Rare Look Inside M&S Schmalberg, NYC's Last Custom Fabric Flower Factory
Details
Tickets: $35 (advance registration required)
Click the link below to register for this event:
What do Rihanna, Anne Hathaway, Reese Witherspoon, and Crazy Rich Asians all have in common? Tucked away on the 7th floor of a building in the heart of the New York City Garment Center is a century-old business that has created fabric flowers for everyone including A-list celebrities and film & television productions. Now's your chance to visit the historic facility where they're all made, one individual flower at a time.
Join New York Adventure Club for a private exploration of M&S Schmalberg, a fourth-generation family-owned business in Manhattan's Garment District that has been hand-making custom fabric flowers for over 100 years.
Led by one of the company owners, our unique experience with the last custom flower maker in New York City will include:
- An overview of the artificial flora industry, and how fast fashion and offshoring have affected the niche fashion craft
- The history of M&S Schmalberg, from brothers Morris and Sam Schmalberg starting the business in 1916, to becoming the premier fabric flower makers for top fashion designers including Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, and Marc Jacobs
- A private tour of the historic factory to see the fabric flower process from beginning to end — from cutting out the fabrics in a myriad of different designs, to hand assembling petals into tulips, carnations, or other varieties
- A live demonstration by the company's veteran artisans of the century-old cutting machines and custom-made hydraulic presses still in operation
Afterward, you'll have the opportunity to shop for your own custom-made M&S Schmalberg fabric flowers (at a steep discount), and even go home with a stylish piece of history!
Click here to read a featured article of M&S Schmalberg in The New York Times!
See you there!
*This experience is only conducted on weekdays when the factory is in operation
**Guests are encouraged to bring photos of clothes or dresses they want to pair with a fabric flower so the M&S Schmalberg staff can assist with finding the perfect match after the tour concludes
Testimonials
"The event was so much more that I expected! Not only did we get to see the actual steps (and equipment) to make BEAUTUFUL silk flowers, but we got to hear about a family’s history and how the business came to be. I learned so much. Walking home last night, I passed a store on the UES than had some silk (or otherwise) flowers strewn in its window. Thanks to the instruction from Adam Brand, I was easily able to identify them as NOT M&S Schmalberg’s flowers. I didn’t realize how many of their lovely flowers I’ve already seen on favorite TV shows and runways and galas. Thank you!" -Linda
"The owner giving the tour, the family story, and seeing the workroom. Super interesting." -Kala
"Adam is so passionate about the business, the heritage and present and future. He was fantastic." -Dena
"This was so special! It's rare to see inside a family owned factory like this, especially in NYC." -Justin
"Loved that they took the time to let us into their private workspace. Interesting and beautiful creations!" -Margaret
"Resonate tour and history of a vintage business still operating." -Gabriella
"A rare look inside a historic NYC industry." -Jerry
"The opportunity to see a working factory. Guide had lots of stories about his family and the business and was willing to allow photos." -Meryl
"One of the very best trips I’ve ever taken with you. The machines they’ve used for a hundred years still in use today was fascinating. Completely authentic — workers making flowers as we walked through. A trip that truly surpassed expectations. Nice shopping opportunity at the end too!" -Deb
Disclaimer
Event takes place rain or shine.
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Rare Look Inside M&S Schmalberg, NYC's Last Custom Fabric Flower Factory