Vintage inspired fabrics and sewing kits for bags and hats
Charlie’s Aunt offers an exclusive selection of beautiful British fabrics and vintage haberdashery which combine to create the signature retro look of Emma Brennan’s designs. Some are original pieces from the 1950s through to the 1990s while others have been sourced for their retro appeal.
Fabrics
Our fabrics are available in limited quantities and where possible are either vintage ‘deadstock’ – old but unused fabric – or top quality new wool fabrics made in the UK. They are both sustainable and part of our beautiful country’s heritage. They make the ideal pairing for Charlie’s Aunt sewing patterns.
Some of the new fabrics stocked in our Etsy shop include hardwearing traditional British fabrics destined for the high end country clothing market such as cotton corduroy, wool tweed, cotton canvas and drill.
Charlie’s Aunt also sells rare off-cut pieces of silk jacquard fabric woven in Sudbury, Suffolk. Again, these fabrics are not available to the general public and were commissioned by top fashion designers and couturiers.
Buttons and haberdashery
Many of the Charlie’s Aunt vintage buttons come from a shop in Suffolk which closed down about 30 years ago. It was run by two elderly ladies who had kept the store going since the 1950s. The stock was kept in brown cardboard boxes in wooden display cabinets.
The beautiful Bakelite and Lucite buttons that Emma acquired from this shop are real treasures. The other buttons are left over new stock from when she ran her vintage inspired clothing business in the 1990s.
Charlie’s Aunt also stocks unused vintage ribbons, braids and trims, available as part of our carefully curated colour co-ordinated packs for your retro sewing projects.
Handbag and hat sewing kits
Limited edition vintage inspired bag, hat and accessory kits containing pattern templates, detailed instructions and most materials required to complete the project are also available from the Charlie’s Aunt Etsy shop.
This includes cute tweed clutch bags with big bows and silk linings, serviceable messenger bag kits containing wool tweed, leather strap, magnetic snap, vintage buttons and a printed sewing pattern, faux fur collars with vintage fabrics and nostalgic woollen beret hat kits.
For current sewing supplies and kits, visit our Etsy shop and check frequently as new items will be added regularly.
