Emily,

I have a map at platial.com called LA Garment District showing you the general region. The area now goes by the name LA Fashion District, which is basically clothing to fabrics to crafts... and this is next to the floral district.

I generally go to the sewing and crafting stores between Los Angeles Street/Central and Olympic/7th. I will park on one end, do my shopping, then drive to the other end park and do my shopping. Weekday mornings are the best. Sometimes after 4 is ok, because the lot prices go down. Saturday is HELL so get there early. I tend to leave my purse at home... wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes and pockets for cash/credit card. Difficult to find restrooms, so be sure to shop in some of the full-retail shops and make use of their facilities. Some snack food restaurants, such as MacDonald's, El Pollo Loco. The Starbucks does not let you use their restroom. Use a parking facility, they are worth the cost. Something just off 9th/Wall or 9th/Maple will work for fabric shopping. When you go to the other side for crafts, you can find street parking, but there are a lot of vagrants in the area and they tend to hang about/sit on the cars.

Starting point if you are into sewing:

Michael Levine
A real world version of Britex, complete with snooty salespeople, but with the benefit of a very accessible environment-- the main store, at 920 S. Maple (between Olympic/9th), has everything from gorgeous yarns, notions, leather pelts (hand painted ones, gorgeous!) to imported wedding silks, feather boas, amazing accessories, patterns, supplies, tools, and a decent quilting section. Difficult to resist buying stuff, especially because this is one of the few places that takes credit card. Higher prices than the jobber stalls in the surrounding area, but for high-end or re-ordering, this is the place to purchase. Second store has home decor fabrics and accessories, across the street. And above, across the street, a loft of fabric-by-the-pound. Interesting stuff sometimes, but you'll have to bring your car around cause you'll buy so much! They have a small lot that they validate for, but it is usually full. Wholesale and retail.

On 9th Street, there are lots of fabric shop/stalls that sell fabric off the roll. They aren't real strict on measuring, so you can get bargains here, but i is like a swap meet/flea market... you can try to haggle, but they are pretty savvy. Ask for the price and make them stick to it though. If they see you like something, yes, they quote higher prices, so try to be just as savvy. Buy in large quantities for good discounts, but you iwll have to make retreats back to your car with the bulky fabric. I recommend CashCool and the one near the corner.

On Wall Street you will see a store that has a giant zipper sign... I love thier notions and I think they have the best zipper collection, though some people swear by CashCool. And further down 9th past Wall, there are some great notions shops, but the walk can get long, so try to store your stuff in car before walking that far down.

Crafts Stores:

Two landmark stores: Moskatel's is on San Julian near 7th, and Craft Depot is on the corner of 7th and Wall. Don't be tempted to walk between these two, because the soup kitchen/mission is at 7th/San Julian and the light you have to stand at to cross the street is long. High curbs in the area also leave lots of trash to wade through... let's just say it is not a fun street to walk on even for a few feet. I tend to hover and wait for a parking near the door of Moskatel's on 7th/San Julian and bring lots of quarters to cover the parking. Yes, you may have to wait a long time for a parkign, yes you may have to do some quick u-turns to get your parking... but it is worth it. Moskatel's is supposedly an urban store of Michael's, but product for product, they have the same things and more, and at better prices! Example: I bought mini teddy bears (like 2" tall, in the doll section) for $.85 vs $1.25 at Michael's. Considering I was buying 20 of them, that was a significant savings! If you walk through the store, this store also has a professional floral/decor department also. Yes, they sell wholesale as well as retail.

Craft Depot has its own parking lot, and at first i used to think it looked like a place where accidents can happen, but I use it and nothing has ever happened. I guess crafting people are pretty cool. Anyway, there are a few street spots just outside the store, but other than that, I don't recommend these streets if you are not LA urban savvy (SF urban savvy doesn't cut it, I know, I am an SF transplant and it has taken me years). Just wait wait wait for a spot in the parking lot. The craft store has some interesting stuff, I take it shelf by shelf by shelf and aisle by aisle.

Conclusion:

Those landmark stores should get you started, and obviously you will find stuff as you go along. If you have other interests just let me know here, and I will tell yo... like there is a great beading/belly dance costume stuff store and some good home decor shops. Just let me know.

Also, if you want a guide, if you buy me a latte and pay my parking, I would be glad to meet you (and this offer goes to anyone who wants this) and offer you a guided tour. I guarantee you will be able to keep up with me and will enjoy it! Oh, it is a soy latte, so extra charge, just soy you know ;)

Sincerely,

Jo Ann Villalobos
moderator, Crafty Vixens tribes
sewing enthusiast freak fetishist extremist, can't you tell?

Wow!! Go with Jo Ann - she has got it down! I've been buying all my supplies downtown for years and I'm still tempted to ask her for a tour, to find out what she knows that I don't!

A tip my friend gave me regarding the fabric district is that a fair number of the fabric stores are owned by Jewish people; therefore, they aren't there on Saturday. No working on the sabbith. Go during the week, or on Sunday. It's just better all around.

If you choose to shop at any of the clothing stores, many times they require a wholesalers license and to buy a min amount.
Some of the shops will sell full retail price which is about 3x more expensive. Ask when you walk in the store if they sell to non-wholesale or you will be wasting your time.