Lydia Sees Dressmaking and Upholstery Revival in Suffolk

Stonham Barns Park retailer continues to spread fabric happiness to those who love to be creative while being newly ‘cost-conscious’

Lydia’s Fabrics – based at mid-Suffolk’s premier leisure, retail and holiday destination Stonham Barns Park – is reporting an increase in demand for dressmaking and upholstery fabrics as a result of the increase in the cost of living which is now being felt across Suffolk.

Lydia’s Fabrics which opened in 2021 is an outlet selling fabrics for dressmaking, upholstery, costume making and more besides. The shop is the creation of Lydia Tyson, a mother of four children and grandmother to seven grandchildren, who has been matching people to fabrics for the last 20 years. Said Lydia, ‘I have noticed that I have more customers looking to save money on fashion and home projects. More home dressmaking and upholstery enquiries are coming in than before which is a sign of people looking to ‘make do and mend’ as the saying goes.’

‘Customers do seem to be more cost-conscious than ever before asking for help to revive old furniture, cushions and other soft-furnishings, while also looking to put together new clothing for the summer months – including pretty cotton fabrics for wrap around skirts and similar fashion projects that will save money and be fun to do.’

‘Creatively, there’s nothing more rewarding than brightening up your home or your style with fabrics. I can only see this continuing while the news is full of stories of the increase in the cost of living. Hopefully the economy will stabilise in the future but in the meantime, this shopping trend is maybe set to continue for a while.’

Originally from The Bahamas, Lydia came to the UK in 1991 and worked as an auxiliary nursing assistant in Hackney, London. She later moved to Worthing, West Sussex with her family and began selling ethnic goods at local markets as a hobby. The hobby then developed into a fabric supply business when a fellow-stallholder offered her two of his fabric stalls to run. Her mother was a seamstress and so creativity was a part of her upbringing. She made the change and has never looked back. She moved to Suffolk from the South Coast in 2021.

‘I have always loved matching people with the fabrics they need, whatever it is for’, says Lydia. ‘It’s all about sourcing the most practical and beautiful fabrics and then helping customers to make decisions about their creative projects.’

Many of Lydia’s original customers were specialist in nature. She supplied schools with fabrics for plays and dressing up days, theatres with costumes and a college with fabrics for its creative design students. Her biggest customer of all bought fabrics for historic re-enactment days to make replica costumes including tabards, dresses, coats and cloaks.

Now stocking every fabric from designer dress material to Irish linen and upholstery fabric, Lydia uses her expertise to help customers from Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex to find the materials they need for their own individual or business requirements.

‘I can be working to find the right silks for a customer’s dress one day and plaids and cottons for home interior projects the next. Everything from blackout fabrics and table protectors to something beautiful with glitter overlays for a dinner dance or prom. Two days are never the same.’

Lydia lives in Ipswich. She first came across Stonham Barns Park retail complex when her friend took her there for a coffee.

‘I had seen Suffolk on Escape to the Country and my friend was showing me properties around Ipswich and a friend brought me to Stonham Barns Park which gave me the idea for the location of my shop.’

Lydia’s Fabrics offers a full range of dress, quilting, craft, wedding, costume and home furnishing fabrics. Designer fabrics are also available.

Retailers at Stonham Barns Park include Carters of Suffolk, Chintzy Lamp, Future Presents Now, Harpers Furniture, Hemingstone Frames, Hot Tub Village, Ideal Interiors, Merit Sheds, Stonham Village Stores, Suffolk Bridal Outlet, The Beauty Barn, The Book Cellar and The Little Dance Barn. Among the most recent retail additions to the village are The Dogs Business, SUP Den, Betty Loves Les, Heath & Hound, Lydia’s Fabric and Stephen Watkins Art Exhibition Outlet.