Fwd: [Fwd: HERB - fabric stores and allergies]

[KATAKIRA@aol.com]

Greetings from Katarina Peregrine, Middle Kingdom. Your postings were 
forwarded to me by a friend recently. I found them rather interesting:
In a message dated 7/14/99 4:31:15 PM, stormsno at oplin.lib.oh.us writes:

<< >     Jo-Ann's was purchased by House of Fabric who also purchased fabric 
land
> some years back  I don't know what is happening now but Fabric Land and
> House of Fabric continued for several years to market under both names
> posing as competitors.
>      Truly fine fabrics have become a rarity.  I suggest shopping is
> privately owned shops and mail order as these are the only places today that
> carry truly fine fabric.  Don't get me wrong for craft fabric and some garb
> the chains can be good; also children's wear and everyday cotton and
> polyesters. >>

You might be interested to know that JoAnn Stores, Inc. actually purchased 
Fabricland, New York Fabrics and House of Fabrics and converted them to 
Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts Stores and Jo-Ann etc stores, not the other way 
around. The company is planning to open over a dozen more Jo-Ann etc stores 
and even more traditional Jo-Ann stores in the next year. You are correct in 
noticing that the former Fabricland and House of Fabric names were retained 
for quite some time--when over 200 stores are aquired, it is rather difficult 
to blend them into the parent company operation overnight. The stores, 
however, did not "pose" as competitors. They were handled for some time as 
separate business units, with an eye to unification under the Jo-Ann name.

And although the stores don't carry the range of fine fabrics that one might 
find in specialty stores, you find over the next year that the selection of 
couture fabrics, including silks, cottons, linens, wools and blends of these 
fabrics will be expanded, especially in Jo-Ann etc stores. The etc stores, 
along with larger Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts stores will also be carrying more 
brocades, jaquards and woven plaids.

The Special Order/Special Occasion Book and the Craft Fabric Special Order 
books are also good resources when one is looking for a particular fabric at 
a manageable price. These books include all of the fine fabrics and special 
occasion fabrics that Jo-Ann stores stock. The Craft Fabric book includes all 
of the 100% cotton and cotton blend craft fabrics that are in stock. This 
collection includes all fabrics available, including the seasonal fabrics 
(e.g., special fabrics for Christmas or other holidays).

One thing you may also want to keep in mind when inquiring about special 
order fabric is if the fabric is re-orderable. Sometimes the fabric is 
purchased only for a particular selling season, and when it has all been 
shipped out of the warehouse, it is not re-orderable from the fabric 
manufacturer.

I have been in the SCA 10 years, and have purchased the lion's share of my 
fabric from Jo-Ann. Granted, for my period (late12th-early 13th c.) I can get 
away with cotton, linen and silk solids, which I can find there. The trim 
selection is decent, and it’s nice to know I can also get Gutermann silk 
hand/machine thread at Jo-Ann. Of course, if one is working in a later 
period, it would be hard to find silk brocades, silk velvets and so on at 
Jo-Ann, and a specialty store might be a better source. However, I feel I 
must disagree with your evaluation that the only thing one can find are 
everyday, "children's wear and everyday cotton and polyesters."

There have been a lot of changes at Jo-Ann lately, and there are more to 
come. Drop in occasionally. You might be surprised!

Regards,

Katarina Peregrine, Gwyntarian, Middle Kingdom
[Karen Johnson, copywriter, Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. Hudson, OH)
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