Vintage fabric is a sure way to infuse story and unique character into your space. But shopping for it is not quite the same as picking up a bolt of fabric from the local craft store. Knowing where to shop, what to look for, and how to make an informed purchase is key. To get the inside scoop, we asked experts to share their favorite places to source vintage fabric.

As it turns out, there are lots of ways to approach the hunt—you can peruse online marketplaces, explore estate sales, or shop on your travels abroad. But wherever you shop, knowledge is essential. Knowledge about vintage fabrics can help you find authentic designs, while knowledge of a fabric’s backstory can add exponentially to its meaning and personal value. Here are the places the pros shop for vintage fabric, along with their expert tips for evaluating condition, authenticity, and value.

• Stephanie Housley is an artist, designer, and the founder of Coral & Tusk.
• Sophia C. du Brul, ISA AM, is an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers and the owner of Sophia’s Estate Sales and Appraisals.

1. Estate Sales and Church Rummage Sales

Estate sales and church rummage sales are some of the best places to score vintage fabric according to estate sale expert Sophia C. du Brul. “For estate sales, check the photos and descriptions of the sale to make sure that what you want is there,” du Brul says. She also suggests using sites like estatesales.net and estatesales.org to set up alerts for words like “vintage fabric” so you know when an upcoming estate sale will have it.

As for church rummage sales, du Brul says you have a good shot at finding something. “Churches accept donations year round for their rummage sales, so there will be a huge craft and fabric section,” she says. The expert adds that they’re also a great resource for books on crafts and fabric, and things like sewing machines, thread, and needles.

2. Travels Abroad

“My personal favorite place to find vintage fabrics is while I am traveling abroad,” says Stephanie Housley, an artist, designer, and the founder of Coral & Tusk. Her love for vintage fabric started with a job at a fabric shop in high school, when she saved up to purchase an embroidered, hand-woven Kente cloth from Africa that she uses to this day.

“That piece sparked an interest in making sure that everywhere I go, I make an effort to learn about and collect a textile from almost everywhere I go—just to name a few: block prints from Ahmedabad, bandhani from Rajasthan, Dhaka fabrics from Nepal, woven yak pieces from Bhutan, indigo pieces from Japan, and woven trims from flea markets in Paris,” Housley shares. Research the types of fabric the region is known, check for local flea markets and textile shops, and make sure to leave room in your luggage if you’re planning a purchase.

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3. Online Marketplaces

Online marketplaces such as eBay are a treasure trove for vintage fabric and supplies. “For upholstery goods, there are a lot of interior designers and fabric stores that will liquidate scraps and bolt ends on eBay—I just scored a piece of Brunschwig & Fils fabric for a small project at 75% off retail on eBay,” du Brul shares. Since you can’t physically inspect vintage fabric when you shop online, the expert recommends that you ask to see a picture of the selvage edge or any labels if they are not in the listing, and check the seller’s ratings.

4. Thrift Stores and Antique Shops

Although it may require combing through a lot of stuff, places like thrift stores, antique shops, and antique malls can be an excellent place to source vintage fabrics. Some thrift stores have dedicated crafting, sewing, and home textile sections where you can find fabric. If you have a specific project in mind that doesn’t require huge amounts of yardage, look through the clothing and accessories section of a thrift store as you may find vintage fabric in the form of scarves, tops, and dresses. As for antique shops and antique malls, sometimes you can find booths dedicated specifically to vintage fabric.

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Expert Tips for Purchasing Vintage Fabrics

Get the Backstory

Whether you’re purchasing vintage fabric from a flea market or an online marketplace, Housley suggests learning the backstory. “I am a sucker for a story, so I prefer connecting with a seller who knows the actual backstory of any given vintage textile piece; perhaps it’s a personal story—who it belonged to, how that person acquired it, when it’s from—or maybe just greater insight into how something was created and why,” she shares. For Housley, all the above locations are excellent resources for vintage fabric, it’s just finding someone there who can shed some light. “To me the pieces take on so much more of a life that way,” the designer says.

Become Familiar with Fabric Designs

To learn how to spot genuine vintage fabric, du Brul recommends that you become familiar with fabric designs and materials. “The best way is to handle the real thing; pop into that high-end fabric store or antique shop and feel and smell the genuine article,” she suggests. Get a feel for what materials such as wool, cotton, and silk feel and smell like, so you can better identify them. Additionally, du Brul recommends hitting the books! “Educating yourself about your hobby will help you unearth a treasure out in the field,” she says.

Consider the Value

When it comes to the value of vintage fabric, there are two ways to look at it: monetary value versus personal value. If you are embarking on a serious collecting career, du Brul suggests setting up accounts on sites like Worthpoint and LiveAuctioneers to check sold prices. She adds that checking eBay sold listings can be helpful to see if the price on a fabric you found is fair.

On the other hand, if you’re purchasing vintage fabric for personal projects and sentimental reasons rather than resale or monetary worth, value takes on a different meaning. “To me, the value lies completely in the eyes of the beholder,” Housley says. When that’s the case, Housley says what you purchase truly depends on what you want from having those pieces in your life. “If you want to repurpose them, will their weight, construction, and condition suit the project?” Or, Housley adds, “If you simply want to frame it and admire it as art, is the size suitable for framing and do you have a place in your home where it would work perfectly?”

Inspect Fabric Before Purchasing

Before you purchase vintage fabric, inspect it. Hold it up to the light, unfold it, and check the selvedge (the finished edge along the length of the fabric) for clues about the manufacturer. Look for stains, tears, and signs of pest and mold damage. Additionally, smell the fabric to see if it has a musty odor or smells like cigarettes.

If you’re purchasing vintage fabric for resale or its monetary worth, then pristine condition is preferred. If it’s intended for personal display purposes, some wear and tear can add to its story and character. And if the vintage fabric is for an upholstery or other craft project, make sure it’s in a good enough condition to support the intended use.