There’s an amazing place where i feel at peace. A temple of a different sort; a temple of color and texture and pattern. Where every conceivable cotton blend, sequined, pure silk and silk wanna-be fabric stand side by side, hoping to be chosen.

 

The fabric market is located downtown Taipei in a large, unassuming building on a crowded little street. A climb of one flight of dark, dirty stairs takes you there, rows and rows of fabrics under the  harsh light of fluorescents that initially leave nothing to the imagination. But here, the potential of creation is what is so striking.

 

The market is huge. Two floors about half the size of a city block, with a third floor of seamstresses, tailors and costume makers at the ready to turn your fabric, and your dream, into a reality. This is the part of the market i find most intriguing. Turnkey creations; raw fabric to human hands to final piece. All in one building. What fascinates me is that i can dream up whatever i want. Create to my heart’s content. And ask someone to make it real. All here.

 

It seems most of the common requests are curtains, dresses, costumes, suits, formal wear, bed linens. One wonders if Cristo walked into the joint what the reaction would be.

 

Here there is an art available to an average joe like me that has nearly been lost at home; craftspeople who can take an idea and make it real. We go to a store and buy what we need. And we want it Now. The thought of having something custom like this would be exciting to folks at home. But waiting for it for more than 24 hours, or longer than it takes to express ship from amazon.com would not.

 

Have we lost our ablity to create our own look? Our own style? Are we too content to take what is available?

 

One thing is certain. The ability to choose your own fabric, and have it made into anything you wish, is truly a luxury.