After being a seamstress for so many years, I’ve compiled a long list of online sources for costuming supplies. JoAnns and Michaels work in a pinch for the basics, but being based in the Midwest, my selection of quality fabric stores is pretty slim. I could drive over an hour to get to a specialty fabric store, but usually I only do so for “fun” trips, rather than sourcing. For those of us with hectic schedules, it’s more convenient to order online instead of sacrificing the time to drive somewhere in hope of finding what I need.
For the vast majority of us who aren’t lucky enough to live near the L.A. and New York fashion districts, here’s a masterlist of online costuming suppliers. It includes fabric, notions, footwear, and much more! (Hint: If you’re looking for something specific, use CTRL+F to search the page!)
These are all supplies that I have personally worked with and order from on a consistent basis; as a result, they are primarily intended for customers living in the United States.
I’ll update it as I come across new suppliers, so be sure to check back regularly! (Last Updated: 6/3/2019)
DISCLAIMER: I do not earn money if you click on these links or place an order from any of these stores. Should this change, I will make note of it.
Fabric & Notions
- Fabric.com: Fabric.com is a great source for basic fabrics like broadcloths, linens, cottons, and more. Their selection of faux fur is also impressive.
- Spandex World: My go-to for spandex fabrics. I highly recommend their moleskin and milliskin! (Keep in mind, shipping is pricey and there’s a minimum order threshold of $20.)
- Dharma Trading: I adore Dharma Trading; their silks have wonderful fibers and they take to acid dye so beautifully. Personal favorites are their silk charmeuse, chiffon, and crepe de chine. Speaking of acid dye, I love Dharma’s own brand of it; the color payoff is impressive, and they’re easy to mix.
- SYFabrics: As the name implies, this is a great source for synthetic fabrics. They have a large selection of faux fur and vinyl, which can effectively substitute animal products. I love using their clothing PVC in place of leather!
- Mendel’s: If SYFabrics doesn’t have the fur I’m looking for, I check Mendel’s. (They’re a staple of the puppetry community, hence the variety of “muppet” fur in their selection.)
- MJTrends: They’re not a favorite source of mine, per say, but I’ve found a few rare fabrics here that I couldn’t find anywhere else. Their quality can fluctuate, so get samples to verify what you’re ordering.
- SilkBaron: If I need a unique color of silk, I always check SilkBaron first if it’ll save me the task of dyeing it myself. Their silks are handmade and hand-dyed, and the craftsmanship shows. Their dupioni silks are some of the most gorgeous I’ve ever worked with, and the colors are simply to dye for!
- NY Designer Fabrics: For couture garments or any “go big or go home” projects, I order straight from the same sources as NYC’s top designers. The price tags are alarming, but the quality is worth every penny. If you’re looking for something like double-faced silk satin, brocades, or taffeta, consider splurging a bit. Working with couture fabrics is a luxury, but if you can afford it once in a while, it’s worth it!
- MoodFabrics: One of my absolute favorite fabric sources! Mood carries everything from high-end designer fabrics that run upwards of $50/yd to affordable fabrics for less than $5/yd. They have many unique fabrics, and I have always been impressed by their quality.
- Online Fabric Store: You can find some unique fabrics hidden in their selection, especially when it comes to tulle and organza.
- Tutu.com: If you’re working on a project that involves netting, tulle, organza, or other sheer materials, consider ordering from Tutu.com! I’ve used their fabrics for a handful of ballet costumes and only have good things to say about the quality, selection, and customer service.
- Etsy: If I can’t find what I need from a dedicated fabric supplier, I’ve had some fantastic luck finding the perfect fabric from Etsy sellers. Just be careful, because (a) you can’t order swatches most of the time; (b) supplies may be limited; and (c) scammers may use inaccurate product photos. Check reviews to be safe!
- Spoonflower: I love using Spoonflower to create my own custom fabrics! If you’re looking for a unique pattern and simply can’t find it anywhere else, you can upload your own design and have it printed on a huge variety of fabric types. For non-stretch garments, I love working with their organic cotton sateen.
- Leather Unlimited: I try to avoid using animal products; though this site carries real leather, it has a fantastic range of vinyls that can act as substitutes.
- Corset Making: This site has twill, busks, boning, everything you need to make a corset or bodice — including patterns if you don’t want to draft your own!
- Truly Victorian: Historical patterns, crinoline supplies, and much more!
Tip: Always swatch your fabric before ordering online! Colors can appear drastically different on our computer monitors, especially if your monitor isn’t calibrated. Order a swatch or “sample” from the online seller prior to dropping mad cash on a bunch of yardage. This way, you can be sure you’re ordering exactly what you want.
Patterns
- Amazon Dry Goods: A fantastic source for historical patterns.
- Simplicity Costume Patterns: Simplicity has been a staple of household sewing for decades, and they offer over 200 costume patterns. Their patterns tend to be oriented towards the beginner/intermediate seamstress, and they are very easy to alter and adapt for other purposes. (If you’re interested, I have designed two patterns for Simplicity: a school uniform blazer/skirt combination, and a pattern for the original female Pokemon Go! Trainer outfit. I also have a pattern hack tutorial to alter Simplicity 8482 into an accurate Organization XIII coat.)
- Cosplay by McCall’s: Sewing patterns designed by cosplayers for cosplayers! They have many character-specific patterns available, as well as a wide selection of generic designs that can be adapted for other projects.
Beadwork & Buttons
- Fire Mountain Gems & Beads: Their selection is, honestly, unbeatable. They also have quantity discounts so you can save a bit on those humungous beading projects that require thousands of the same bead.
- Doreen Beads: Great prices and selection, although shipping can take a bit long since their products come directly from China. (But worldwide shipping is also free, so can we really complain?)
- The Button Baron: If you’re a historical costumer, make sure this site is bookmarked! They have notions from 1840-1940.
- Etsy: Again, if a large beading supplier doesn’t have what I need, or I want something truly unique (particularly for vintage/historical costumes), Etsy is a lifesaver.
Tip: Double-check bead sizes before ordering! Some sellers don’t include comparisons like coins or human hands in product photos to demonstrate the size of the bead, so break out a ruler and make sure that the given millimeter dimensions are the size you want for the bead in question.
Shoes & Footwear
Prop-Making
- YayaHan.com: Yaya’s online shop carries both Worbla and Thibra.
- Super Bright LEDs: If you need LEDs for a project, you can’t get more straight-forward than this!
- Arduino/AdaFruit Industries: For more complex lighting projects, AdaFruit has the technology.
- Blicks: A great source for molding/casting products, resin, inks, Mod Podge, and more. They also have physical retail locations, and trust me, if you’re even the slightest bit artistic, walking into Blicks is like walking into heaven.
- Evike: If you need a firearm replica, Evike is the largest airsoft retailer. (Make sure to invest in a carrying case for it, too, if you’ll be transporting it in public!)
- TNT Cosplay Supply: This site carries EVA Foam in a wide range of thicknesses and properties, as well as plastazote, foam clay, and all the tools you need to work with foam products.
Undergarments, Shapewear, & Accessories
- Underworks& T-Kingdom: Two excellent sources for binders and other shapewear garments.
- Discount Dance Supply& Dancewear Solutions: For shapewear, dance tights, and other foundation garments.
- WeLoveColors: For plain/basic leotards, unitards, tights, leggings, gloves, and more.
- Sock Dreams: Every type of socks, tights, thigh-highs, knee-highs, and leggings you can imagine! They also have things like gloves, scarves, suspenders, and garters. (Not to mention they’re body-positive and they have fantastic customer service.)
- Angel’s Bridal Shop: If you want to avoid the stress of sewing your own crinoline, they have a super-affordable selection of hoopskirts and petticoats.
Wigs
- Arda Wigs: Some of the highest-quality and most affordable wigs on the market. They have a huge range of colors and styles, and their fibers are specifically designed for both easy and complicated styling techniques. Not to mention, when you shop here, you’re supporting a US-based company founded by women that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights.
- Lucaille: These wigs are designed more for specific characters, but who’s to say you can’t get one and modify it for an original design? The fibers can be a tad shiny, but I’ve loved working with their longer wigs as they’re very tangle-resistant.
- Diva’s Wigs: Gorgeous lace-fronts and human hair wigs for more natural and historical costuming.
- EpicCosplay
- WigIsFashion
- Gothic Lolita Wigs
Bias Disclaimer: I am affiliated with Arda Wigs as a sponsored cosplayer.
Contacts & Circle Lenses
Caution: In the past, Pinky Paradise has sold “dud lenses” to consumers that have caused eye damage. Please be careful when ordering contacts online, and always check with an eye doctor prior to doing so. Many sites require you to upload a prescription in order to place an order.
Makeup & SFX Supplies
Misc. Costuming Supplies & Resources
- Angelus Direct: Leather and suede paints, dyes, and material care.
- Rainbow Feather Company: Again, not always a fan of using animal products, but this is a good source for real feathers. (That being said, if your project allows for it, consider making faux feathers.)
- WireTronic Inc.: A variety of wholesale wire products.
- Etsy: In addition to fabric, Etsy is also a wonderful resource for trims, beads, brass stampings, and other detail-oriented materials to add some decoration to your costume.
- KamuiCosplay.com: Kamui sells a variety of incredibly helpful cosplay books that introduce concepts such as armor-making, prop-building, sewing, LEDs, and more! Her store also offers patterns for many different cosplay projects.
- Punished Props: Bill is a staple of the prop-building community, and his website offers how-to books, patterns, tutorials, and more!
Suppliers Who Have Been Suggested to Me
- Fabrics-Store.com: Linen and other natural fabrics.
- Farthingale’s Corset Making: Corset-making materials, notions, and tools. (Canada)
- Wawak: An extensive depository of sewing supplies and notions (i.e. needles, thread, scissors, zippers, etc).
- Spandex By the Yard: Another source of spandex and lycra fabrics. (California-based)
- Embroidery Material: Embroidery floss, threads, beads, crystals, sequins, and other materials to give your project some extra bling.
Note: I have not personally tried the above suggested suppliers, so please proceed with caution.
Do you have a favorite costuming supplier that isn’t on this list? Let me know about them in the comments, or send me a message! I’ll give them a try on a future project and let you know what I think. They’ll join the masterlist if I have a good experience!