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.
Please note, we are online only and unfortunately unable to accommodate in-person shopping.
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. You can find more information about this month’s non-profit here.
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 the 2022 Progress Report for Our Anti-Racism Action Plan & Inclusivity Efforts 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.
Meet the team
Fashionista, former podcaster, and her own woman: Abby brings the party to our order fulfillment team. When she is not packing and shipping orders in the warehouse, she is sewing up a storm and vibing with her two puppers, Monster and Irma.
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
Our cottage-core-queen, we love Caeley for brightening up our Marketing team with her whimsy and joy. She is a 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
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 & Sally. Her vision for the future of the company keeps the team going forward and her passion for the latest reality TV gossip keeps our office meetings scandalous.
Follow Caroline on Instagram: @carolinesomos
It’s hard to be sad when Celina is around because she is sunshine personified (with a pocket full of bad jokes). In the office, Celina is the master of our Instagram and Tiktok feeds, but outside of work, they are rocking photoshoots or binge-watching comfort shows. Celina is proudly Indigenous + Kainai (Blackfoot) and a graduate of the Graphic + Digital Design program at UFV.
Follow Celina in Instagram: @celinamedia
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.
We would be truly lost without the all-around genius of Janna. Hailing from a background in women's wear and luxury denim manufacturing, she is now our go-to goddess on the BF Patterns team. Janna is a summertime queen, enjoying beach trips with family, hikes with friends, and sunbathing with her two cats Izzy and Stevie.
LAURA
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).
We admire Lisa not only for the positive energy she infuses into our Order Fulfillment team but also for her entrepreneurial spirit as the owner of her own small business, crafting and selling sensory play kits for kids. Lisa's ideal weekend is a blend of family time, indulging in a good book, and cleaning while blasting Stevie Nicks.
If you are looking to hear a really good, juicy story, you gotta head to Maya’s table. During the week, she pumps it up on our fulfillment team, but she loves to spend her weekends baking bread, making homemade jam and sewing up a storm (all under the watchful eye of Thomas, her grouchy conure). Maya loves to craft, create, and illustrate!
Follow Maya on Instagram: @mayataracredico
MORGAN
Customer Care Specialist
she/her
We are excited to have Morgan on our customer service team! Morgan left the snowy lakes of Michigan to join the rainy coast of Vancouver and attend post-secondary school. When she is not making customer service magic happen in the inbox, she likes to unwind with the big three B’s: bubble baths, baking, and bedtime. Go Wolverines!
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 reading spicy books, going to movies, and (very) amateur home renovations all while persistently pestering her exotic shorthair calico cat, Merlin.
Follow Natasha on Instagram: @confidentbeginner
PEPPER
CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER
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.
SALLY
ASSISTANT TO THE SECURITY OFFICER
Our newest hire on the security team, Sally, will usher in a new era of elite office security for our warehouse. Although she is still learning the ropes of how to maintain high levels of office safety, she is already very well suited at the smaller tasks of the job: receiving cuddles, showing off her newly learned tricks, and being the cutest puppy on the block.
