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Folklore Fabrics brings Italian fabrics and sewing classes to Bucktown

Folklore Fabrics brings Italian fabrics and sewing classes to Bucktown

Money Moves Chicago, IL local

Corporate worker opens a fabric shop on Damen Avenue

Yesterday: Folklore Fabrics opens in Bucktown

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Megan Lambert, who calls herself a 'fabric hoarder,' left her corporate job to open Folklore Fabrics on Damen Avenue in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. The store sells Italian fabrics and plans sewing classes and workshops.

The shop is a personal bet that enough local home sewers want hands-on fabric buying and in-person instruction to keep a single-storefront business alive. It is the kind of niche retailer that has to compete with online fabric sellers and big-box craft chains.

Why it matters

Can one person's fabric shop survive in an era dominated by online sellers and big-box craft chains?

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Key Indicators

1
New storefront locations
Folklore Fabrics opens as a single retail shop on Damen Avenue.

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People Involved

ML
Megan Lambert
Founder, Folklore Fabrics
Left a corporate job to open the shop in October 2026

Organizations Involved

FF
Folklore Fabrics
Independent retail shop
Newly opened on Damen Avenue, Bucktown

A Chicago fabric shop selling Italian textiles and hosting sewing classes.

Timeline

1 event Latest: Yesterday

  1. Folklore Fabrics opens in Bucktown

    Latest Business launch

    Block Club Chicago reports Megan Lambert opened Folklore Fabrics on Damen Avenue, selling Italian fabrics and planning sewing workshops.

Scenarios

1

Folklore Fabrics expands its workshop schedule and builds a following

Possible Resolves by Oct 29, 2027

Discussed by: Block Club Chicago coverage and Bucktown neighborhood newsletters

The shop attracts enough students to run regular weekly classes and builds a loyal base of local sewers. Lambert adds more workshop slots and possibly second product lines as word spreads through community boards and social media.

2

Folklore Fabrics closes within two years

Possible Resolves by Oct 29, 2028

Discussed by: Small-retail survival data and local business observers

Foot traffic proves too thin and online fabric sellers undercut prices, forcing Lambert to close before the shop's second anniversary. Landlords in Bucktown continue to see frequent turnover of small storefronts.

3

Folklore Fabrics becomes a neighborhood hub for craft education

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Local arts organizations and Illinois craft-education programs

Lambert partners with a Chicago school, library, or arts group to teach sewing to new audiences. Classes move beyond hobbyists to cover mending and sustainable fashion, giving the shop a community mission that broadens its customer base.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

March 2025

Joann Fabrics bankruptcy (2025)

Joann, the national fabric and craft chain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2025 and said it would close roughly half of its roughly 800 stores. The company had struggled with heavy debt and falling sales for years.

Then

Hundreds of Joann locations closed, leaving many malls and shopping strips without a dedicated fabric store.

Now

The biggest fabric retailer shrank to a small fraction of its former footprint, shifting fabric sales toward online sellers and independents.

Why this matters now

When the dominant chain contracts, independent shops like Folklore Fabrics can capture customers who still want to touch fabric before buying and who value classes over shipping speed.

2020

Home-sewing boom during the pandemic (2020)

During COVID-19 lockdowns, millions of people took up sewing to make masks, mend clothes, and pass time at home. Sewing machine sales spiked and fabric stores saw a surge of new customers.

Then

Hobby sewing grew sharply in 2020 and 2021, bringing new people into the craft.

Now

A cohort of pandemic-era sewers emerged with machines and basic skills, forming a potential customer base for shops offering fabric and instruction.

Why this matters now

Folklore Fabrics' sewing classes target the same audience: people who learned to sew recently and want in-person help as they move beyond beginner projects.

2010s-present

Independent bookstores' community model

Facing Amazon's dominance, independent bookstores survived partly by hosting author events, readings, and clubs that online sellers cannot match. Stores that built community around events stabilized after years of decline.

Then

Readings and events drew regular foot traffic and made stores neighborhood destinations.

Now

The model proved a template for niche retailers: use in-person experiences to justify bricks-and-mortar prices.

Why this matters now

Folklore Fabrics is applying the same playbook to fabric, using sewing classes as the events that pull people through the door and build loyalty.

Sources

(1)
Block Club Chicago