Photograph courtesy of Mood Fabrics
Project Runway fans rejoice: Mood Fabrics, the 35-year-old fabric store made famous by the show, is debuting a new concept at Ponce City Market this spring.
Eric Sauma, co-owner and co-CEO of Mood Fabrics, says that the company has had its eye on Atlanta for a while. Customer data, the current online fabric buying experience, and a lack of in-person alternatives were some of the drivers for coming to Atlanta. “There are a lot of community creators, makers, and designers, and they don’t really have anywhere to go to buy fabric now,” he says.
The Atlanta store will operate differently from the existing stores in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Houston. It’s a new pilot showroom concept that hopes to bring a lot of choice to a relatively small space, something they hope to recreate in other new markets if it goes well. Nearly 8,000 SKUS of fabric, plus sewing notions like zippers, thread, buttons, and more, will be tucked into the second-floor 1,500-square-foot space at Ponce City Market that was previously leased by Chubbies.
Customers will be able to see and feel the fabric before placing an order for pickup or delivery at the showroom. “We’re able to squeeze a much wider selection into a smaller format,” says Sauma of the strategy. In total, about 20,000 products will be available to view, with on-site experts to guide purchases.
Sauma hopes that the Atlanta sewing community, from SCAD students to crafters, will also use Mood Fabrics as a place to connect. “People in the sewing and maker community want to go and talk with like-minded people. So yes, it’s a showroom, but it’s also a community center where people can talk shop,” he says.
Ponce City Market might seem like an unconventional choice, but Sauma doesn’t think so. “I saw the vibe and said, ‘This is a really cool concept,’” he says. Adam Schwegman, the director and head of retail leasing for Jamestown, the developer, owner, and manager of Ponce City Market, says that the showroom model isn’t that different from conventional retail. “Ponce City Market is a place people come to explore and create, and Mood seamlessly fits within that identity,” he says. “Bringing a unique retailer like Mood to the property ensures that we continue delivering on the magic that keeps our visitors inspired and contributes to our curated, dynamic mix of offerings.”
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