Instead of buying everything new in a store, having things made for you is where you can save a lot of Money in Mexico. The price of supplies might be similar to what you are used to, but crafts people will charge less for their services here in Mexico. If you are living in Playa Del Carmen and want to have curtains made, clothes custom sewn for you, or reupholstering a piece of furniture, then a trip to the fabric store is in order for you to select material.
Fabric stores have fabric for what most people buy here. That means affordable materials that people use to make clothes and home projects. If you are looking for fine prints and higher end looking fabrics, you are going to have to look around and perhaps compromise. If you are moving to Playa and want to make pillows for you new place and have an idea of sea shell prints or whatever, you might want to bring the fabric with you and just have them made and stuffed here.
These stores have some craft products for your do-it-yourselfers. Besides having a wide selection of fabrics and sewing supplies you can find ribbon, floral foam, plastic table covers, wood crafts for painting, jewelry supplies and oh so much more. Some seasonal holiday products can be found as well. If you are decorating for a party or a wedding, these stores can provide some inexpensive materials to decorate with.
One interesting product that you will find in some of these stores is a plastic window coating sheet. You can cut it to size and place it on your glass. It comes in different patterns and you can use it to distort or give a frosted look so people cannot see in your windows. This is very helpful in bathrooms where you cannot use fabric or if your neighbors windows are facing yours and you want a little privacy but still want light.
Some stores will make curtains for you. They have counters at the back of the store and you can select your style. You can alternatively take your fabric to one of the many sewers in Playa and have them make anything you want at very affordable cost. For example it can be as inexpensive as 80 pesos for one curtain panel and 50 pesos for a sofa pillow with zipper. It can cost less then going to Walmart and buying new curtains that may not be the exact fabric you want plus you are giving a job to a local. It can take one day to two weeks to have it ready depending on how busy they are.
Here are a list of locations in the downtown and areas that you might be in to check out materials.
1) Juarez Avenue between 20th and 25th Avenues on the north side of the street.2) 30th Avenue between Juarez Avenue and 2nd St. east side of the street. 3) 30th Avenue between 12Bis St. and 14th St. 4) (update July 27 2014, this store is now closed. small shopping plaza on 30th Avenue and 14th St. north side of the street where Santander Bank is located. 5) 30th Avenue and 34th St. on the northwest corner. 6) Avenue Constituyentes between 20th and 25th Avenues inside of Plaza Las Perles 7) Inside of Centro Maya Shopping Plaza
The fabric store in the small shopping plaza on 3oth Avenue and 14th St. is of interest because they have some good material for reupholstering. Some of the materials you see in there you will see in fine furniture stores in Playa. They have a small selection but popular fabric that is in vogue now. They also carry materials that would be good to make sun screens or outdoor projects. Some of the materials are a mesh with a plastic color coating on it. You can let your imagination go wild with ideas for uses of these products. (update July 27th 2014-this store is closed and we will let you know if they open in a different location.
The largest of the listed locations for fabric is on the corner of 30th Avenue and 34th Avenue. It has two floors of fabrics and well as other supplies. The name is Assis.
Interesting fact: Fabric stores always have good air conditioning. If they did not, the fabric could start to get mildew in the heat.
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The fabric stores in Playa are very professional and I like the options for buying things in small quantities. It is much cheaper to make your own pillows and curtains here then buying them.
Are there specialty Mexican cotton fabrics? If so, which store/s should be hit?
We honestly have not looked at labels of where things come from. We would expect some linen to be made in Mexico. There is nothing that stands out as purely Mexican though. In the Yucatán the fabric of henequen or sisal is made. You can get rugs, purses, pillows and other things made from it. It is like twine though. It is very durable and will last years. You can. It This in Izamal or Merida.
We are moving to Playa around Jan,24 I am bringing fabric,which of those fabric stores would come to el cielo to measure windows & install. we will need a good handy man to install light fixtures & assemble our new furniture we are shipping., also wwe need a garbage disposal installed.I don’t like the front door so I want to have an interesting wood door- any suggestions? Thank You so much, we are clueless!
Hello Gail and Bill
We don’t think any of the stores will come to measure. Most people take the measurements and fabric to a seamstress or sewing person. Nobody really goes to houses to measure unless you really want to pay for it. And by paying for it meaning paying and paying a lot for the service. Finding a person to do installation and a handy man is something that asking around on expat Facebook groups is for. Usually someone will know someone. A door, it is good to look around at carpenters and also get ideas for what you want. Having photos is good because most good carpenters can make anything from a photo. A good wood door made out of good wood will start around 5000 pesos installed.
Looking for an upholstery shop in Playa. Need a chair recovered. Suggestions?
There is one on Constituyentes around 40th Street on the south side. I have used them and they were very professional. I am not sure if they do chairs. They had a selection of foam to choose from and did it in a timely manner. No English is spoken.
I went to a shop called Parisina on 30th Street between 12th and 14th, right across from Super Aki. I found a nice fabric so I asked them if they make a sofa cover for me, but they don’t. Is there any shop which makes sofa cover? If so, do I need to buy fabric in the shop or can I bring in my fabric there? Thank you!
Hello Meggy
You could try the fabric store behind Mega on Constituyentes in the plaza. They offer services but not sure if they do covers.
Looking to purchase natural fabrics to make and sell kimono’s. I’m located in Tulum, so in either Playa del Carmen, or last resort- Cancun. Seems to be very difficult to find natural fabrics. Any suggestions., polyester seems king )-:
Hello Jessica
The problem is there are not any producers and most people are looking for inexpensive fabrics. One of the only natural local materials we can think of is henequin. That comes from the plant fibers in the Yucatan State side of the peninsula. Clothes are made form it but not sure if that would accommodate your project. Most likely you would need to import something to Tulum by mail.
Where in cancun can I find nice linen for clothes and fine silk for making scarves?. Thank you
You can check with Parsiana and Modatelas for linen. It will not be the highest quality. The closest place to shop for linen would be in Merida or working with suppliers in Mexico City. Quality silk is going to have to found in Mexico city or ordering online.