains, though there is a surprisingly wide choice of flax (Hr 19 to Hr 58) manufactured in Ukraine. To tell the truth, the more I was stunned by the variety of colours, the more I was disappointed by the texture of flax – it is too rough and won’t give the needed delicacy to the outfit.
The same situation with fabric departments of Metrograd – the only way to use the fabric sold there is to make new pretty curtains with it. Even though there are various mixtures of silk, the fabric still will look like a curtain and is not suitable for clothes. The only advantage of the department is a wide selection of beads and crystals that would be a nice adornment to your custom made outfit.
There is a small shop Tkani (Fabric) on Ploshcha Lva Tolstoho, which is a good place to buy cotton and calico, as well as gauze, lining, and embroidery canvas. The rest of the assortment is simply unbearable – horrible colours and quality of velvet, for example.
Right opposite the above mentioned store, on the other side of the road, you’ll find a two-storied fabric shop that offers rather expensive yet high quality fabric. On the ground floor there are cheaper items, like Italian and German lining at Hr 9 to Hr 37 and flax at Hr 42 and 68. The choice there is not that big and I would recommend you to go directly to the upper floors. On the first floor various accessories are sold – the choice of buttons, braid and lace is fantastic. The second floor is dedicated to fabric. In the first hall you can buy silk of different colours and textures at around Hr 300. Without any doubt the price is really high yet so is the quality. The second hall is set with rows of flax costing Hr 59 and Hr 72, cotton at Hr 87, all kinds of wool mixtures and light fabric that would perfectly go for the summer heat.
Fabric and Accessories Shop (5 Lva Tolstoho, 234-1234)
