Sil Thread

Walked in and was really surprised at the selection. Everything you would need as a consumer. Very organized, you’re not tripping over supplies unlike every other store in the Garment District. Great selection of Clover tools and notions. Huge variety of colors for threads and zippers.

HORRIBLE customer service behind the counter. I asked a simple question about zippers and got major attitude coupled with incompetence from the manager/​owner.
Definitely talks down to his customers, even those who have been going there for years. I won’t be spending my money there any longer. Don’t patronize this business!
After a disappointing experience I headed straight over to Miju on 37^th street where I was helped by the friendly and informed staff there. And for ri-​ri zippers, head over to Pacific.

Best selection in town and worst customer service. Manager talkes down to his customers instead of working with them. Every sales clerk tells you authoritatively a different story. Don’t go here unless they are the ONLY place that stocks what you need.

I agree with the other comments about their selection.
However, I know of other stores with great selections, that are also helpful, knowledgable and have decent return policies!
I bought several items from here for a production and asked assistance on 2 of them. They were WRONG about both, and even though I called and told them what happened, (that they sold me the wrong tool for the snaps I purchased, even after I asked if it was the right one) they still would only take the snaps back and not the $ 19 tool, which I would never have purchased if they hadn’t told me it was the correct tool for the snaps.
I will only ever go there again if they are the only store in the city where I know I can find a certain specific item. Otherwise, I’m headed to P&S for far better prices, better service and an actual return policy!

I needed a spool of hot pink thread and found this place on Unilocal.Luckily, it’s right by my office!
It’s easy to navigate or non-​experienced sewers. The other thread stores in the area are very overwhelming and seem to be geared towards wholesale.
The spool was only $ 2.25 and they have a ton of shades, you’re bound to find what you need.

«Why are you giving five stars?» — basically Unilocal aggregates responses. This business deserves four stars, BUT– there are too many undeserved negative reviews.
SIL is ZIPPER and Accessory HEAVEN– selection and GREAT PRICES. I spent the trainfare to get there, but saved a ton. (Hint, don’t buy the $ 6 YKK’s, if you can get the near-​identical 75 cent SIL store brand zippers. THIS specifically is what a lot of the raves are about.) Also cheap tailor chalk, thread, batting, boning, yarnwork supplies, scissors– and one of the cheapest and best lint removers ($ 3, $ 2 refill rolls) I’ve ever used.
Two recommendations. 1– SIL’s prices knock the stuffings out of the competition, just suck it up about some of the sales staff being less than communicatve (still nice folks, overall I say, just young…)
2– if you really need and want the spot-​on customer service and prompt friendly recommendations– but a more remote store– Sew True (way on like 12^th ave– quie hike but great service and knowlegeable staff, prices are not bad at all).
But to hop off the train, go a block and a half and get a mess of things, very cheaply that would cost a mint elsewhere and a few suggestions if you get the right sales person– SIL beats the rest.

Awesome, awesome place to find zippers! Found a certain color of a jeans zipper that I’ve given up searching for (online)! Great place in the Garment District finding dressmaking supplies!!!

Based on it’s name, you’d think they only sell thread. Think again!
This place carries zippers of all types, sizes, and colors for outerwear to dresses.
HUGE selection of threads in every color and type you can imagine!
Up front is stocked with rulers, french curves, and other tools you’d need for pattern design. A selection of Clover and Nancy’s sewing notions is carried here as well as Japanese bias tape in a rainbow of colors and sizes. You can also order dress forms and a couple of sewing machines and sergers from the displays when you first enter the store. Sewing needles for both and and machine are sold at the counter along with small sewing notions. The zippers are in the middle of the store and the threads are all towards the back. You can also get pattern making paper here in a pre-​cut roll or by the yard. Muslin is sold in pre-​cut packets here too for the students that come in.
Yes, this store also doubles as Parsons School of Design’s supply store as a LONG line of students will be here during the beginning of the semesters for their pattern making supplies. Be warned.

Have messed up my zipper sizing cuts and openings/​closures multiple times, all while being incredibly rude. I use to use them for all my zipper needs but due to the horrible customer service I will not longer be using/​recommending them to anyone.

I love this shop and come here often since I am able to find most things I need for work. They have a great selection of threads and zippers, plus lots of little Japanese craft items. The only reason I gave them 4 stars instead of 5 is due to their staff. They are not the happiest of people. I can use some more smiles when I go there… then I would give them 5 stars :-)

Okay, they don’t have the best thread selection. Their Gutterman selection is getting increasingly smaller and they’re settling for these cheaper brands that make threads snag. Try Pacific Trimming or Steinlauf and Stoller.

Price tags resolved: during my visit everyhting was labelled with a price. This is the go to place for threads of almost every conceivable color! Go to the back of the floor where there is just a trillion types of threads (cotton, polyester, for jeans) and the colors are just great. Price is fantastic. Not the strongest of thread type: but works great for most clothes fabrics.
Also great for zippers in every color and size. I also found light engineer tracing paper, but wished they also stocked one with a wider width than the 18″ one. Still very happy with the price! Few places, if any, offer this product. Definately going back for more.
I decided there is no one go-​to shop: just need to know the go to shop for the item you need. This is my go to store for zippers, threads and tracing paper. They have other sewing tools there too that are very competitvely priced. Ha, they also stock bamboo knitting needles! love them too.
Update: another trimming store (Pacific trimming), someone warned peope not to use your credit card since they were followed with a $ 4000 fraudulent charge. I just eperienced this myself after using my card at this store. there were numerous charges and even to the point my card company was getting calls about my card limit? thankfully, the card company is now investigating the matter. Co-​incident that this has happened? this was the only new store i had recently used my card, there are trusted shops and I have decided this is not one of them. Dont stop yourself from going to this store, but be aware they you might find them using your card!

Phenomenal customer service. Thank you Paul and SIll thread, you rock.

straightforward, organized, support staff not in your face, but there if you need them, exactly, exactly the way I like it!
Huge selection of thread, zippers, and ribbon. A number of other basic necessities.
I gave up trying to find shirts that fit me properly, now i can just stop in, find a matching thread color and tailor it myself. I will be back.

I think I have a love hate relationship with Sil. On the one hand, the items are merchandised so nicely in neat little rows, on the other nothing is priced and the sales staff is a little more than reluctant to help out. It’s not a big store, but once I was sent literally to each corner of the store while looking for a sewing machine. Every sales person hesitantly directed me to another area, leaving me so flabbergasted that I just finally left without even seeing so much as a machine.
Unfortunate customer service aside, it is really good for all the accoutrement required to complete a good sewing job. They have pretty much everything and despite the lack of price tags, the pricing really is A-​ok.

SIL Thread is an NYC Garment District notions store packed to the brim with – you guessed it…
– Thread of many, many varieties. On the main floor they have your usual Gutterman and Mettler Metrosene machine threads, as well as serger and handsewing thread, but that’s just the tip of the thread iceberg. There’s a huge section in the back and a thread counter where they seem to sell industrial-​sized cones of sewing thread. They also have elastic thread, invisible thread, wooly nylon thread, rayon decorative thread, etc.
– Zippers. Aisles and aisles of zippers in every imaginable shade and length, separating, regular, invisible, metal – mainly YKK zippers, I believe. Their website doesn’t have much on it (and does not have an online store), but it does have some of the YKK color charts.
– Measuring & Cutting Tools: good variety of rulers, mats, rotary cutters, french curves, etc.
– Notions & Needles: They have a big wall of Clover notions – pins, tailors chalk and marking tools, hand-​sewing needles of many kinds (no machine needles, though). They even have some Clover knitting needles and some «Nancy’s Notions» branded Clover supplies.
– Elastic, hem tape, velcro: Decent if not mind-​boggling selection of elastics by the yard, as well as some colors of foldover (FOE) elastic. Lots of different colors of hem tape on rolls (the thin kind for hemming by hand).
– Miscellaneous: boning, shoulder pads and shoulder pad foam, bra closures… ziploc bags. hangers…
– Fabric paints: Jacquard brand fabric paints – both standard and the Lumiere/​Neopaque opaque kinds. Also they seemed to have leather dyes…
I stopped in a few weeks ago on a scouting mission and came back this week to get a few odds and ends – some clear gridded rulers, elastic thread for shirring, a bobbin case, flower-​headed pins, tailors chalk. Prices on what I bought seemed generally good.
As for prices on other items, it’s hard for me to say – SIL Thread is a typical Garment-​District style store, in that it has no price tags on most of the items – you have to ask. I did notice that wooly nylon thread was $ 5 for a 1,000 m cone, which is about average. My elastic thread was $ 1.50 each for white and black.
The sales people were very helpful when I had questions.
My only small quibbles were that items had no visible prices and they don’t carry sewing machine needles. But that’s typical in the Garment District – stores are often very specialized, and they’re all in such close walking distance of each other it’s just a matter of trying a lot of stores and remembering what each carries.
Bottom line, this is a good place to come for thread or zippers and miscellaneous notions. Daytona Trimmings is still my favorite NYC notions store, though – they have a lot more varieties of elastic, carry sewing machine needles and their thread selection is good enough for me (but they don’t have all those measuring and cutting and pinning tools like SIL does).

I have lots of love for SIL thread. Let me count the ways…
1. Custom length YKK zippers in oodles of colors
2. Around 100 colors of good quality thread in multiple weights for $ 1.50−2.25/a spool.
3. Industrial sewing machine feet from $ 2.50. TWO-​FIFTY.
There really is no reason to buy from anyone else unless you’re looking for some of the specialized stuff Steinlauf & Stoller carries.
Nice staff too. Just be aware there is a $ 10 min card transaction.

I like this place a lot because most of the items are affordable. I had to pretty much build my sewing kit from the ground up and this was the place to go. I got most of what I needed for under $ 20 including 3 spools of thread. This included the little pin cushion tomato, solid line tracer, a thing of assorted needles, and one of those quick thread clippers. They have a really large assortment of threads, all for a low cost. The only two things I hate about Sil Thread is the fact that NOTHING has a price tag on it, which is irritating… and most of the staff there are mexicans who can’t speak english and won’t bother helping you. Other than that, I like it.