Dongdaemun Fabric Market
So my Valentine’s weekend was pretty eventful and fulfilling to say the least. It all began early in the morning Saturday. It was gray, not too cold. I was meeting Molly at the fabric market in Dongdaemun because she had never been, and I also needed to get some fabric for my new place (which by the way is completely finished and I will post about next time).
I used to enjoy cruising down the aisles of Joann’s or Hancock Fabrics back in the states. Inspiration was something you searched for in the textiles, and hopefully you found it on sale or in the new arrivals. Shopping for fabric at this place is an entirely different experience though.
Little did I know, that in the 1970’s this building was the largest market in all of Asia. You can believe it though when you’re walking around the place. It has about 7 or 8 floors, each consisting of different textiles like bedding, traditional Korean prints for hanboks, two floors of just fabric, a level of only beads, buttons and ribbons.
The building is huge, small pathways with different fabric spilling over, vendors 
eating lunch, people who look like they’re in the fashion industry buying and collecting samples. Creativity and inspiration is everywhere at this place.
I found my favorite booth (D-247 if I remember correctly) and ended up buying some pinstriped corduroy and a dark navy blue that go really well together. You’ll see soon enough.
Molly and I were troopers though, we shopped around that building for a while but eventually surrendered to how hot we were getting (still wearing our winter jackets and all) and decided to call it done. She threw a fondue and wine party at her apartment later that night, which was absolutely spectacular.
Once again I found myself encircled with people whom I love, laughing and having a great time. Not a bad Valentine’s Day at all. On a separate and random note, I was being ambitious Saturday morning and wanted to take 20 pictures throughout the day to feature in a blog entry. I didn’t quite make it to 20, I’ll do that some other time.
I DID want to share this random tid-bit about the sidewalks and all pedestrian walkways in Korea: they have raised lines which lead blind people all around….sometimes they’re circled or striped or rectangular depending on whether there are steps coming up, etc.
So…you can feel the pattern under your feet and it will guide you, with instructions! It’s a pretty cool system that I’d never seen anywhere else so I thought I’d share it.