Rare Look Inside M&S Schmalberg, NYC's Last Custom Fabric Flower Factory

Wed Jun 01 2022 at 01:00 pm to 02:00 pm

M & S Schmalberg (7th Floor) | New York

New York Adventure Club
Publisher/HostNew York Adventure Club
Rare Look Inside M&S Schmalberg, NYC's Last Custom Fabric Flower Factory
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New York Adventure Club | www.AdventureClub.com
About 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!

Click here to see pictures from one of our last visits to M&S Schmalberg!

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

***Due to COVID-19, wearing a mask is required for this indoor tour


Testimonials

"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

"Interesting, informative, creative - cool to see behind the scenes action." -Elissa

"Great fun, wonderful people, amazing factory and tour guide. I loved seeing how they take flat fabric and shape lovely fantastical flowers. I love supporting a NY tradition and family." -Lenore

"It was unusual and interesting." -Margo

"Great! Unique, informative, different, very clean premises!" -Frances

"The space was wonderful—to be in a factory where people were working but that was also a store." -Kelly


Disclaimer

By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.

Categories: In-Person, Factory & Facilities Tours

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

M & S Schmalberg (7th Floor), 242 West 36th Street, New York, United States

Tickets

USD 35.00

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