Fabric Shopping in Nairobi, Kenya
If you are planning a trip to Kenya and will have a little time on your hands for shopping, and if unusual African and Indian fabrics and sewing notions are high on your list of desirable acquisitions, this page is for you!
Here you will find a list of fabric and notion suppliers in Nairobi, along with my personal commentary about what you might expect to find in each shop.
Shops are generally located in three areas – Ngara Road, Biashara Street and Westlands – although small notions and fabric shops can be found in a variety of neighborhoods. Shops listed here are ones I or my readers know and have visited personally.
More complete listings can be found in the Nairobi Yellow Pages Directory under the headings Fabrics, Textile Merchants, Threads and Yarns, and Haberdashery Supplies. In Kenya, buildings have a ground floor and the first floor is one flight up from ground level.
For your personal safety, visit only those shops with off-street parking or on-street parking with security guards. Hours vary; it is best to call ahead. Email in Kenya is still erratic; do not expect a reply from anyone via email.
Many of the shops are family owned businesses, where reputation and pride of service to customers ranks high. If you visit any of these places, please tell the shopkeepers about how you learned of them, mention my name and refer them to this blog.
Check back often, as this page will never be static! As I visit different shops, gain additional insights, discover new places or see that old favorites have closed, I will be continually updating the information below. The experiences of friends and fellow quilters also will be added as they become available.
And, if you have visited any fabric or notions supply store in Nairobi, please leave the details of each location and your comments below. Please help me make this page a special living resource for anyone shopping for fabrics and sewing notions and embellishments in Nairobi. Thanks!
FABRIC AND NOTIONS SHOPS IN NAIROBI, KENYA
- Amarson’s Collections Ltd., Ngara Road; +254-(0)20-3742951/3743823. Fabulous Indian silks and embellished sari materials in a lovely, mellow shop that oozes luxury; strictly upmarket, but well worth a look-in; will make up saris on the premises. Check out ALL the silks in the front end of the shop for potential quilting and contemporary Western apparel fabrics as well as all the gorgeous sari silks. Don’t miss seeing this one!
- Atul’s General Merchants, Biashara Street; +254-(0)20-2225935/2228064. A must-see, old fashioned Kenya textile and notions supplier, full of character and the most amazing finds! All kinds of sewing notions, some fabrics; kikoys, kitenge and the like; and people to make up curtains and slipcovers, tents – almost anything having to do with textiles.
- Buttons & Bows Ltd., Yaya Centre Second Floor; +254-(0)20-2714513, mobile +254-(0)722-520957; anila@mitsuminet.com. Small but densely packed fabric and notions shop, carrying a wide range of quilters’ 100% cotton prints. Anila is the always present owner and a member of the Kenya Quilt Guild, well informed about the wishes and needs of quilters, and doing her best to supply us all. Highly recommended! Off-street parking and escalator/elevator.
- Coblantra Retail Ltd., Raja Building, Biashara Street; +254-(0)20-2223674/2230534. Old fashioned fabric shop carrying inexpensive home decorating fabrics.
- Combined Supplier Ltd., Butt Building, Biashara Street, downtown Nairobi; +254-(0)20-251806; also found in Westlands. THE place to go for linen, cotton knits, rather upmarket goods. On-street parking with security guards.
- Fashion Point Ltd., Shan House, Ngara Road, outside the downtown area on the way to Muthaiga; +254-(0)20-3749411/3751984. General stockists – polyesters and blends, gingham, cotton twills. On-street parking with security guards.
- Indigo Boo Ltd., +254-(0)20-883225. Importers of India textile products – bedcovers, apparel, fabrics.
- Kisura Ltd., Biashara Street, downtown, +254-(0)20-2225993. General stockists. On-street parking with security guards.
- Mansi’s Collections, P.O. Box 32667, Nairobi 00600; Ngara Road opposite Ngara Post Office, +254-733-771619; +254-720-080949. “Dealers in buttons, laces, zips, threads, ribbons, beads, mataji chunis, religious books & idols, dress decorations and tailors’ requisite, etc.”
- Memsaab Ltd., Corner Plaza, Ground Floor, Parklands Road, Westlands; +254-(0)20-3750541/3748409/3753513; memsaabkenya@rediffmail.com. One of my favorites – silks, linens, blends, fancies, notions available in a large, light, clean and modern shop with off-street parking and excellent service.
- Palak Fabrics Ltd., Bhatt Building Ground Floor, Biashara Street; +254-(0)20-222360. On-street parking with security guards.
- Poojah Textiles Ltd., Ngara Road; +254-(0)20-3741534/3745211. General stockists, large shop with reasonable lighting and a huge selection of materials. On-street parking with security guards.
- Rainbow Fashions Ltd., Ngara Road, +254-(0)20-3749713. On-street parking with security guards.
- Saree Palace Ltd., Corner Plaza, Ground Floor, Parklands Road, Westlands; +254-(0)20-3742791/ 3745310. Off-street parking with security guards, same building as Memsaab Ltd. A proper sari shop – embroideries, laces, beaded and sequined fabrics, and a reasonable supply of solid color silks in a couple of different weaves. Excellent service and reasonable prices. A must-see!
- Scooper Ltd., Biashara Street; +254-(0)20-2225264. Large, light modern shop well stocked with remarkable notions – beads, sequins, trims and other unusual embellishments as well as threads, buttons, zips and elastics. On-street parking with security guards.
- Spinner’s Web, Getathuru Gardens off Peponi Road below Sarit Centre; +254-(0)-020-4181121 or 020 – 2072629; spinweb@wananchi.com or spinwebkenya@gmail.com. One of Nairobi’s finest craft and gift shops, Spinner’s Web is also the exclusive outlet for the wonderful Kenya Weaverbird handwoven fabrics, wall hangings, cushions, throws and apparel fill the shop with color, style and luxury. Against that backdrop, you can find handmade pottery, glass, wood, metal and other medium crafts including jewelry, home furnishings, accessories and even African traditional arts.
- Text Book Centre, Sarit Centre First Floor, Westlands; +254-020-3310699. Not a fabric shop, but definitely the place to go for most art supplies. Fevicryl fabric paint and fabric glue, artist’s acrylic paints, paint brushes, sketchpads, other stationery supplies useful for quilters. Occasionally, you can even find a book there about needlework or quilting, or perhaps for one of those times when you would rather do something besides quilting!
 Text Book Centre, Sarit Centre, Nairobi, Kenya |
- The Woman Shop, Sarit Centre Second Floor, Westlands; +254-(0)20-3748374. A large, clean modern shop with a wide selection of fabrics, some sewing machines, quilt books, some notions and other miscellaneous goodies. The owner’s wife and co-worker, Kundan, is a staunch member of the Kenya Quilt Guild and is very well informed about quilting in general and is always very helpful.
 The Woman Shop, Sarit Centre, Nairobi, Kenya |
Quilter Blogs & Store Search
May 25th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Thank you! Have been looking for some in-the-know places to buy fabrics for curtains, bedspreads, wall hangings and throws! This is great!
May 26th, 2009 at 9:29 am
You’re welcome, Elizabeth, but the page needs work. There are plenty of other places as well, and the places I’ve mentioned here are not very well described. I’d be delighted to receive any feedback from you about any shops in Nairobi that you visit. Help keep us all informed, won’t you, please?
August 12th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I just returned from Nairobi and purchased some 10 meter lengths of batik cloth from Tanzania at a craft shop that our tour guide took us to. This was a collective of about 16 different shops under one roof and one of the shops upstairs sold beautiful lengths of beautiful cotton batiks for about $20 USD per piece. I bought 5 pieces. I know that it was on the outskirts of Nairobi as it was a bit of a drive from the Norfolk hotel. The receipt says “Friends of Africa” and the Telephone is: 891798 Langata, Nairobi. I plan to make dinner napkins out of my fabric. It was a safe location, quiet, no pressure and the staff were very helpful. Also other hand crafts galore!
August 12th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I found the name of the craft center in Nairobi. It’s Utamaduni Craft Centre, Friends of Africa Ltd. Tel: (254-20) 890464, 891798, http://www.utamadunicrafts.com. Hope that helps.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Sorry, the correct web address is utamaduni.com. Thanks.
August 14th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Carol, thanks so much for sharing your experiences with my readers! I know Utamaduni very well, but I’ve never thought of it as being a good source for fabrics. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been there. I’ll have to check it out next time I’m in town. It sounds like you enjoyed your time in Nairobi. Next time you’re around, let me know. We’ll meet at The Verandah for tea, shall we?! Cheers!
August 31st, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Hi Dena,
I was so excited when I came across your website. My son and I will be traveling to Nairobi this coming December and will be volunteering at the Marafiki Global Aids Ministry and Mother’s Love Outreach. I live just outside Philadelphia, USA. I have been making fleece blankets using a knotting technique. It doesn’t require anything except fleece, and scissors to make them. I thought it would be a great trade to teach the children while we are there. I was wondering if you know of any fabric stores in Nairobi that carry fleece. It would be easier for me (and probably less expensive) to purchase the fabric when I arrive in Nairobi, rather than me traveling ½ around the world with it.
Please let me know!
Blessings,
Jessica
September 4th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Jessica, thanks for your inquiry. I do not know of any fabric shop in Nairobi that carries fleece. I think it is not a popular fabric here. Nevertheless, you can contact the shops listed above for more information, as I do not use fleece in my work and would not necessarily know even if someone had it here. Good luck with your project!
Dena
September 9th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Hi
I leave in Kampala and have failed to get Aida Fabric here. i kindly wanted to enquire where i could possibly purchase Aida Fabric for cross stitching possibly at a cheaper cost. i hear they are in Biashara steeet but i dont know the particular shops yet i wanted to send someone there to buy for me and send it to me. thank you.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Sandra, you will find Aida at The Woman Shop and at Buttons’n'Bows. Good luck!
September 29th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Thanks for this information.i was looking for those shining stones that look like diamonds for my buibui pliz tell me where i can find them.
September 29th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Try Bini’s on Ngara Road. There’s another place a few doors down from there that sells such things as well, but I cannot remember the company’s name at the moment. Also, try Atul’s or Scooper on Biashara Street in downtown Nairobi. Good luck!
October 6th, 2009 at 5:50 am
has anyone found fleece fabric in Nairobi i am coming in a couple of weeks. i am working at the village of hope in Kissumu teaching sewing. i bring the quilt tops and then have the ladies knot the fleece to them. i have them work on that while i teach the sewing machines. if i can’t get fleece another backing that is 60 inches wide would be required. thanks so much
October 6th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Karen, I really think you will have a hard time finding fleece in Kenya. Instead, why not plan to obtain some plain cotton sheeting. I recommend you try Industry Stores in Nakuru on your way up to Kisumu. Whatever you buy, be sure to wash it several times; most of the fabrics here shrink a lot! HTH.
December 28th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Hi.
I am doing some artworks for a friend in Nairobi in January and I need a good canvas supplier. Would you be able to help me?
Best Regards.
Tanja.
December 29th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Sure, Tanja. I have never seen in Kenya the kind of pre-fab canvas stretchers I knew in the US. However, you can get canvas board here even at TextBook Centre shops. Otherwise, you can order frames from a frame shop and stretch your own canvas or have them do it for you. Check out Tazama Galleries (there are several in Nairobi) and Unik Frames in Sarit Centre. HTH.
January 8th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Hi
Thanks for the information at least now i know more places to get my fabric but another problem is still unsolved is where can i get a really good tailor who is up to date and can do challenging designs, is there someone you can recommend to me because i desparately need a tailor. Thanks alot.
January 9th, 2010 at 7:42 am
Tina, tailors are abundant in Kenya; good ones are hard to find. A seamstress myself, I have only met one in 20 years that I would trust to work for me, and him only with direct supervision! You will find tailors on the fringes of any mitumbaa market. Don’t go there alone, but take along a friend or two – safety in numbers. As for finding one who does good work, don’t believe it until you see it! Good luck!
January 15th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Hi,
Can you tell me of shop apart from the Women shop when i could buy a sewing machine and do the sewing machine sellers offer a maintenance service in Nairobi. Thanks
January 16th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Hello,
Yes – try General Machines on Kijabe Street. There are other vendors of Singer, Swan, and other off-brand treadle machines, and perhaps a few of them offer low-grade electronic machines (few of them computerized due to heat and dirt and lack of maintenance), but General Machines has good facilities for servicing. They do all of my machine service work. They also sell Brother electronic machines, and will happily order something fancier for the right price. Good luck!
January 18th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Thanks a lot. I found them them with no problem and i now the proud owner of a new machine.
January 19th, 2010 at 7:57 am
Congratulations, Anita! Well done!
January 26th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Hi Dena,
I am making a trip with my husband to Nairobi/Kisumu to visit his family in 1 1/2 months and would like to purchase some fabric to take home with me to make clothing for myself and my husband. I’m looking to get apparel fabrics that are contemporary, but still very Kenyan (not too westernized) and other fabrics to make into pillows, napkins, etc for our home. Can you suggest any stores that would be in those areas (Nairobi and Kisumu)?
Thanks for any help you can give me,
Rosella
January 27th, 2010 at 8:17 am
In Nairobi, fabric shops are clustered in three areas that are safe to visit: Ngara Road, Biashara Street, and Westlands. You can find more details about shops in these areas on my blog page Shopping in Nairobi, Kenya at http://www.denacrain.com/blog/?page_id=657.
I have only passed through Kisumu once and that was many years ago, so I’m afraid I cannot help you. However, once you’re there, go to any kind of central place, a major hotel, one of the country clubs, or even a large grocery shop, and ask the locals. In fashion typical for Kenya (I suspect it’s that way in India, too, from where many of our retailers originated), you will find a group of fabric shops all elbow to elbow.
Happy shopping!
February 26th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
i have recently moved to Nairobi and am looking for black suede fabric. if anyone knows where i can find suede as most stores I contacted only had velvet fabric and not suede.__any help will b appreciated. thnx.__
February 26th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Marissa, I think you'll have a hard time finding "suede" fabric, unless you visit Tile and Carpet Centre on Mombasa Road and find something in their interior decorating materials that will do. In Kenya, most of us who want suede look for real leather. There's a place in Lenana Forest Centre on Ngong Road on the way to Karen (name escapes me at the moment) but you might check there if you're interested in the real thing. I think there's also a handbag place in The Junction that might be able to direct you. Good luck, and let us know if you have any success!
April 3rd, 2010 at 9:38 am
Good morning. I am now in Nairobi, Mombasa for 2 weeks holidays. I am looking for Kenyan designer clothes shops to get some clothes for my self. Also some shops that sell khanga or lesso or ankara. Pls can you help. Tks.
April 3rd, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Hello, and thanks for your inquiry. In both Nairobi and Mombasa you will find "Biashara" Streets. "Biashara" in Kiswahili means "business." These streets are home to many of the local fabric retailers, so have a taxi driver or safari driver take you there to look for khanga, kikoy and other yardage materials. For "Nairobi radical chic," check out Kiko Romeo at ” target=”_blank”>http://www.kikoromeo.com/. Happy shopping!
May 3rd, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Thanks so much.. coming to Kenya from Uganda next week to shop for a new lodge and your site is most helpful. Any clues on good quality sheets or sheet material apart from Kenya Drapers??
Thanks! X
May 3rd, 2010 at 9:58 pm
You’re welcome. Sure–try Industry Stores in Nakuru. I get lovely heavy homespun cotton from them in various widths. Cotton is so very much nicer to sleep on than polycotton blends! Trouble is, you’ll need a “fundi” to sew the material into sheets, but they will be ever so much more authentic . . .
Good luck! And let me know about your new lodge when you get it operating. I’ll be happy to blog about it!
May 12th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Hi, I have some fleece fabric in case you need some