If you remember the Twin Cities couture fabric store Special Effects (1982-1991), then you know the high quality selection of fashion fabrics offered… and you will love this sale!

Shop an assortment of vintage and classic fabrics, trims, and buttons – all at discounted prices.

Open to the public • Free entry!

  • Couture fabrics are all priced by piece, labeled with measurements.  Most also list fiber content.
  • Specialty ribbons, embroidered ribbons, trims, and laces sold by the roll or piece.
  • Couture buttons sold in matching sets, some with buckles.
  • Credit Card only event – Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover.
  •  Please bring your own bags/boxes, if possible! We will have a limited supply of bags/boxes to use for purchases.
  • Last hour on Saturday, from 2 – 3 pm — 50% off remaining fabrics and trims only. See FAQ below.

About Special Effects Couture Fabrics

Special Effects Couture Fabrics opened in the Young Quinlan building on Nicollet Mall about 1982, moved to LaSalle Court (across from Dayton’s) in about 1985, and then moved to it’s final location at Southdale Mall from 1987-1991.

Lois Lund was the store visionary — a U of MN graduate with a degree in Home Economics and Fashion Design. After raising her children while having an interior decorating business and a dressmaking business, her entrepreneurial spirit drew her to open a store to sell the wonderful fabrics that she loved working with. She encouraged her customers to purchase high quality fabrics, trims, and buttons to create apparel for themselves, or to be made by a seamstress, at a much lower cost than purchasing garments in the same materials from high-end boutiques and department stores.

Lois’ daughter, Nancy Schaaf, joined the business after college “temporarily” due to the recession, but ended up developing a love for these fabrics and stayed with the store for nearly 10 years. Lois and Nancy traveled to New York, Paris, Milan, and Como to select fabrics, and prided themselves on having current designs and not designer “leftovers.” They delighted in seeing the same fabrics they selected in fashion magazines and in Dayton’s Oval Room on dresses and gowns selling for hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars.

FAQ

PARKING

  • Available in either of our two lots (look for the green signs): directly behind our building at 3000 University Ave SE, and at 3018 University Ave SE
  • Neighborhood streets — be sure to read and abide by parking regulations

ENTRANCE

  • Enter via Textile Center’s front door on University Ave SE
  • Textile Center opens at 11 am (same time the sale starts) – any early arrivals should plan to line up outside the front door

MASKS

  • Required – please plan ahead!

STASH

  • A “Stash” area will be available to temporarily hold selections until ready for check out

CHECKOUT

  • Purchases will first be totaled up by event staff
  • Payment by credit card only (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover)

LOAD-OUTS

  • Two parking spots directly behind the building will be reserved for quick load-outs throughout the event

50% OFF – LAST HOUR OF SALE (2-3 pm on Saturday)

  • Shoppers will complete regular price purchases by 1:45 pm, removing all items from the Stash hold area
  • Paid purchases may not be brought back into the sale event area
  • Shoppers will line up inside the building, for re-entry at 2 pm into the event space