Shepherds Bush Market has all the magic of Londons' multicultural consumable diversity and character you could possibly wish for. We were following the 'sew your own' fabric trail from North to West London in search of beautiful and reasonably priced varieties. Our travels lead us along Shepherds bush Market to Goldhawk Rd which is we discovered the mecca for gorgeous fabrics of all types from Harris Tweed, fake fur, pattered corduroy, toile, jersey, Viyella, Swiss Cotton, cotton prints, Tartan, bejewelled silks to simple felt. The shops may not be Liberty of London but we found them far more exciting and satisfying because the choice was so vast and diverse the prices so economically viable and the service totally wonderful. A- ONE -FABRICS was our first port of call on Goldhawk road, tardis like the shop was jam packed with fabric and customers. One could literally make anything from a ball gown to a Harris tweed coat with the fabric quality available. 100% wool Hounds Tooth check and tweeds from £8.00 to £25 a metre were our quest. There were lining fabrics of a variety of colours to go with your outer fabric choices. Classic Textiles next door sells gentlemen's suiting and shirt fabrics, silks, tweeds, jerseys and much more. The manager manning the till did a fabric content test on my woven fabric choice and yes it was 100% wool. This area is right next to the new vast West Field Shopping centre. The Goldhawk Rd fabric shops like much of Victorian London has been there for hundreds of years, infact the first fabric shop opened there 300 years ago apparently. We found to our horror that they are all under threat of extinction due to the fact that the council is backing a huge new development of flats to be built behind them, in order to do so the shops are being threatened with compulsory purchase. I think the developers Orion will have a fight on their hands though as the local support against this project is fierce and determined with enough financial backing they hope to hire a top lawyer to fight their corner, see their facebook campaign called 'save 30 - 52 Goldhawk road'.
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