BURST
Vancouver’s clothesmakers and crafters have been dealt a blow with the sale and planned closure of beloved downtown fabric store Dressew Supply .
Company president David McKie confirmed the sale of the building at 337 West Hastings St. was finalized earlier this month. Dressew has a one-year lease with the new owner to continue operation through May 1, 2027.
While McKie said the company is not ready to disclose the reason for selling, the finalizing of the sale has left them feeling relieved.
“We are thankful to have the building sale behind us now, and sharing this news is a bit more weight off our shoulders,” McKie said. “We do hope to continue Dressew in one form or another, and we will share any updates when we have them.
“This is literally the only job I’ve ever had, and I’m not ready to let it go just yet.”
Inside the cavernous, two-storey store on Hastings, a spot it has occupied since 1981, the business stocks “every type of fabric,” including cotton, linen and silk.
“We also stock over 10,000 different zippers and over 10,000 different buttons, plus ribbon, cord, feathers, and all kinds of treasures you can’t find anywhere else,” McKie said.
Founded in 1961 by McKie’s father, Roger, the company was originally called Dressmakers’ and Milliners’ Supply House. Over the past 65 years, the business became much more than just a fabric store.
“For me it’s not just my family business, but where I met my wife — we are one of three married couples currently working here who also met here,” McKie said. “We count among our customers not just home sewists but fashion designers, burlesque dancers, drag queens and kings, costume designers for theatre and film, cosplayers, small business owners and more.
“We’ve been around long enough to see people shop for fabric for their wedding dresses, then baby blankets, grad dresses and baby blankets for grandchildren. Generations teaching generations the love and value of sewing and crafting, and it’s very special that we get to be a part of it.”
In 2024, the news broke that the longtime creative outlet would close pending the sale of the building. They also plan to close their two nearby warehouses.
The news of the closure has prompted some worry among local sewers whose livelihoods depend on their creations. The company’s selection has helped to bridge the gap between retail and wholesale for local small businesses that can’t meet the wholesale minimums of larger fabric and manufacturing operations.
“I was sad, and mildly panicked,” said Katelyn Woodburn, owner and designer behind the Vancouver-made clothing line Street and Saddle . “For years, I’ve been spoiled by having such a well-stocked and reasonably priced option for sourcing small amounts of materials for custom orders and samples. I’ve gone into Dressew countless times with the most obscure shopping lists.”
For small, independent designers like Woodburn, losing that access to materials limits her ability to experiment with new designs.
“If you’re a designer willing to spend some time treasure hunting, like myself, I’ve found some high-end fabrics to incorporate into my collections at Dressew,” she said. “In these instances, this also saves the fabric from the landfill, creating a circular economy that supports sustainability and multiple local businesses.”
Pointing to local fabric sellers such as the online-only Blackbird Fabrics, Spool of Thread and Atex Fabrics, as alternative resources for local sewers, Woodburn said the loss of the longtime local company will be felt by many.
“From the quilters to the cosplayers, the designers to the tailors, Dressew will be sorely missed if they close permanently.”