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Categories: Fabric Stores, Hobby Shops
Neighborhood: Murray HillMention " Yelp" & get 10% off your entire purchase. We…
Announced 3 days ago34th St-6th Ave (B, D, F, V, N, Q, R, W)
42nd St-5th Ave-6th Ave (7, B, D, F, V)
33rd Street (PATH)
Mon-Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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I'm not sure how I forgot to review this place after falling in love with it this past fall. I don't sew anymore (no space in my tiny condo) but I do a lot of crafting - particularly jewelry making. I use a lot of buttons in my projects and wish there were someplace like this in Chicago.
They have an amazing selection of buttons and trimmmings and I think that everything is pretty well organized. Not only did I find some pretty buttons and some cute/funny buttons (a cat wearing a fedora, AWESOME) for crafting, but I purchased replacement buttons for my winter coat. I brought them back to Chicago and even my tailor fell in love with them.
I also purchased some great silk chord and lace trim. I spent a lot of time just looking, too. The place was packed even at 2:00 on a weekday but I was able to get waht I wanted, what I needed, and then some.
People thought this was:
Most trim shops on not on trend, and you will often have to make your own trimmings to create mood boards or garments to represent what is currently happening on the runway. However, with M & J trims everything is very current and they even have trim boards representing the latest runway shows or color palettes.
The prices are a little higher than most places and they are always slammed with customers, but that is the price you pay for an open, clean atmosphere and quality trims. All cut items are sold by the yard only, unless they are over $20.00 and you can purchase a foot.
I mainly go here for appliqués and buttons, since they have a selection of items that are more unique than most. That is why I come here to visit every time I am in New York.
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I didn't know what I wanted to do to an old vintage hat I bought but I new I would find the answer at M&J.
I love M&J because you can walk in and just start looking around and inspiration really is all around. If you get stuck hope that Atyia Seck is there because she knows what is in the store and she is wonderful at pointing out what you may not have noticed.
There may be cheaper trim stores but M&J is bright, open, organized and I find the staff helpful. I walked in with an old beat up hat and walked out with the makings of a fashion forward masterpiece in my bag. If you are a crafter or just want to play or actually just want to be surrounded by color, beads, bows and feathers it is worth the time.
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I don't even use trimmings or buttons in my work but I love coming here when I'm in the area, just to experience the fact that these ribbons and buttons EXIST. Who would imagine that anyone had bothered to design and manufacture a ribbon with chickens dancing on it, much less 5 or 6 other ribbon designs featuring chickens?
I did come here looking for reflective tape for a project for a bicyclist friend, but they didn't have any and I later found it at a random fabric shop several blocks away. So this place isn't perfect, but if you're looking for something then I'd recommend that you stop here first anyway. Not only are there just reels upon reels of ribbons lining the extremely tall walls and a stunning variety of wonderful buttons in the other section of the store, the salespeople are helpful and M&J is just an attractive store to explore.
not a great experience. Went because the hours were good and it was convenient. Store was swarming with sales people. In fact I've never seen a store with so much staff. But almost no one seemed available to help. Much more interested in talking amongst themselves. Seemed to treat helping me as an imposition. Plus took forever to check out. Will not go back.
It has absolutely everything you can imagine for trimmings. I needed a ribbon to match a dress that was being altered. I had gone to several other stores and found something close, but not exactly what I was looking for. At M&J I found exactly what I was looking for in the EXACT SHADE. Do you know how hard it is to find an exact shade match when working with different materials?!? But M&J came through and now I have a dress that no one can believe that I had altered. The seamstress even asked me if I had gone back to the store where I had originally bought the dress.
People thought this was:
The selection of buttons and trims here is extensive, but their prices are high. The store itself is well-lit and organized, good for browsing on your own rather than relying on the indifferent service.
Only in NYC would I have to go to a specialty shop to buy thread. I miss Joann Fabric and Craft Stores. It's a good thing M&J Trimming is conveniently located in the heart of the Garment District and just a few blocks from the convenient 34th street subway stop.
M&J Trimming is really a specialized store for ribbons, buttons, crystals, trims, etc. They sell basic crafting supplies like silicone glue, glue guns, needles, rulers, etc. They offer classes. They have samples of designs you can create using their products. If you used to bedazzle, this is the place for you. While crystalized jeans and rhinestoned cell phones may be a thing of the past, M&J Trimming will still inspire you to jazz up your creations. I walked out with the three spools of thread I needed to hem my pants. One is the wrong color, so I'll be back in a few weeks to do some more shopping.
Prices can vary. I recommend coming here only on a need basis. A lot of designers come to M&J Trimming during the day to buy supplies and the place can be a zoo. But the colors and options are endless and they have a station for everything.
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Some day when I have a huge loft and tons of space for sewing, I shall have walls of trims organized by product type, size and color just like at M & J. My space will have a library ladder though. SO much more fun.
It really is heavenly in here if you are at all magically inclined (and by magically I mean design).
The prices, though, are shockingly expensive. 18 bones for a single fake flower on a pin? Umm, no thank you. I think I'll just make my own with $4 of royal blue satin 1.5" ribbon from your ribbon wall.
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Why did I just spend $60 on 10 buttons for my spring peacoat?
Why are these the sexiest buttons ever?
Why am I even considering the sex appeal of buttons?
When can I return for more gorgeous pieces of flare?
People thought this was:
I seem to end up in here every time I visit NYC, but I'm not really sure why. The selection is fantastic, but overwhelming. The stores walls are lined with every trim, flower or button you could imagine. The prices are a little steep, so watch your wallet. The employees could have been a bit more helpful, but they weren't in your face trying to get you to buy something. Fun store, worth a visit.
People thought this was:
This place is like the "Charlie and the Cholate Factory" of buttons and trimmings. I was oohing and aahing the entire time. If you need to find a button, you can probably find it here.
All I wanted to do was replace two buttons on my coat, but wound up plopping down $45 for eight shiny, sparkly buttons. It was hard not to resist.
I'd give it another star if their rhinestone collection was better. I was looking for pointed-back rhinestones (not the sew-on kind), but had difficulty finding them.
People thought this was:
A very cool place - with every type of button imaginable. Luckily, the button I needed was very simple, thus towards the front of the store. To be honest I was a little scared of what the back held!
The selection is absolutely impressive, and the prices seemed reasonable, but the service left something to be desired, which is why I'm subtracting one star.
Extra bonus: open on Sundays!
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this place is neat... clean... spacious... and totally overwhelming! seriously, they have almost everything you need here. feathers... check. rhinstones... check. buttons... check. everything except for the thin fabric headbands that i NEED... but i'll get over that.
prices are a bit steep... but this place is worth a look. you definitely will find a bunch of gems here.
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Lots of variety, in a very casual atmosphere. You'll get a million ideas for gifts, crafts, whatever. You never know what surprising, tiny little treasure you will find, and for cheap. Really good for finding gifts on the cheap--pick up a unique little charm and make a necklace. The razor blade necklaces I gave out were everyone's favorite
my experience with this place has been totally fine up until today. in fact, i would put up with their ridiculous prices (seriously, you pay a premium for the luxury of shopping in a large, open space with half-decent lighting in the garment district) because *until today* i've experienced nothing but helpful, friendly staff.
the people who "helped" me today were all so rude and abusive that if i can help it (they carry an item i've had difficulty finding elsewhere) i will never go back. without going into the details i will say that i was called crazy (by a manager) for pointing out that part of what they were trying to sell me was damaged and before i could even talk to a manager i was passed from employee to employee who, instead of allowing me to explain the situation, spoke amongst themselves in spanish, clearly in order to keep me from understanding that they were essentially telling each other to ignore me.
completely rude and unprofessional.
AMAZING. They had EXACTLY what I needed. I came directly after work to get a length of ribbon and a length of sequin trim for my Halloween costume. It was crowded, of course, since it is close to Halloween, but I found EXACTLY what I was looking for. There is an enormous selection, and I can't wait to come back when I have more time to just browse. I spent $10 for my 2 yards of trim, but it was exactly what I needed.
They also had lots of buttons and appliques. Aside for the regular and cutesy appliques, there were the kinds you can use to make a police officer or military costume -- really complicated, accurate, and complex!! There were also the iron on "rhinestone" or "crystal" appliques that spell out words, or form images such as skulls, etc. VERY COOL.
I'll definitely come back when it is time for my next costume project!
People thought this was:
I love this place. I started going a few years back to get ribbon for scrapbooking and now I am working on a few home decor projects. Great goodies to be found here!!
Evil, yes this place is evil! Loaded from floor to ceiling with every conceivable button, bead, trim, crystal, ancillary objects (glue, scissors) that will make your head spin and your wallet empty.
I adore this place, obviously, and every time I go in this shop, I get an incredible urge to create things. My only problem is that I am a klutz. So I go in rarely and grab things I need like fabric glue, snaps etc.,
I just like to walk in there and look around; it's like a gorgeously appointed museum where you can buy the art.
People thought this was:
This is one of those stores that makes living in NYC so great. Walls and walls of trims and buttons to choose from, and way lower in price than if you bought them from knitting stores or button shops. I get almost all my buttons for my projects there, and have bought other trims like ribbons and hook and eye tape from them, too.
Sometimes the staff isn't attentive but if you ask for help you always get it. Watch out for them charging tax on non-taxable items like buttons, if you're going to use it for a sweater bring a piece of your sweater with you and insist that there is no sales tax on buttons for wearable items!
People thought this was:
M & J has been around for years. The building burnt down a few tears back enabling them to rebuild a bigger, more well organized store.
One section has buttons, another trims, beads, fringe etc.
Beware that prices can run a little steep and you may be able to get a deal in bulk if you open a business account for wholesale buying.
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If you've been here you probably won't believe that they didn't have the one thing I needed... they have everything else!
It was really fun to browse the store but the sales people are unfriendly. Good place for inspiration.
People thought this was:
M & J Trimming is amazing! This is a great place to go if you need something unique or hard-to-find. I got 32" fringe in black and turquoise to duplicate a bag I saw on Sex & the City (Carrie's Prada bag when she goes on the motorcycle with Berger). The staff went digging around the back to help me find it.
They also have a great selection of buttons in the smaller room. I got Mona Lisa, Venus, and exclamation point buttons. So great!!
A little more pricey than some surrounding ribbon stores, but very well organized and great selection.
People thought this was:
this is my go-to place when i need something quick or can't find it anywhere else. if you have time, you can almost definitely find everything here for cheaper, but when it comes to trimming and buttons, you're talking about a few cents, maybe a dollar difference. for me, not such a big deal (i'm not ordering 1000 of them)
i have been going here for as long as i can remember, and don't plan on switching shops of choice anytime soon
btw the bead section is a pretty big disappointment. i don't think i've ever bought anything from there. for nice beads, try toho shoji a block down.
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Great selection of trim at a reasonable price. I personally spent a couple of hours in the button section. Check it out.
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Went to M & J Trimming a couple of days ago, I needed to replace the buttons on my coat, hadn't been there since before the new store opened and i was completely blown away. Definitely not you local craft shop, the new store is an experience. The button selection was amazing, and got my creative juices flowing. Though the store was very busy and buzzing, the sales help were right on the money and i found exactly what i was looking for along with a whole bunch of other goodies. Worth checking out if your in the mood to spruce up your wardrobe or home.
M & J is kind of the Mood Fabrics of trims for me (see my Mood Fabrics review).
M & J has a lovely selection of high-quality trims and buttons, their staff is attentive and they offer multiple sizes of many kinds of button or trim, which is great when you need to match items for a collection/single design.
However, like Mood, they are pricey, not all their product is unique and can be found elsewhere for far cheaper in the district with minimal legwork.
Having worked in the accessory business designing the kind of embellishments and trims that M&J sells, I find this place really high priced. Of course I would! Nevertheless, I still frequent this store for their selections in buttons and ribbons. The store is well organized and stocked with a plethora of bling, beaded fringe, trims and appliques. It's a great place to go to if you're not worried about your budget and you're looking for something particularly unique.
People thought this was:
like being a giant candy store but instead of sweets, the joint is bursting with ribbon, notions, sparkly things, buttons and doo-dads of all sorts. i didn't spend a ton of time rooting around in here, because i was still reeling from the splendor that is mood fabrics. however, i came looking for a very specific item and the saleswoman on hand was fast, knowledgeable, friendly and got me exactly what i needed in no time flat. the store was very organized, very easy to navigate and the price was right.
People thought this was:
They have more beads and trims than you could ever imagine. Floor to ceiling embellishments for the home, fashion, accessories, crafts. Your inner designer's best friend is here. If they make it, it will be here. There are a few stores in a row that cater to different findings. If you have something you want the trim to match, don't forget to bring it with you! Now go create something beautiful darling...
People thought this was:
This place is like crack for the crafty. Spend 10 minutes here and you'll blow through your money and swear that you'll need ten packs of swarovski crystals "just in case." Beware. It's addictive.
People thought this was:
i can be relied on to frequent this joint every october (in preparation for HWEEN, my absolute favorite holiday of the year) or whenever my inner craft goddess decides to strike.
yes, it's overpriced. but the selection cannot be beat. be warned--those bits & bobs can add up at the register!
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