Los Angeles is one of the few US cities where you can still source fabric the old way — by walking through it, holding it, and asking the people who run the shop where the goods come from. The garment district is alive. The fabric scene is alive. And if you're an independent designer trying to source your first 50 yards or your hundredth bolt, you have real options.
This is the guide we wish existed when we started: a no-fluff list of LA fabric stores that actually carry inventory worth your time. No paid placements, no filler. Just five places we recommend without hesitation when a maker asks us, "where else should I look?"
1. KBM Fabrics
1460 Naud St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
We have to mention ourselves first — not because we're the biggest, but because we're the only one on this list who actually manufactures the fabric in-house. KBM has been knitting premium cotton jersey, French terry, ribbing, and fleece in Los Angeles since 1984. Our specialty is heavyweight knits: 22 oz French terry, 24 oz fleece, slub jersey blends. If you're building a hoodie, t-shirt, or sweatshirt brand and want fabric you can put your name on, we're the LA option. Browse all KBM fabrics →
2. APC Fabrics
848 Maple Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015
If sustainability is at the center of your brand, APC Fabrics is one of LA's longest-running eco-focused fabric distributors. They specialize in tencel, modal, bamboo, and organic cotton — a range that's hard to find anywhere else at retail prices. Founded in 2014 as a brick-and-mortar store and now operating online as the second-largest seller of eco-friendly fabrics on Etsy, APC serves both retail customers and brands buying in bulk. Their full catalog lives at apcfabrics.com.
3. Mood Fabrics LA
1718 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
You probably know Mood from Project Runway, and the LA outpost is exactly what you'd expect: massive selection of designer-grade fabric across silks, wools, prints, novelties, and special-occasion materials. Prices skew higher than the rest of the district, but the curation is unmatched. Best for one-off designer pieces, special projects, and fabric you can't find anywhere else.
4. Michael Levine
920 S Maple Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015
The 80-year-old anchor of the LA fabric district. Multi-floor warehouse, every category covered, prices range from bargain remnants to designer fabric. Their loft level (technically Michael Levine Loft) is the best place in the city for vintage and discontinued fabric. Bring cash for the deepest discounts.
5. The Fabric District (as a whole)
Santee Alley, Maple Ave, and the surrounding blocks
Beyond the established names, the LA fabric district is dozens of unnamed mom-and-pop stores selling fabric out of warehouses, basements, and street-level showrooms. Bring cash, bring patience, and bring a tape measure. You will not find better prices anywhere in the US — but you also won't find a website or a return policy. Treat it like a treasure hunt.
How to think about sourcing
The honest truth: no single store has everything. Designers who do this well build a rolodex. KBM for in-house knits. APC for sustainable wovens. Mood for special pieces. Michael Levine for everything else. Your job is to know which store solves which problem — and to build relationships at each one.
One more thing
If you can't make it to LA, every store on this list ships nationwide. Browse KBM's online catalog to see what we carry. For sustainable wovens, APC ships from their LA warehouse. Both of us cut fabric to the yard, ship USPS Priority, and stand behind what we sell.
Want more guides like this? Browse our fabric guides blog for deep dives on fabric types, weights, sourcing, and care.