ABOUT US
Blackbird Fabrics is an online fabric store based in Vancouver, BC, and our fabrics ship worldwide!
Our offices are situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlil̓wətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Stó:lō, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) peoples.
Our MISSION
We provide high-quality garment fabrics and supplies curated for sewists, by sewists.
We draw from the personal experiences of our team of sewists to curate a range of apparel fabrics that feel at home in any modern wardrobe. We stock a wide range of fabrics, including natural fibres, deadstock fabrics, and custom print lines, with an emphasis on fabrics that are environmentally and socially responsible wherever possible. Ultimately, we hope to offer home sewists the resources and materials to create any me-made garment they can dream up.
Hi, I'm Caroline!
I'm so glad you're here.
When I launched Blackbird Fabrics in 2014, I wanted to make it easier for home sewists to get their hands on high-quality garment fabrics that were typically only accessible to designers or manufacturers. It's been a joy to watch my business grow from a one-woman operation in my tiny apartment (where I stocked just 12 fabrics in my spare room), to a team of 20 passionate creatives operating in a 10,000-square-foot East Vancouver warehouse. I am so thankful for the love and support of our customers and the sewing world at large. Thanks to you, we are now able to tackle passion projects, such as producing our own line of Blackbird Exclusive fabrics, while supporting our community through our monthly donation initiative.
I’m proud to share our curated collection of modern, wearable garment textiles with you. Whether you're a seasoned sewist or a beginner, I hope you'll find something you love!
Looking for more sewing content?
Check out my podcast, Love to Sew!
SEWING CONNECTS US
Sewing isn’t just a way to turn a stack of fabric into a wardrobe of long-lasting makes; it’s a way to form lasting connections. Whether it’s through a passion for sewing passed down through generations, like Caroline shares with her mum and grandmother, or through our vibrant online network of fellow sewists, sewing connects us to a hugely diverse community of makers. We’re delighted to be part of a community that is so inclusive and eager to share their knowledge and inspiration with one another.
our mission is more than just fabric
Social Responsibility
Blackbird Fabrics donates a portion of our profits to a rotating non-profit. We focus on local organizations that support marginalized communities within Vancouver and across Canada. Past recipients include Black Lives Matter Vancouver, WISH, True North Aid, and QMUNITY. You can find more information about this month’s non-profit here.
We also support our local community periodically through initiatives such as virtual food drives and fabric & clothing donations. These organizations are chosen with help from our team members, friends and family, as well as our customers — so please get in touch if you’d like to make a recommendation!
Inclusion
We prioritize diversity, Equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our business, including our recruitment and hiring practices, pattern recommendations, and social media content. We are committed to fostering a workplace of belonging, where all team members feel included, celebrated, and empowered.
Read more about how we apply these values to our practices in our Anti-Racism Action plan here.
Sustainability
We are proudly committed to inspiring at-home sewists to make, mend, and properly care for their own clothes so that they are cherished for as long as possible.
We focus on providing high-quality textiles and prioritize sourcing more sustainable options, such as 100% natural fibers, LENZING™ ECOVERO™, TENCEL™ lyocell, and deadstock fabrics.
In 2021, we doubled our investment in direct sourcing, which has allowed us to grow closer relationships with our manufacturing partners and gain more insight into the social and environmental sustainability of our fabrics.
Meet the team
The founder and our fearless leader, Caroline is the brains and brawn behind everything at Blackbird fabrics. She is a CEO with many hats: business owner, co-creator and podcast host of the Love To Sew Podcast, and an exceptional dog mom to Pepper. Her vision for the future of the company keeps the team going forward and her passion for the latest reality TV gossip keeps our weekly office meetings scandalous.
Follow Caroline on Instagram: @carolinesomos
NATASHA
Office manager
she/her
Throughout her years at Blackbird Fabrics, Natasha has had many roles within the company, starting as the first office assistant and Caroline’s very first employee. However, she has now settled into a general jack-of-all-trades around the office. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, stained glass, reading books, and (very) amateur home renovations all while persistently pestering her exotic shorthair calico cat, Merlin.
Follow Natasha on Instagram: @confidentbeginner
LAURA J
purchasing manager
she/her
If you have ever wondered how we consistently get fresh and exciting finds in the store, it is all thanks to Laura! She is constantly on the hunt for our new and unique fabrics and manages all of our Blackbird exclusive fabrics, designs, and notions. To wind down, Laura will say she enjoys all things outdoors (but we know that means binge-watching all of the hottest reality TV shows with her devious cat, Moira).
Follow Laura on Instagram: @the.slow.sewist
PAIGE
Customer Service manager
she/her
Have you ever heard of a coffee connoisseur that doesn’t drink coffee? We have and we love her. After spending time in Ireland, Paige has returned home to Vancouver to embrace her more creative side in fabrics and textiles. During the day, Paige is the star of the Customer Service team, answering all your questions and order comments; but at night, she is a wild child – working on creative endeavours such as embroidery, floral decorating, felting, and quilting.
Follow Paige on Instagram: @paige.dress
MARKETING
she/her
We are ecstatic to have Alys as our Media & Marketing Manager! Anywhere you see us, from our website to our socials to our newsletters, Alys has had a hand in getting our lovely fabrics to you. You can usually find Alys behind the lens snapping pics around the city and enjoying the scenic hikes of the Pacific Northwest. She loves sewing up a technicolour storm in modern silhouettes and totally brightens up our office with her colourful me-made wardrobe.
Follow Alys in Instagram: @alysinstitches
AMANDA
SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
she/her
Our social media savant is as bright and bubbly as an Aperol Spritz on a summer evening — and her glass is always half-full. On the occasion Amanda’s mind drifts in between editing Reels and snapping socials, it’s surely to daydream about concerts, charcuterie boards, and all of the Murakami books she has yet to read. A returning sewist after a long hiatus, she’s thrilled to be surrounded by such an inspiring team, and to soon craft the perfect linen look!
Follow Amanda on Instagram: @amanda_thacker
FULFILLMENT
DEE
FULFILLMENT TEAM LEAD
she/her
Dee has brought a keen eye for fabric and fashion to our Order Fulfilment Team. Throughout her time at Blackbird, Dee completed the Costuming for Stage & Screen program at Capilano University. We are so proud of our Dee and her couture costuming creations! (Seriously, so good!) When Dee is not in the office, she is utilizing every second of her spare time to marathon sew some fantastic new pieces for her wardrobe.
CAELEY
ORDER FULFILLMENT TEAM
she/her
Our cottage-core-queen, we love Caeley for brightening up our fulfillment team with her whimsy and joy. She is a recent graduate of the Costuming for Stage & Screen program at Capilano University and brings that creativity to work with her every day! Caeley enjoys all crafty things, especially sewing and crocheting, and creates gorgeous colourful dresses all while under the watchful eye of her two lovely black cats, Juniper and Basil.
Follow Caeley on Instagram: @caeleybee.creations
Chady is a two-spirited Indigenous woman and is very proud of it! Outside of work, she is an avid video game player and enjoys making amazing music any chance they get. Chady lives a free-flowing hippie life with his beautiful little foster pug, Kohkos, and enjoys a life of sleeping and chilling whenever the opportunity arises. Chady is a fantastic addition to our fulfillment crew!
Coming to us with an extensive background working in the corporate security world, Pepper brought new and revolutionary security tactics to ensure that our office maintains the highest level of puppy patrol. When not monitoring the warehouse floor, Pepper can be found running around her yard, going for gorgeous hikes, and cuddling with her mom, Caroline.
We are delighted to have Dima on our Order Fulfillment Team! Dima is a talented sewer and crafter, having recently completed the Costuming for Stage & Screen program at Capilano University. In their spare time, Dima enjoys leatherworking, video games, and playing tabletop RPG games with friends. But most importantly, Dima loves to hang out with their beloved pet Rainbow, a yellow lovebird.
