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If you’re ever in Berlin, Germany, don’t miss your chance to go fabric shopping. In the years that I lived there I’ve discovered many great shops, and today I want to share 3 of my favorite fabric stores in Germany’s capital city.
- Knopfloch
- ZickZack Nähwelt Berlin
- Gebrüder Berger-Berlin
Fabric stores in Germany tend to be small, privately owned, and staffed with knowledgeable employees. If you have a question but don’t speak German, ask the nearest staff member if there is someone can help you in English. Most Germans speak at least rudimentary English, but by asking first who to talk to, you’ll get them to point you in the direction of the staff member with the best language skills.
Fabric prices are higher in Germany than in the US; you can expect most fabrics to cost 12 to 25 euros a meter (1 meter = 39″), but the selection of irrestible, high-quality fabrics makes German fabric stores well worth the splurge. If you’re looking for a deal, look out for a table or rack of “Reste”. “Reste” are the leftover pieces from the end of a bolt of fabric and they’re sold at a reduced price, usually 30% below the normal price.
Knopfloch
If you’re visiting historic Alexanderplatz or the Nikolaiviertel, nip over to visit this charming shop. Tucked under the brick arches of the city train tracks, this small shop sells sewing, quilting, embroidery, knitting and crocheting supplies.
Address: Dircksenstr. 105, 10179 Berlin
Hours:
- Monday-Friday: 10am to 8pm
- Saturday: 10am to 4pm
- Sunday: closed
Above you can see the fabric and embroidery thread selection. Behind the embroidery thread is a corner with embroidery patterns and sewing patterns. Knopfloch carries Burda, the biggest pattern company in Germany, as well as Simplicity.
Below you can see their sewing machines and more fabric.
Here is the knitting and crocheting corner. Hidden behind the dummy is also a niche full of quilting cotton.
Knopfloch also carries basic sewing notions, several shelves of lace and trims, and some beautiful buttons.
ZickZack Nähwelt Berlin
One subway station from Alexanderplatz, at Rosa Luxemburg Platz, you’ll find another favorite shop of mine – ZickZack Nähwelt. Like Knopfloch, ZickZack Nähwelt is a small shop with a bit of everything – fabric, notions, yarn and sewing machines.
Address: Torstraße 49, 10119 Berlin. Important note: the shop entrance is around the corner, on Schönhauser Allee.
Hours:
- Monday-Friday: 10am to 7pm
- Saturday: 10am to 6pm
- Sunday: closed
On thing that really stands out about ZickZack Nähwelt is their wall of buttons. It is absolutely swoonworthy! If you’re planning ahead, pack small fabric swatches of your upcoming projects so you can get buttons for them here.
Let me give you a moment now to swoon…
I love the friendly atmosphere of this store. The owner is so sweet and welcoming, and really takes the time to answer questions. I bought my sewing machine here in 2009, just a few weeks after arriving in Berlin, and I was impressed how much time she took to explain the new machine to me. Also, she is used to working with English-speaking tourists, as the shop was located at a big tourist location until recently.
Gebrüder Berger-Berlin
If you’re visiting Potsdamer Platz, you must take a detour to my favorite fabric store, Gebrüder Berger. This store is a wholesaler as well as retailer and it sells nothing but fabric.
Located on the third floor of an assuming building, the store is undecorated and a little dingy. However, you’ll see its charm when you see the shelves and shelves of fabric.
The sale table greets you at the entrance.
Address: Potsdamer Str. 68, 10785 Berlin
Hours:
- Monday-Friday: 7:30am to 7pm
- Saturday: 7:30am to 4:30pm
- Sunday: closed
The front room has a table of cotton fabrics. Behind that are two tables with a different selection of fabric every time I visit.
Today they were selling African wax prints. They must have sold well, because there wasn’t much selection left 🙁 but I bought two anyways! They’ve also had beautiful jerseys and floral satins here in the past.
Around the corner is a table of silk and a table of “Reste”, as well as shelves of fake fur, sequined fabrics and more.
Through another door you’ll find one more entire room full of all sorts of fabric.
Gebrüder Berger isn’t quite as “user friendly” as the other shops. The prices aren’t displayed on most of the fabrics, so you have to ask for the prices from the employees. Also, the prices they quote you are before sales tax, and sales tax here is almost 20%. Lastly, you should know that you have to buy at least 1 meter of a fabric. However, starting at 1 meter you can specify the length in 10 cm (4 inch) increments. For instance, you could buy 1 meter, 1.10 meters, 1.20 meters, or 1.30 meters of a fabric.
However, don’t let these things deter you. Prices are very low here compared to the other stores – on my last visit, I paid 3.50 euros per meter for a lightweight cotton, 8 euros for silk organza, and 14 euros for lace (before tax). I find it easiest to pick out all the fabrics I want, then ask for all the prices at once. I ask before I get the fabrics are cut so I can get rid of something out of my price range. Also, college students who can show a student ID a 10% discount at the cash register.
If you are visiting Berlin, I hope that with this list you’ll be able to find some one-of-a-kind fabric souvenirs. If you do visit these shops, I’d love to hear about your experiences. And if you think I’ve left a great fabric store in Berlin out, tell me in the comments – I’d like to add on to this guide.
Comments
DK
18 May 2019 at 12:17 am
Hello, can anyone tell me where in Berlin I’d be able to purchase silk fabric?
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Jane
5 October 2018 at 7:19 am
Thank you for this. I went to Knopfloch yesterday and bought a couple of lovely and unusual fabrics
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Afshin Haidari
18 December 2017 at 6:34 pm
Hi,
I live in Sweden and I want to start a store in Sweden. Now I wonder do you sale wholesale fabric ?Reply
Caitie
29 October 2017 at 2:28 pm
Hi there!
Great recommendations !
I’m wondering if you know any spots to find vintage fabric / scraps ?
Thanks!Reply
Helen
11 November 2017 at 12:01 am
Hmm.. I don’t actually know of any places that sell vintage fabrics per se, though you might get lucky at a second hand shop. Have you been to Humana or Re-sales? Those are two second hand chains with stores all over the city.
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Jess
23 January 2018 at 12:46 pm
There are some seasonal markets that come to Berlin about twice a year. You can find some vendors there that specialize in vintage fabrics: https://www.stoffmarktholland.de/
Alternatively, you can also get some custom-printed fabric ordered here, or can support the designers (whom also do vintage prints):
https://www.spoonflower.com/Reply
Dovile
13 September 2017 at 11:01 am
Hey!
I just came to Berlin, trying to find some good fabrics for jumpers ant t-shirts. are here any great place to buy good good quality tricot? I want to make cozy big jumper for winter 🙂
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Anne Grange
3 August 2017 at 10:45 pm
Thank you so much for this info. I am an unapologetic fabric aholic. I bought some terrific fabric here while visiting Berlin, and only a little walk from Potsdamer Square. My only regret is I should have brought an extra suitcase.
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Helen
10 September 2017 at 3:56 pm
Glad to help a fello fabric-aholic out! 🙂
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Lacey
30 June 2017 at 5:16 am
Thank you so much! This is so helpful, it can be so challenging to figure out where to fabric shop when traveling ?
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Chickensoup
19 May 2017 at 8:53 pm
I really don’t see the point in saying the price of what you bought before tax! I’m only interested in the complete total that I will be passing over.
I mean you may as well start quoting whole sale prices haha :pReply
Vrda
13 March 2017 at 4:51 pm
Hi Helen,
Really enjoy reading all the information you give.
I am looking to buy cotton fabrics online,as I won’t be able to travel.
Where do you recommend I should buy?
VrdaReply
Jane
12 January 2017 at 2:38 pm
Does anyone know where in Berlin I can get high gloss PVC fabric, non stretch ? Everywhere seems to just have the stretch one. Any help appreciated!!
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James
18 December 2016 at 10:21 am
Thanks for the great list. I am looking for cotton fabric for men’s trousers. I think what I bought in Paris a few years ago is gabardine. I had trousers made from it and they are great. i am having trouble finding something like that in Berlin. Any ideas?
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Anastasiya
10 December 2016 at 10:46 am
Hello! Thank you for this useful post 🙂
Do you know good store in Berlin where i can buy stretchy lace and other lingerie fabrics? Also have a problem finding lingerie supplies here.(Reply
Ayrene katabazi
9 October 2016 at 9:15 am
Hey thank you so much for this information I’ve just moved to Berlin from Dublin and as you all know fabric shopping is an enjoyable thing but finding the right shop is a task.. I’m literary starting from scratch so if you could give me some more help I’m looking for a place to buy drafting paper and also if you know of any good companies that make clothing labels please thanks a million also you can have a look at my work here http://www.facebook.com/mullalo
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Natalia Maree
2 September 2016 at 10:27 pm
Thank you so much for this handy information. I will go check out these shops tomorrow. Do you know where you can find any stretchy netting? Its more for commercial use like the ones used in cars. Cheers 🙂
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Helen
10 September 2016 at 9:22 pm
Hi Natalia, I’m sorry I took so long answering. I’m not too sure what you mean by stretchy netting in cars – do you mean the fabric for the seatback pockets, or maybe covering the speakers or something like that?
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Harriet
28 August 2017 at 6:53 am
I am coming to Berlin to visit my daughter who just moved to your city. Do you know of any shops that allow folks to rent machines by the hour? or by the week?
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Helen
10 September 2017 at 3:56 pm
Hi Harriet, I’m so sorry I didn’t see your comment earlier. I don’t know of anyone who rents out sewing machines, but I have heard of two sewing cafes in Berlin, where you pay by the hour (about 6-10 euros/hr) to use the machines in their shop: Smilla, https://www.smilla-berlin.de/naehcafe-berlin/ and Kinkibox, http://www.kinkibox.de/nahcafe/ Have fun with your daughter!
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Bos
29 August 2016 at 1:44 pm
Oops, sorry, forgot to say thanks for the info on fabric shops in Berlin.
I’ll be visiting there for a week at end of September and will try to get away from my non-sewing companions to check your favourites out.Reply
Bos
29 August 2016 at 1:39 pm
I live in Munich and have yet to find an actual fabric store except for Karstadt’s fabric department.
I’d love to hear about any you know of?Reply
Kristen
28 August 2016 at 5:48 pm
Hi. Thanks for the helpful post. Maybe you can also help me with a perhaps stupid question. Do you have a reliable source for basic muslin fabric for developing/testing out patterns? Preferably, where it won’t cost too much. I suppose I could just find a cheap cotton at the Turkish market… What do you use?
Reply
Helen
10 September 2016 at 9:15 pm
Hi, sorry I’m so late answering! Basic muslin is called “Nessel” in German, and should be available at most fabrics stores. It runs about 6 euros a meter in my experience – cheap by German standards, but not cheap enough for my taste… I buy secondhand sheets for testing patterns. They run about 2 euros a piece, and you get much more than a meter. Plus, the fabric is better quality than the muslin. If you’re in Berlin, “Humana”, for instance, is a chain of second-hand stores with several locations in the city.
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Kristen
9 July 2017 at 6:24 pm
Sorry for the very late reply to your reply. Yes, I agree. 6€ is crazy for Nessel. I usually buy used sheets for 1€ as well… Good to hear I’m not missing something! Thanks for responding.
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Petal
23 August 2016 at 12:22 pm
Thank you very much for the information. I sometimes add to my fabric collection from my travels. I’ll be visiting Berlin end off this week ( August 2016) and I’m keen to see what I can get there.
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Helen
23 August 2016 at 6:32 pm
Enjoy your trip! 🙂
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Jeanette Milbourn
4 August 2016 at 9:19 am
Thank you for the Berlin shop information – saved me a lot of time searching. 🙂 Going tomorrow so hope to visit at least the Knopfloch as I am staying near there 🙂
JeanetteReply
Roni Vagner
15 July 2016 at 7:19 pm
I really enjoyed your blog! I was wondering if you could recommend a place that specialized in fake fur. I’m coming for a visit and would like to shop for materials for giant animal props for theater. Keep up the good work, Roni.
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Roni Vagner
15 July 2016 at 7:21 pm
Sorry, I had trouble with the computer, and didn’t realize my previous comment was received and that you answered it… R.
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Helen
15 July 2016 at 7:23 pm
No worries! Good luck with your project!
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roni
10 July 2016 at 9:52 pm
Where can I buy synthetic fur in Berlin?
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Helen
11 July 2016 at 7:38 am
Gerbrüder Berger, mentioned in this post, is a good source for faux fur.
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Raquel
9 July 2016 at 1:07 pm
Hello,
Anybody interested in giving some basic sewing classes? Would be much appreciated.
Best regards,
Raquel Baquero
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Marta
29 July 2016 at 1:42 pm
Are you still looking for someone to give you sewing lessons? If you do, please get in touch at martajarz@gmail.com 🙂
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Zulfiya
7 July 2016 at 2:46 pm
Hi Helen, thanks for useful article! I am in Berlin now and looking for a lace material for an evening dress. Can you suggest me a store where I can find such material. Thanks in advance!
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Helen
7 July 2016 at 10:22 pm
Hi Zulfiya, I think you will find the best selection of lace stores that sell designer fabrics. The best among them for lace is Möller Haute Couture Stoffe – please note, they are only open Mo-Fr, 4pm to 7pm. Hüco Stoffe has a good selection (their opening hours are at the bottom of the page). Or Tessuti Stoffe has a smaller selection of beautiful laces. Good luck with your dress!
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Hernán
7 July 2016 at 11:44 am
Hello to everyone ??, Very nice post and thanks for The advices ! I design waterproof backpacks so I’m looking for a fabric with these characteristics also places to buy nice zips ( waterproof zips) and accessories to Make them!
Thank you so much 😉
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Helen
7 July 2016 at 10:45 pm
To be honest, it’s difficult to find specialty products like these in shops. I think you would be better off looking online for these. A comprehensive site for these types of products is extremtextil. Use their search option to find an assortment of waterproof and water-repellant fabrics. A tip: you may know this already, but you will need to use a seam sealer on your seams to waterproof them. These are available (for example) at the same site under sewing accessories.
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Mary Tupper
2 July 2016 at 10:30 am
Hi! I live in Berlin and am a total novice, so I want to start my sewing career by edging some muslin squares for my baby and also make some produce bags from the muslin. Where would you recommend going for organic cotton? Tia, Mary 🙂
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Helen
3 July 2016 at 1:46 pm
If you are interested in organic fabric then Siebenblau, in Prenzlauerberg is the store for you. They sell exclusively organic and/or fair trade fabrics.
In addition, most good fabric stores have a selection of organic fabrics (ask for bio stoffe). One producer of organic cotton that I see in many stores is Lillestoff. They have many cute cotton prints. You can search for stores near you that carry their products on their site. However, check the store’s website before you visit them – not all of the stores are fabric stores.Reply
Mary Tupper
4 July 2016 at 11:26 pm
Thanks! I think I have heard of that store 🙂
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Oksana
30 June 2016 at 2:57 pm
Hello, I am curently in Berlin and I am looking for particular fabric for my wedding dress – Till now I was not lucky. Maybe you could direct me to the fabric shops that have designers’ fabrics. I am ready to visit as many as possible if it increases mu chances to find the one (white with stripes, one transperant one not, a bit elastic (fir the sleeves).
Thank you in advance!
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Helen
1 July 2016 at 7:59 pm
Hi Oksana, congratulations on your wedding! Here are some other stores you can try for designer fabric: Möller Haute Couture Stoffe – please note, they are only open Mo-Fr, 4pm to 7pm. Or Tessuti Stoffe. Also Hüco Stoffe (their opening hours are at the bottom of the page). I found these stores recently and have yet to visit them, so I can’t tell you how good they are, but they all have their fabrics listed online. An additional small store you could try is W&S Textil. Good luck finding your dream fabric!
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Julie Bramwell
25 June 2016 at 1:57 pm
Coming to Berlin in a week and a half. I must check these stores out, nothing more fun than bringing fabric home from other countries and talking quilting with fellow quilters of all nations.
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Helen
30 June 2016 at 11:48 pm
Sewing souvenirs are the best souvenirs 🙂 Enjoy your trip!
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Sandra
14 June 2015 at 7:58 pm
Big thanks for the tip. I am planning to go to Berlin on summer and righ now I am looking for some shops for visit. Last week I read about the turk market. What do you thing about it? Can I find here good fabric?
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Helen
16 June 2015 at 1:04 pm
I think you mean the Turkish Market am Maybacher Ufer Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’ve been there a couple times, and it’s not my cup of tea. I have found that most the fabric is very low quality and you really have to hunt to find something good. It’s also crowded and you’re expected to haggle. But it’s a fun market overall and worth a look if you like street market shopping. I can recommend one vendor there who sells notions – you can get zippers, even zippers by the meter from him for good prices. I don’t know his name but he has the only notions stall.
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Rhonda
30 April 2015 at 2:18 pm
I’ve only had an opportunity to shop for fabric in Augsburg. The selection was rather disappointing. I want to come to Berlin!!! Maybe one day 🙂
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Helen
16 June 2015 at 1:06 pm
Munich also has some good fabric stores – and it’s closer to Augsburg!
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cem
13 October 2015 at 7:56 pm
Hello Helen
I have read your comments about Turkish market
I have been in fashion business since 2001 and I have been to China,Bangladesh,India etc
As I have been looking all aruond for diffrent types of fabric I could n find any better quality then Turkish made off
I feel sorry about what have you faced in Turkey but you probably go to places which wouldn t cost your needsReply
Helen
13 October 2015 at 8:42 pm
Hi Cem,
Thanks for writing. I wish I could say I’ve been to the Turkish market in Turkey, but I was talking the Turkish market in Berlin, Germany, along the Maybacher Ufer. And the selection there also depends on the individual vendors, so perhaps the selection has improved too – I haven’t visited it regularly since 2013. I’m sorry, I should have made that more clear in this article.Reply
