The Downtown Los Angeles Fabric District is large and overwhelming. If you know where to look you can find almost anything there. So instead of creating a general guide, I put together a specific Downtown LA Lingerie Supplies Shopping Guide for my lingerie lovers out there. I hope that locals and visitors alike will find this guide useful.
What will you find in this guide?
In this guide to Downtown Los Angeles Lingerie Supplies you will find a list of retailers carrying lingerie friendly fabrics, lingerie trims, lingerie supplies, sewing and cutting supplies for lingerie making, a walking map of my favorite stores, as well as some Downtown LA adjacent retailers,
I will provide you with store names, addresses, and business hours as well as a general rundown of what that specific store carries. I will also provide you with a description of what types of fabric, trims, and supplies are meant for lingerie in hopes of giving you a better idea of what to look for when shopping.
Shopping in Downtown LA for almost anything can be a bit overwhelming so most of all I want to relieve some of that stress for you especially if you are visiting our bustling city for the first time.
Where is the Downtown LA Fashion District?
The Downtown LA Fashion District is about 90 square blocks of fabric, supplies, clothing, accessories, makeup, you name it! It is tucked between South Broadway/Main Street on the West, Washington Blvd on the South, 7th Street on the North, and the Los Angeles River on the East. It is a vast shopping district but for the purposes of this guide we will focus on the area between Main Street, 8th Street, Wall Street, and Olympic.
Why should I shop there?
Downtown LA can definitely be a little grimey. It is getting better but don’t be fooled by the glitz and glamour of “Los Angeles”, this is no Rodeo Drive. Leave those expectations about Los Angeles at the door and your experience shopping downtown will rise exponentially. I tell you this from personal experience. I was not a big fan of shopping downtown but when it comes to lingerie it has been immensely helpful to go to one place and find all sorts of goodies at a very reasonable price. I usually make a morning of it with my girlfriends. We grab a nice breakfast then we head to Downtown LA right when it is opening to beat the crowds and over the summer months – to beat the heat.
Shop here for the selection and the prices but don’t expect anything fancy. It’s a different type of experience. And oh yes, always bring cash, know what you are looking for, and have a plan!
Suggestions for Parking and/or Transit
There are several lots around the area that will charge a daily fee. Some will seem like they are inexpensive but be weary, that low price may just be for the first 15 minutes. Street parking is also available but it is limited. You can also park at Moskatels. This is a popular spot for parking because you can get 2 hours free validation if you spend $10 or more. After the two hours, the fee is $2 per hour.
Otherwise, it may be in your best interest to take an Uber or Lyft and not deal with any of this chaos.
Finally, as a word of caution, please do not leave anything visible on your seats or floor, valuable or not. Use common sense and protect yourself and your belongings.
Lingerie Fabrics
No Stretch Fabrics
If this is your first time sewing a bra the best fabric for you to try is a duoplex, tricot, or a jersey knit.
Duoplex is a low-stretch knit fabric made of 100% polyester. It is ideal for your first attempt in bra making because it is stable enough that you do not need to line the cup when using this fabric.
Simplex is a nylon knit with minimal stretch commonly used without a lining or for swimsuits.
Tricot is a run-resistant knit that is thin and smooth in texture yet durable enough for lingerie, swimwear or sportswear. Tricot can be made of 100% polyester like the duoplex variety or nylon. Note that duoplex and simplex are a type of tricot fabric.
Stretch Fabrics
Powernet/powermesh: These two terms are often used interchangeably; however, powernet is more dense than powermesh. They are both strong supportive fabric that can have varying degrees of stretch with great recovery. This fabric is ideal for shapewear as it conforms to the natural contours of your body perfect for a bra band.
Stretch Spandex is a lightweight knit with spandex fibers that has a firm stretch. It conforms to your body’s contours while allowing you to comfortably move and breathe when used as a band.
Jersey Knit is a single knit stretch fabric commonly used for t-shirts or underwear. This fabric is recommended for smaller cup sizes.
Angel Textiles is my go-to for knits, 45”/60” stretch lace, stretch mesh, tulle, power net, duoplex and scuba fabrics. They have a large selection from floor to ceiling in all sorts of designs at super affordable prices (typically $2/yard)!
- Angel Textiles
- 846 Maple Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90014
- Open 7 days a week from 9am-5pm
Lingerie Trims
Bra straps – High quality elastic with minimal stretch and good recovery. Bra straps should be strong in order to properly hold up the breasts but still allow them some natural movement and breathability within the bra.
Picot Elastic – This is a lighter-weight elastic with a scallop edge design typically used on the neck of the bra and sometimes on the bottom of the band. Picot elastic is also great for underwear. It is functional and decorative for a nice clean finish to your bra and panty projects.
Fold Over Elastic- This is a strong elastic that has a ridge in the center where it is meant to be folded. It is often used on the neck of a bra or the bottom of the band. You will also see it used on other lingerie apparel such as underwear and camisoles or nighties.
When it comes to lingerie trims, I head to Azi Payless Beads and Trim. They have a large selection of elastics including picot, foldover, decorative, ruffle and bra straps. They also have 2”, 6”, and 9” stretch lace in a variety of colors and designs. Everything is sold by the yard in varying prices depending on the type of trim. Typically, they run between $0.50 to $1.50 per yard.
Also, check out Trim Expo, they also have a wide variety of lingerie trims in all sorts of colors and designs.
Lingerie Supplies
Underwires- This is the wire used under the bra cup to add structure and support. There are different wire sizes depending on your cup size. It is important to purchase the right size in order to avoid a wire digging into your breast or an oversized wire that will not lay against the chest properly.
Padding- These are also called bra cups. Certain patterns allow you to insert a bra cup or pad within the two layers of fabric for more coverage and structure.
Rings & Sliders- These are necessary to make your bra straps adjustable and to connect your straps to your bra. You can buy pre-made adjustable bra straps but you also have the option of making your own.
Hook and Eye- This is also called a closure or fastener. It connect to the bra band, the hooks on one side and the eyes on the other side. This is a very common bra making notion as it allows the bra to be securely fastened to your body.
Bra foam – This is used to create bra cups or add padding to bra straps. Bra foam is different from bra pads because it does not come as a finished cup. Rather it is a piece of foam fabric that you will cut and manipulate to your specified cup size. It is also commonly used in swimwear.
I head over to Lucky Lingerie Plus for supplies such as bra cups, hook and eye closures, underwire, and rings and sliders. They don’t have a wide selection but they have enough basic options to get you started. They have a limited supply of underwire so you may not be able to find your size depending on their current stock. Prices vary but are reasonable.
If you are looking for basic elastics and zippers head over to Trim 2000. They have some decorative options but I go here for their neutral colored elastic waistbands and hidden zippers.
Sewing and Cutting Supplies
Ball-point needle or stretch needle: These are finer tip needles that doesn’t break the fibers. Rather the needle point separates the fibers which is important for maintaining strength when sewing a knit fabric.
Polyester thread: When it comes to bra making and lingerie sewing a polyester thread is highly recommended because it is stronger than cotton. Cotton is likely to break as it cannot withstand the stretch necessary for bras and other lingerie. Stretch is a vital feature in all lingerie whether that be with your fabric or notions.
Pins or Clips: Pins come in a variety of lengths and sizes. You can likely get away with using what you have but keep in mind that your bra and lingerie fabrics are delicate and the wrong needle can cause damage pretty quickly. That is why an ultra-fin pin or silk pin it recommended. You can even use clips to avoid the holes all together!
Cutting tools:
- Fabric shears
- Duckbill applique scissors
- Applique trimmers
- Rotary cutter and blades
- Cutting mat
Pressing:
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Tailor’s ham
- Bust cup seam press
- The knob
Pattern Drafting:
- Drafting paper
- 18” clear ruler
- Styling design ruler
- French curve
- Tailor’s chalk
- Fabric marker
In need of some sewing and cutting supplies? Check out Golden Cutting and Sewing Supplies. They have a wide assortment of supplies for making and learning at bargain prices. They even have some bra making supplies such as underwire and bra hook and eye closures.
Walking Map of Downtown LA Lingerie Supply Locations
All my shop recommendations are on the same city block (and the same side of the street) with the exception of Golden Cutting and Sewing Supplies which is just around the corner. I put this map together to give you an idea of where each shop is because the shop names are not very obvious. Hope this helps!
DTLA Adjacent
One other shop that carries lingerie supplies is Finebrand. They are located in Vernon, CA which is an industrial city near downtown LA. Please do not attempt to walk to this location from the fabric district. Either drive there or take an Uber/Lyft. Just like any big city (in the case of Los Angeles – gigantic city) be smart about how you carry your personal belongings and where you walk. As much as downtown can be fun it can get a little seedy so please be cautious.
- Finebrand
- 3720 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, CA 90058
- Hours: M-F 8am-4:30pm (Breaks: 10am-10:15am, 12pm-12:30pm, 2pm-2:15pm)
Need a free lingerie pattern to get you started?
Head over to my tutorial to download the Be Bashful Bikini. It is a free bikini pattern in sizes XS-XL. Don’t forget to tag your make on social media #bebashfulbikini #atfirstblushpatterns.
Conclusion
Downtown Los Angeles has many faces. You can find all sorts of treasures or you can get lost down a rabbit hole and spend too much money. This guide will hopefully keep you on track and help you understand what to purchase and where to purchase it. Before I discovered these stores I always felt so overwhelmed. Luckily, my best friend guided me through the streets and we were able to find these little gems. I hope you find what you are looking for here and most of all I hope you have a lot of fun doing it!
I am not affiliated with any of these stores and am not receiving any compensating for recommending them. These are my own opinions based on my personal experience.
