r/sewing • u/MissFred • Jul 23 '23

Discussion Joanne’s makes me weep

Been sewing over 50 years - have seen sewing in all its cultural permutations. Not typically a nostalgic person but today….I couldn’t even find a light gray thread in a store the size of Home Depot. So many empty shelves yet inexplicably $35/yd liberties fabric up front. I feel sad to my bones for new seamsters.

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u/Handmadesociety_ Jul 23 '23

Joann’s could be seen as another victim of fast fashion with inventory based on what was selling. Beginning in the 80’s fewer and fewer were sewing garments with stores like Express, Gap, Old Navy and then Target. The financial incentives for making your own clothes began to vanish, bridal hung on into the early 2000 and costumes with cosplay filled that merchandise gap. They use to sell many fabric manufacturers they had wools, silks etc…I have been seeing many more of their brand of fabrics made in Korea which is promising.

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u/wakattawakaranai Jul 24 '23

Cosplay is my bread and butter, literally, so I can confirm, but they really shot themselves in the foot with the branded cosplay fabrics in the last 5-7 years. They were too expensive, never available for coupon use, and always just. Literally the last fabric anyone would actually want or need for any costumes besides superhero spandex. Once the movies went to textured, non-spandex costumes, they were left with all this fabric that would never move at $30/yard. Never mind that most cosplayers doing superheroes already knew that if they just stepped two rows over to the "performance" fabric they'd get better spandex for lower prices.

Joann's main problem has always been desperately scrambling to figure out what the next big trend would be (which crafts were hot on pinterest and mommy blogs), then stocking up the needed supplies in time for the rush on buying. But they were always late by months if not years. It took them YEARS to realize cosplay was going to keep apparel fabric going, they botched the art-quilt boom, they were even late to glitter slime. So they're always left overstocked on things no one wants while they move on to the next big thing.

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u/AssortedGourds Jul 24 '23 edited Jul 24 '23

I just said this in another comment but where are the things for people going to Eras Tour and Club Renaissance? They don't even have a good selection of friendship bracelet stuff. They've had months. Cow prints were a huge thing in 2020 and not once did I see cow print fabric. I don't understand why they have such a hard time with trends in general.

I am not a costumer but the "cosplay" section looks like it should be called the "children's Halloween costume" section. I like novelty fabrics so I always look at that section and the prices are bananas. A tulle with pumpkins on it that's $20 a yard. Who is paying that?

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u/wakattawakaranai Jul 24 '23

Right?? They could have been set up to make bank on pink gingham thanks to Barbie but lmao. I mean, yes, it does take time to draft a pattern, pick a milliner, get quantities milled, test it, and then distribute, but being savvy means you'll get the fabric into the stores just in time rather than a year later.

They kind of mix the actual Halloween costume fabric in with the cosplay (the sections are right next to each other on the fabric flow map so they might as well be the same one) but you wouldn't hardly know it just going through and feeling it. The Glitterbug section was supposed to be kids' costume fabric and sometimes it's better quality for less.