Haberdashery Shops in Milan

One of the most frequent questions you ask me is “where can I buy beautiful fabrics in Milan?”. In this post from 2015, recently updated, I listed my favorite stores in town. The second most frequent question is “do you know haberdashery shops in Milan?”. With the help of two other sewing addicts from Milan, Diana of Two Points Couture and Eleonora, I made a list of our favourites and those worth visiting. As for fabric shops, the list is not exhaustive, it doesn’t include all the shops in the city, but only those we know and have visited. Our opinion is obviously personal, therefore we suggest you visit them all, if you have the opportunity, in order to pick your own favourites out.

We always look around for new shops, so if you know some places worth visiting or adding to this list, please write them down in the comment form below. We will be happy to test them!

HABERDASHERY AND HISTORIC SPECIALIST SHOPS

(in alphabetical order)

CARCANO FODERAMI
Corso Indipendenza, 23 – Map
Nearest tube: Milano Dateo Railway Station
www.carcanofoderami.it
Old haberdashery shop founded in 1952. It’s a small shop but very well-stocked. This is the only shop in Milan in which we found the flat rubber elastic for swimwear so far, if you are interested.

GUFFANTI MERCERIA
Corso di Porta Romana, 7 – Map
Nearest tube: Missori, MM3
www.mercerieguffanti.it
Historic haberdashery shop founded in 1859…just think it’s more than 150 years old! They have a great selection of buttons (also vintage buttons, from the 50s and the 60s for instance), Swarovski appliques, laces (both traditional, also in silk, and elastic), ribbons and trimmings and much more. Everything is very beautiful and high quality.

FONTE DELLA MODA
Via Melzo, 19 – Map
Nearest tube: Porta Venezia, MM1
www.fontedellamoda.it
It’s an old shop in Milan, founded in the 20s. It’s a well-stocked haberdashery’s and they sell high quality fabrics, above all wool and cotton. I bought some beautiful laces in the past. The shop is small but very nice. It has an amazing vintage atmosphere, it’s like going back into the past.

FODERAMI PINOTTI
Via D. Scarlatti, 9 – Map
Nearest tube: Centrale, MM3 – Caiazzo, MM2 – Lima, MM1
eshop.pinottimercerieingrosso.it
Wholesaler/retailer that sells fabrics and supplies for dressmakers and the clothing industry. They sell online too. Here you can buy products that are difficult to find in a typical haberdashery shop, such as threads for serger, stay tape, wadding/padding, several kind of fusible interfacing and much more. Have a look at their online store to check what products they have and what you can find in their shop.

MERCERIA GRASSI
Via Piero della Francesca, 29 – Map
Nearest tube: Domodossola, MM5
Facebook
It’s a historical shop (“Bottega storica” in Italian) in Milan, founded in 1945. It’s a small shop but very well-stocked. They have a great selection of buttons (also vintage buttons), trimmings, appliques, laces, ribbons and much more.

RAPONI
viale D’Annunzio, 27 | Nearest tube: P.ta genova. M2 – Map
piazza Monte Titano,4 (ang. via Ronchi) | Nearest tube: Lambrate FS. M2 – Map
via Ambrogio Strada, 73 (BRESSO) – Map
www.tessutiraponi.it
Tessuti Raponi has three shops in Milan, one in the Darsena/Navigli area, another in the Lambrate area and the third one in Bresso. They are big shops where you can find fabrics and a lot of remnants. Here you can find well-stocked haberdasheries, where we frequently stock up. They sell Burda patterns.

ROBERTA DE MARCHI
Viale Carlo Troya 7 – Map
Nearest tube: Porta Genova FS, MM2
www.robertademarchi.com
It’s a specialist shop in hobby crafts products such as sewing/quilting, patchwork, appliquè, embroidery, knitting, crocheting. They sell American, Japanese and French fabrics, online too. They give courses.

TESSUTI E SCAMPOLI
Via Lario, 14 – Map
Nearest tube: Zara, MM3
www.tessutiescampoli.it
It’s a big two-storey fabric shop. You can find a well-stocked haberdashery, where we frequently stock up. You can find remnants at sale prices.

TUTTO PER LA SARTA
Via Federico Ozanam, 2 – Map
Nearest tube: Lima, MM1
www.tuttoperlasarta.it
It’s an old shop in Milan, founded in 1933. It’s very well-stocked (you’ll find buttons, trimmings, appliques, ribbons, sewing tools and much more) and we frequently stock up here.

VIGANO’ ALTA MODA
Via Paolo da Cannobio, 39 – Map
Nearest tube: Missori, MM3
www.vigano1919.it
It’s a historical shop (“Bottega storica” in Italian) in Milan, founded in 1919. They sell high fashion embroidery materials (beads, sequins, crystals, metal/plastic and wood pearls, stones, appliques, etc.) and vintage bijouterie, wholesale and retail. They have beautiful buttons, appliques, trimming and old threads. Some buttons are even from the 20s. It’s the perfect shop to find a jewel button or an applique to embellish your dresses/clothes/project. The shop is beautiful and it’s better in real life than in photos.

ZUCCHERO FILATO
Viale Tunisia, 5 – Map
Nearest tube: Porta Venezia, MM1
www.zucchero-filato.it
It’s a very nice haberdashery shop, close to Porta Venezia. They have several sewing materials (buttons, ribbons, trimming, printed American cotton fabrics, appliques, zippers, books and so on), but also knitting and embroidery goods. They make custom embroideries and hold sewing, knitting and crocheting classes. Erika, the owner, is very nice!

ZIPPERS

VILLA NARDO CERNIERE
Via Durini, 24 – Map
Nearest tube: San Babila, MM1
www.chiusurelamponardo.com
Old milanese specialist shop, founded in 1938. They sell every kind of zipper, wholesale and retail, even custom-made zippers. You can choose among several materials, colours, lenghts, slide fasteners and they will create your custom zipper!

METAL HABERDASHERY

(in alphabetical order)

DAL PIERO
Corso Lodi, 73 – Map
Nearest tube: Brenta, MM3
Metal accessories for leather goods and clothing.

FARUFFINI
Via Bernardino Verro 33/6 – Map
Nearest tube: Famagosta/Abbiategrasso, MM2
www.faruffinisrl.it
Metal accessories for leather goods and clothing. They sell wholesale and retail.

LOCAL MARKET

You can come across a haberdashery stall at some local markets in Milan, one of those is Filati e Fantasia di Salvatore e Teresa. They sell sewing tools, threads, trimming and laces, lining fabrics, ribbon, bias tapes, interfacings and so on. If you don’t find what you’re looking for at the stall, they will place an order for you with their suppliers. Here is where you can find them in Milan: Monday on via Kramer, Tuesday on via Volturno (Lagosta), Wednesday on via Rancati e Friday on via Stresa.

EMBROIDERY, CROCHETING AND KNITTING

It’s not our field (we’re sewing lovers!), but if you love embroidery, crocheting and knitting we suggest also:

CANETTA – MANI DI FATA
via Solferino angolo via Pontaccio 2 – Mappa | Nearest tube: Lanza, MM2 | Montenapoleone, MM3
via Dante 4 – Mappa | Nearest tube: Cordusio, MM1
via Mazzini 22 – Mappa | Nearest tube: Missori, MM3
via Vettabbia 7 – Mappa | Nearest tube: Missori, MM3
www.manidifata.it
They have shops in Rome, Naples, Genova, Como and Turin too and they sell online.

Last update: 17.11.2017

We advise checking opening hours out by visiting their web-site or calling the shop directly.
NB: These shops could be closed for holidays in August, in December (Christmas-time) or over other official holidays. Please check on their websites or call the shops to be sure they are open. 

Here is a map of the shops above, that also includes the fabric shops.
Have fun and happy shopping!

Cover picture | Ph. Martina – Ladulsatina at Merceria Guffanti
Local market pictures | Ph. Diana – Two Points Couture
The other pictures | Ph. Martina – Ladulsatina

SEE THE FABRIC SHOPS LIST >

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