Oh, I love Japanese fabric so much. Sigh. Just thinking about my trip last year makes me all warm and hazy with fabric drunkenness. But sadly I can’t pop over every time I have a hankering for some salt-treated seersucker or unbelievable watercolour Nani Iro double gauze… Luckily, I’ve found a few great sources without leaving the comfort of my own home! So here is my guide on where to buy Japanese fabric if you can’t actually go to Japan.

Just some of my garments made with Japanese fabrics! Renfrew sweatshirt, Nani Iro Shirtdress, Butterick B5929 lemon and grey canvas skirt.

Miss Matatabi

By far my favourite Japanese fabric store is Miss Matatabi. Run by Australian Frances who lives in Tokyo, Miss Matatabi has a really phenomenal selection of Japanese fabric – Frances has great taste. There are the “big names” like Nani Iro and Kokka, but also loads of unusual fabrics from smaller designers, including quilted knits, metallic linens and seersuckers. Not only that, but the prices and shipping are actually much more reasonable than you might imagine for fabric coming directly from Japan. Here a few of my fave fabrics on there at the moment (I can feel an order coming on…)

1. Nani Iro for Kokka Fuccra rakuen “St Moritz” double gauze – I’d love a dreamy summer dress in this.
2. Plaid double gauze would make a fantastic popover shirt!
3. Gingham check seersucker lawn – gathered summer skirt, coming right up.
4. “Pearls” seersucker lawn would be a really sophisticated woven summer top
5. “Cat Jumble” cotton lawn – cats. Because. Cats.
6. Green waffle knit – wouldn’t a sweatshirt in this look fantastic?

Super Buzzy 

Super Buzzy is a gorgeous shop in Ventura, CA about 90 minutes drive north of LA, and it specializes in Japanese fabrics. They stock mostly wovens, from lawns to canvas and jacquard, but they also have a small but lovely selection of knits. There are many of the “big name” Japanese designers in stock, along with more unexpected bolts. They also have really fun Japanese notions, gifts and even sweets in store! If you can’t visit in person, they also sell online.

Here are some lovely fabrics from Super Buzzy:

1. Indigo Road Kenji cotton
2. Mt. Fuji Indigo cotton dobby
3. Vintage Japan “chicks and sticks” cotton
4. Nani Iro Mountain Views Bud double gauze
5. Nani Iro Free Way Thick Gauze – Tanoshi
6. Yarn dyed waves cotton

Fabric Worm 

Another great online option is Fabric Worm, who have a lovely selection of Japanese import fabrics. Lots of cute animal prints as well as some really dreamy double gauzes.

1. Sheep Toss canvas
2. Seeded dots canvas in red
3. Penguin brushed cotton/linen blend
4. Paint dots cream cotton
5. Gulls night double gauze
6. Colorful pocho teal by Nani Iro double gauze 

So that’s your guide to where to buy Japanese fabric – are you as much as a fan of this fabric as I am? And have you found any other really good suppliers? I’m mostly aware of US-based stockists but if you live elsewhere and have found some stockists, let us all know in the comments!