These are companies I personally use.
As I have a small shop I cannot compete on fabric prices with online sellers, and today with so much commerce happening online there is literally no profit for a small shop like mine to carry fabric when the online price is so close to the wholesale price. There are a lot of fabric stores in the greater Phoenix area but most of them are all selling the same lines of fabrics from the same books. I do have trade accounts with a variety of suppliers, but the “spread” between their wholesale and retail pricing is minimal today for low volume shops like mine. Other shops do make money selling fabric out of their books, but often with a little searching online you can find a similar fabric for substantially less than what is being offered by my competitors. If you want the “showroom experience” of pouring over books of swatches there are plenty of places in the valley to do that and you will pay for the privilege. If I order fabric for you there will be a 15% minimum premium above the wholesale price, but shipping and retail tax also has to be figured in to that amount. Personally, I mostly order online and have swatches sent to me before placing orders, this has worked well for me and should for you too.
In town showrooms:
H&R Fabrics – Phoenix AZ www.handrfabrics.com Excellent source for interior decorative fabrics and trim, also automotive, large inventory in stock. Family business, women owned. Large warehouse off of I10 SW valley.
Fabric Depot & Supply _ Phoenix AZ www.fabricdepotandsupply.com Good source for vinyl and cow hides, large sample book section. Stocking warehouse. Family business. North valley.
Tandy Leather– Phoenix & Tempe locations. Good selection of unusual leathers in stock and online. Nationwide company
Calico Corners, Old Town Scottsdadle- Nationwide company, very nice showroom. Decorator services.
Online suppliers:
Sailrite – Indiana www.sailrite.com Excellent source for marine fabrics of all type, also outdoor home fabrics and all things nautical, outdoor and marine foam.
Foam Factory/Foam by mail – Michigan www.foambymail.com Good source for custom cut foam for all upholstery needs. Takes a week to get material.
Cowhides direct – Florida www.cowhidesdirect.com Primarily “hair on hyde” supplier
Upholstery Supply USA – California www.upholsterysupplyusa.com Primarily automotive vinyl and textiles.
Albright’s Supply – Mississippi www.albrightssupplyl.com Primarily automotive and marine.
Your Auto Trim – Mississippi www.yourautotrim.com Automotive and some marine fabrics.
Keyston Bros – Phoenix AZ & nationwide, to the trade only. www.keystonbros.com Large inventory of Automotive and contract fabrics, you can see their products online but I’ll have to order samples and materials under my trade account.
Kovi Fabrics – Minnesota www.kovifabrics.com Diverse selection of decorator fabrics for home.
Canvas ETC – Georgia www.canvasetc.com Industrial cotton and acrylic canvas fabrics.
Folio Fabrics – foliofabrics.com they are located somewhere in the upper midwest, I HATE when companies hide their physical location. I used to deal with “discount designer fabrics” but Folio took them over and the old website redirects to Folio.
Joann Fabrics: out of business, how sad for the DIY’er.
Expo International – Texas www.expointl.com Decorative trims of all kinds!
Leather Hyde Store: North Carolina – www.leatherhidestore.com Nice selection of interior upholstery quality leather and automotive.
Relicate – New York www.relicate.com High end auto fabric and leather.
Camira Fabrics – UK company with a Michigan office www.camirafabrics.com Excellent source for “natural” fabric blends of jute and wool, also transportation and contract grade fabrics.
Enkev – Dutch company with North Carolina office www.enkev.com Excellent source for “natural” upholstery materials, primary selling to mattress industry they do sell to upholstery shops on a limited basis, no fabrics but all the materials below the top fabric. If you want a piece redone to a “natural upholstery” style, this is where you start to eliminate foam and plastics from your furniture.
Amann – German company that makes excellent thread, their polyester UV resistant bonded thread is mostly all I use for upholstery work. I stock a few sizes and colors but many colors are available online. Industrial thread is bought by the pound, which is 5000 yards or so, I do not use garment thread for upholstery work. Tex 70~277 are the sizes I use in my work.