The storefronts don’t exactly scream “style destination,” but Blessed be Allah: there is some fine shopping along the stretch of Coney Island Avenue between Foster and Avenue H that we’ll affectionately call Little Pakistan. (By the way, is it kosher for infidels to mention Allah—in a nice way?) When Brokelyn style scout Eliza Gran went on a recent jaunt, phrases like “exactly like John Robshaw” (about block-print fabrics for $4 a yard) and “Omigod, just like Calypso!” (cotton sequinned pajamas, $30) were all over her lips and money was flying out of her wallet (in singles).
We’ll start with the fabric goldmine, Hina Sari Fabrics/PAK U.S. Travel, which wouldn’t let us take pictures inside. That’s a shame because the sign (below) certainly isn’t a tip to the miles of groovy fabrics that you can buy for $2 to $4 a yard—vibrant linens, eyelet printed cottons, other weaves we don’t know the name of but would like to see on the dining room table.
If you’re an Etsy type or a have-the-dry-cleaner-make-custom curtains person, this joint should be your first stop. Forget the Garment District in Manhattan, forget EBay. “Fabrics are my life,” said Eliza. “And I’ve never seen anything like this place before.”From there it was onto House of Fashion, where cute kids’ bracelets (below) were $1 a dozen, and embroidered cotton tunic tops in pastel colors—good beach coverups—were $8 a piece.
At Future Fabrics (below) Eliza found tons of thread and a pair of hot-pink linen pajamas that she couldn’t resist.
Finally, at Zoque, Eliza flipped over some traditional Pakistani slippers ($15, top photo). Really? “They’re great slippers for around the house,” she said. Well they are more interesting than Old Navy flip-flops.
Hina Sari & Fabrics, 1099 Coney Island Ave., 718-692-0707
House of Fashion, 1103 Coney Island Ave., 718-434-3515
Future Fabrics, 1078 Coney Island Ave., 718-421-1251
Zoque, 1062 Coney Island Ave.
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Brilliant
They’re probably less toxic than Old Navy flip-flops, too. I was in one store soon after they got their spring shipment and it made my eyes water. Talk about “offing gas!”
Just came back from a trip to all of the stores mentioned and I’m laden with goodies. I mentioned to all of the store owners that they had been written about on this site and they were all thrilled.
I can’t remember the last time I was made so welcome in a store – all of the ladies who run these places are gems and were so pleased to have someone outside of their usual customers shopping there.
can’t recommend them enough
House of Fashion was taken over about 2 years ago by a woman who has worked hard to make her store a step up from the others yet her prices are the same or even lower.
This is definitely the place to go for fabrics, upholstery, lace, alterations and Near Eastern clothing!
Thanks Jenni — Is it still called House of Fashion?
This is fantastic.