With its noisy, colourful fruit and veg market, long-established Soho businesses and amazing fabric shops, Berwick Street in London is a place of quirky, characterful English beauty, but Broadwick Silks (just off Berwick Street) is a thing of utter beauty. It's filled with shimmering gorgeousness and light dancing on shot silks and richly coloured dupions. I've been in there twice in the last couple of weeks not knowing what to choose but have been helped out by the clever assistants with impressive textile and design qualifications who make the extra pennies per metre worth paying when they get as excited as you about the project you are planning and know everything there is to know about sewing with silk.
Plus they know how to cut and fold and wrap fabrics so beautifully that when you get home and open your tissue-paper-wrapped parcel, the room is filled a silky glow.
Oh my. That store sounds like pure heaven - and not a little addictive! t.x
Posted by: kitschen pink | March 18, 2009 at 08:40
The whole of that area is utterly addictive. I got lost in the Cloth House the other day - I'm incapable of leaving without a little bag of something. Kleins is worth checking out - an Aladdin's cave for trim and fastenings.
Posted by: Cat | March 18, 2009 at 09:19
How lovely.
The street market is lovely there, so colourful and the vendors take such pride in their produce.
What are your silky plans?
Posted by: The Antidote | March 18, 2009 at 10:08
Yes, I've been there, and you're right about the service you get. Beautiful fabrics. Gosh, what a bundle to bring home and unwrap.
Cherry x
Posted by: Cherry Menlove | March 18, 2009 at 10:11
Well as if I didnt' want to go to London bad enough, you have to go tempt me with stories about this wonderful shop!!!
Love the fabric you chose and can't wait to see what it "becomes"!
Posted by: kathryn | March 18, 2009 at 10:23
Sounds like a little bit of heaven to me. I have always loved textured silk. My wedding dress was an off white shantung. I flet like a princess in it.
Posted by: JulieKP | March 18, 2009 at 12:33
If you are at Broadwick Silks it's always worth popping round the corner to the Fernadez and Wells http://www.fernandezandwells.com/beak.php in Beak street (not the other on near Mrs Marengos) they do the best coffee that I have ever had and some really delicious cakes and sandwiches - highly recommended, especially after looking at all the lovely fabric.
Posted by: Bekky | March 18, 2009 at 12:50
A room filled with a silky glow.... what a lovely concept.
Posted by: Susan D | March 18, 2009 at 13:33
I think the silky glow comes from the silk not the wrapping.
Posted by: Delores King | March 18, 2009 at 15:32
Oooh! what could you be making?
Posted by: aneela | March 18, 2009 at 16:35
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Readersguide | March 18, 2009 at 17:26
I love places that make you feel like you are opening up a gift for yourself when you get home with your purchase. If only more little places existed that would do this. I would gladly pay a little more for that good feeling.
Posted by: Amy | March 18, 2009 at 17:58
Following on from Amy's comment about the wrapping...I bought some new underwear recently and it came with a little lingerie bag with lovely silk ribbons. The shop assistant couldn't understand why she should put the things into the bag (I had to ask)and not just put the bag in the carrier along with the undies!!
It took the edge off the whole idea really, but I still keep them in the bag in my drawer as it's so pretty.
Back on topic- love the colours you've chosen for the silks.
Posted by: Rattling On | March 18, 2009 at 23:02
What beautiful colours! Can't wait to see what you will do with them. Broadwick Silks sounds like heaven.
Posted by: catherine | March 19, 2009 at 04:33
So beautiful. I pop in here often to enjoy your beautiful photos and the beautiful things you chose to photograph. Thank you.
Posted by: Dianne | March 19, 2009 at 06:13
Long time no comment, but I love both the post which is seductive and the comments which are enlightening. The jewel colours of silk and the texture inspire me to want to undertake a project and the readers' recommendations to go and explore these shopping delights. Thank you all, this is just what I love about blogging - don't you?
Teresa
Posted by: Teresa | March 19, 2009 at 09:14
Such rich colours!! And you are right about the shimmer, and I am only seeing them on my computer!! Do show off the end product!!
Posted by: Judy | March 19, 2009 at 12:35
oh so lovely saffrony colors -- will you back the silks first before sewing?
Posted by: MaryjoO | March 19, 2009 at 20:53
Please please please allow extra seam allowance (at least half an inch) if you are piecing silk - I didn't and had to do conservation work before it was even finished (took three years!!!)
Posted by: Georgina | March 23, 2009 at 09:01