Fishman’s Fabrics

If you need fabrics in Chicago, this is the best place to go! Their staff is knowledgeable and personable, their prices are fantastic, and the inventory is both expansive and of extraordinary quality. Whether you need the perfect wool for a custom suit, or velvet for new drapes, or leather for a special project, they have the biggest selection available. Cannot recommend them highly enough!

For the past five years I have worked with Fishmans Fabrics and have nothing, but positive remarks. I worked with Thomas and the owner Greg on direction from Alex (Jorges Upholstery). Not only are they helpful and accomodating, they actually know what they are doing. Every person gets an employee to help them navigate the rows upon rows of fabric. By the time it was all said and done I was out of there within an hour and had the perfect material. I had heard some people say that they are much too expensive and I’m here to say that is a falacy. I believe no matter what your budget is they will have something for you. Keep up the great work Greg and co.
–H

The staff here is so friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. I like how well the store is organized. They make shopping fun.

A quick update to my earlier 5* review: Recently it has been easier to find great prices at Fishman’s! Although their regular prices do run at the higher end of fabric stores (aligned with their overall quality), which means $ 10 – 25 is typical, in the last few trips there I have found that they have isolated a sale section in the back with discounted fabric. The first time I found two colors of cross-​dyed taffeta, in a 60 inch plum-​pink color and 45 inch deep green – for $ 1 per yard. Yes, I admit I bought 10 yards of each, which the salesmen kindly put on rolls and wrapped in brown paper for me to take home. The little girls in my life will be getting matching party dresses soon. And for the next couple years, probably.
Today when I came in for a specific Zegna suiting I’ve been lusting after, I also checked out the sale section again. I found a beautiful deep blue carved velvet for $ 2.50 a yard! Unbelievable! So, while this place is definitely also the place where I’ve paid as much as $ 60 per yard for wool/​cashmere jacketing (BTW men’s jackets made of this same fabric retail at Nordstrom for something like $ 2500, so put that yardage price in perspective), there are incredible bargains to be had here. Even the internet can’t match the sale prices I’ve gotten recently, and Fishman’s provides great service. If you need help or ideas for a project, ask for Gibeon. He knows the stock inside and out, and can show you beautiful fabric that you wouldn’t have otherwise found, while not blowing your budget.

All the staff and cutters are super nice, very helpful, and know their stock very well. Gregg Fishman knows his stuff and is very conscientious about sourcing a range of very high quality fabrics. He’s also a nice guy and good teacher — he’s helped me find more suitable fabrics for my applications, and even saved me money.

I was looking for fabric for a suit and a spring coat. (Thus, I did not look at the home décor section at all.) Checked out several fabric stores and Fishman’s had by far — by FAR — the best quality fabric. From my research, there is really nothing else in the Chicago area that carries this quality. The fifth star is missing because, while their suiting fabric options are extensive and quite beautiful, they are still very traditional. I was looking for something special, a solid black fabric with a little bit of extra flair in terms of texture or weave — something quietly and ravishingly chic. Guess I’ll have to go to NYC for that. I DID find what I was looking for for an overcoat, however, with the help of a gentleman named Gibeon. Gibeon was incredibly helpful in selecting the fabric, lining, trim, and buttons for the coat. He is a designer himself and was dressed in his own creation, an extremely dapper ensemble. He clearly got what I was going for with the coat and helped me create it. If you go in, you can’t go wrong asking for Gibeon.

Whoever said the prices here are $ 10−20/yd is lying just a tad…
The fabrics here are 300% over the actual cost. Although the upholstery fabrics are modern, luxurious, and quite nice, I’m not sure they’re nice enough to pay $ 45−120/yd. To remodel 6 dining room chairs, you’d spend approximately $ 400‑1000. Why not just buy new chairs at this rate?
If you are wealthy, 40 and 50 somethings who have nothing better to do but to overpay for fabric, this will be your paradise.

Wow, has Fishman’s changed? Super friendly service, great selection. I have switched my allegiance from Vogue, which continues to go downhill, to Fishman’s, for everything from zippers to major fabric investments. The only caveat: It can be tricky to get to, so allow extra time to navigate turns & traffic.

It just wasn’t what I was expecting or looking for. They had a variety of wedding quality fabrics and a large selection leathers, home décor and upholstery fabrics. I wasn’t sold on their garment fabric variety, notions or their prices.

One of the best customer service experiences I’ve ever had with fabric shopping, or shopping in general.
I went into the store a few months ago with a specific idea of what color and style of fabric I wanted to purchase (brown with a purple touch, and something with an earthy look and feel) to make curtains for my living room. I had several sales people helping me try to find exactly what I wanted; they even brought bolts of fabric up from the basement to show to me. I love the fabric that I bought and will definitely return.

Dangerous place. Colloquially referred to as Fishie’s by us fashion students, this place is the black hole of our funds. It’s just too easy. A typical visit to Fishman’s goes like this:
I hop off the bus and trot my way to Fishie’s, armed with little swatches of fabric as a guide. As usual, I gravitate towards the silks, chiffons, charmeuses, dupionis… sigh! Silk, nothing quite like it. Different weights, textures, and in a kaleidoscope of colours. I pull out a few bolts out and play mix-​and-​match with the colours, and after a good 45 minutes or so, I’m ready to face the cutting table.
«How many yards do you need?»
«SIX!» My mind is filled with grandiose images of loooong gorgeous dresses I plan on creating with this beautiful guava-​coloured silk.
«It’s $ 40/​yard, is that ok?» My heart falls. Looks like I’ll be making minidresses instead of long Elie Saab-​esque Oscar gowns.
«Uhm, nevermind. Let’s just do 3 and half yards. That should be fine.»
So I pick up some thread, some trim, some bits and bobs here and there, and I walk out happy. It’s just one of those places where your imagination goes wild and you know you can’t settle for anything less than that iridescent guava silk, even if it is a bit pricey. Josie is always a sweetheart too, so look for her if you need help.
They also do custom orders (for china silk, chiffon, charmeuse, etc) if you need something in a colour they do not have. Ask for a colour card, fill out a form, and voila! Your fabric in the exact colour you need will be ready in less than a week.
The best selection of fabrics in the Chicago area, in my opinion.

Love this store! Ask for Gibeon… so so helpful every time! This place makes JoAnn Fabrics look like Kmart.

I passed by Easter Sunday on my way to the Maxwell Street Market, but they were closed :(
I did however, call the next day, which was my last in Chicago. I didn’t want to go all the way to the store if they didn’t have what I was looking for. So I was able to talk to a very informative gentleman that told me that they didn’t have the fabric I was looking for as he hasn’t been able to find a stable supplier for the U.S., which meant that I probably wouldn’t be able to find 100% of what I was looking for. However, he did inform me that they had a blend of it that wasn’t AS soft, but was probably the closest to what I was looking for.
I appreciated his honesty and the fact that he was able to put a stop to my futile search before it got out of hand.

Fishman’s is a nice midwestern fabric store… nothing too exciting, but decidedly better than most fabric stores in the area! They definitely have better fabrics than Vogue in Evanston and have a great silk selection.
Most of their silks run at $ 10 – 20 per yard and are high quality. Their leathers are decent, but are pretty one-​note (brown, black, tan cow… that’s about it). They have a great selection of beautiful suiting fabrics for men and women, and although I have never looked through the upholstery/​home sections, they seem pretty well-​stocked. Their notions selection isn’t the greatest, but again, better than Vogue.
Not the most exciting fabric store in the world, but the staff are very friendly and helpful and the selection is pretty decent for the location.

What a great business to move reformed drug dealers into. I love the fabric business now. Buy a lot for a little; sell a little for a lot. Simple. And in my line of work I notice these things. Plus, for the reviewers that said Fishman’s is overpriced, look out, because a little competition from folks with cash to invest could give them a run for their money.
Nah…kidding. I think. But it is a pretty cool business, at least from my perspective having never been in a place like this.
My couturier brought me here. (You think I have a couturier?) The picture I loaded of suit fabrics shows a sliver of what they have. And they have fabrics for everything else, too.
Guys, check it out. Reformed drug dealers, really check it out. There is something here for everyone. Bring your couturier and have him or her help you pick out fabrics for anything you can possibly want made for you.
Also, check out the photos of Fishman’s mid-​century modernist stationery and a letter from a grateful customer. Very cool «Fishmaniana.»
I’ll post a picture of my new tablecloth, place mats and napkins when finished.

Staff here is great, selection is amazing. If you know what you are getting for the buck (like I do) you will be blown away. Fabrics that retail for $ 250 a yard for $ 20. Amazing. Greg is about as cool as one could hope for; if it is not on the sales floor ask him and he can get it.

Fishman Fabrics did an outstanding job and helping me procure a recent fabric special order.
After calling across the country and several Chicago designers and fabric stores, I had great difficulty finding someone to make a custom-​order ombré fabric for a designer gown I am having constructed.
I contacted Gregg Fishman, sending him an image of what I was looking for. He responded quickly, said that he had a factory he had worked with that specialized in custom orders, and that my fabric could be in my hands in just a couple of weeks.
Gregg helped to coordinate the order, and my fabric came out absolutely perfectly. I can’t thank him enough – I had almost given up on the project.

Sometimes the stars align — the Gods smile down on you and magick occurs.
I’ve had a dickens of a time locating fabric for my Mother of the Groom dress. After all — this is Chicago … and, well … pickins iz slim heah.
Enter Fishmans. Yes, I’ve heard they’re expensive … I went anyway — better yet — ON LUNCH BREAK! I had to. I needed to find a bright white to alter a wedding dress. While there, I decided to ‘take a stab’ at finding something for *me* Quite frankly, I don’t know what I was expecting — I certainly was not prepared to buy 5 yards of fabric … not really. I figured I had enough time to find something, and come back after work on Thursday — when they’re open until 7 & pick it up then.
After locating the white fabric — I set out to find a deep Emerald Green. In short order — I was approached by a gentleman, and I described what I was looking for. The Matte satins were nice — but not quite the right color. He showed me the Silk Shantung — which, quite frankly would be lovely made up into the suit I have designed. I started looking at the swatch card and peering at the rolls stacked on the table in front of me /​sorted by color. I’d have to come back on Thursday, the price was more than I had with me, I needed *at least* 5 yards. Keeping in mind what color I told him I was looking for originally — the clerk looks at one wall of rolled fabric and announces … «orrrr, you could go with THIS!» and he whipped out the *prettiest* Emerald Green Cross-​dye taffeta! Taffeta wasn’t my first choice … I’ll have to do some beadwork to make the peplum on the jacket to lay right … but… the color was PERFECT. So was the price. You could have knocked me over with a feather! Know this — Bargains CAN be found here! I not only walked out of the store with the fabric for my client … I walked out with fabric for my suit — AND the lining … with CHANGE from a $ 20. Now — you may not find fabric *that* cheap — but there ARE reasonable priced fabrics here … mixed amongst the more expensive offerings.
Yes, by all means, shop around — I know from experience, sometimes you can’t find what you’re looking for — at the price you’d LIKE to pay. You either scrap the project … or become even more creative.
When you’re particular … and you need ‘just the right thing’ — their selection is such, you’re likely to find it … the staff is attentive — they not only helped me FIND what I was looking for, they rolled the taffeta rather than folding it up and shoving it in a bag. Not only that, they wrapped it in brown paper — really!!! … who does that now days!!! Old world service … and fabric you really cannot find anywhere else. I’ll be back again and again — BELIEVE that!

If you want a bargain fabric this is not your store. If you want quality this is it … but before you buy… check out Vogue fabrics on Roosevelt Road because many times you may find the same or similar item only cheaper… So it pays to «Shop Around» as Smokey Robinson once sang…
Fishman’s has an extensive line of fabrics and frills that can never compare to anyone else in town for those who really are particular fabric hounds. Great source for wedding gowns and Dinah Ross and the Supremes gown fabrics!
Quality! Selection! …Your best source for fabrics!

Fishman’s is no frills. They have a lot of special occasion fabrics. Nice selection of fabrics — pretty pricey. I prefer Vogue in Evanston.
I wasn’t impressed with their sewing tools or thread.
They’ve recently remodeled the store.