Buying Sewing Supplies on AliExpress: An Honest Review

In this blog post, I’m sharing my honest review of shopping for sewing supplies on AliExpress, what I’ve bought, what’s worked, and what hasn’t. Before I get into it, here’s a short story of why I turned to AliExpress in the first place.

• Why I started shopping for sewing supplies on AliExpress
• My first AliExpress fabric order and what I’ve bought since
• Frequently asked questions about buying sewing supplies on AliExpress
  • 1. Is AliExpress actually a cheap source for sewing supplies?
  • 2. Can you find high quality fabric on AliExpress?
  • 3. What should I know about ethics and sustainability when shopping on AliExpress?
  • 4. How long does AliExpress shipping take for sewing supplies?
  • 5. How reliable is AliExpress buyer protection?
  • 6. How do I find reputable sellers on AliExpress?
• Closing thoughts

Why I started shopping for sewing supplies on AliExpress

I permanently moved back to my home country about a year ago, and while I’m happy to be settled, one of the toughest adjustments has been sourcing sewing supplies. In my previous city, I was spoiled to be able to find almost everything I needed within a 10 km radius. If there was something I couldn’t find at a physical shop, I could probably get it online. The only things I ever really struggled with were niche bramaking supplies like duoplex and powernet (shoutout to my sister for bringing these in from her travels abroad!)

Fast forward to now. I sew almost exclusively with natural fibers and sourcing these has been quite difficult. While there are fabric shops, they just don’t carry cottons like lawn or brushed twill for garment sewing. I also can’t say how much I miss being able to explore and touch the types of fabrics I like to sew with.

I’m also struggling to find other sewing related items. A few months ago, I misplaced my invisible zipper at the most inconvenient time ever and I couldn’t easily find a replacement. This kind of frustration is what led me to give AliExpress a try. For full transparency, I did try it some years back (stretch lace) but the shipping time was over two months and it didn’t feel worth it.

My first AliExpress fabric order and what I’ve bought since

My first purchase this year was a gorgeous deep green floral cotton poplin. I just wanted to test AliExpress out so I only bought 1m. To my disappointment, the fabric was out of stock, but thankfully the shop reached out to me immediately and offered the option of a refund or an exchange. I chose a different fabric and it was at my doorstep in 11 days.

This experience gave me the confidence to buy fabrics that I’d been on the hunt for but couldn’t find. Over time, these have included 100% cotton gingham in two different colors and a seasonal cotton canvas. The quality of these fabrics exceeded my expectations (scroll down for some tips on how to find quality fabrics) and they arrived in roughly 2 weeks on average.

Other sewing-related purchases I have made are for sewing tools that I haven’t been able to find locally. As I mentioned earlier, I struggled to find an invisible zipper foot for my machine, but I was able to get a pack of 4 zipper feet that have made sewing so much easier! I have also purchased heat-erasable marking tools, invisible zippers, and twin needles, and I am looking forward to finally replacing my serger needles with the actual recommended ones.

Now I know the use of AliExpress may raise several concerns, regarding ethics, quality, and sustainability. So let’s tackle a few of these FAQs.

Frequently asked questions about buying sewing supplies on AliExpress

1. Is AliExpress actually a cheap source for sewing supplies?

A common assumption people make is that anything from AliExpress is automatically cheap, but that hasn’t been my experience, especially when it comes to fabric. Prices really run the gamut and you can find low cost, lower quality fabrics but also lovely high quality ones that cost about the same as what you’d pay at your typical fabric store. So if you want quality fabric you’re gonna have to pay more (I understand that this may come as a disappointment for those hoping to find inexpensive fabrics).

Where AliExpress is truly inexpensive, however, is when it comes to sewing tools and notions. For example, I picked up a pack of nine twin needles for around $3 and a set of five rotary cutter blades for about $2.50. So while fabric pricing varies widely, the tools tend to be consistently budget-friendly.

2. Can you find high quality fabric on AliExpress?

You can most certainly find high quality fabric on AliExpress; I’ve bought several beautiful pieces myself. However, these likely won’t be the first thing that pop up when you do a search. The better fabrics tend to cost more than the average listing and I can say that personally, the price has been worth it for me so far, especially because I got fabrics I couldn’t find locally. That being said, AliExpress is a mixed bag and you’ll also find low quality fabric in plenty. You must do your research when buying (I’ll share some tips a little later in this post).

3. What should I know about ethics and sustainability when shopping on AliExpress?

Even outside of AliExpress, it’s often difficult to know exactly where our fabric comes from or who is producing it unless we’re buying from a shop that works directly with a mill. The supply chain for many of the fabrics we buy isn’t transparent. AliExpress works through a network of individual vendors, so this complicates matters even further.

If this is something you care about (and many sewists do), it’s important to sit with your own values and decide what feels acceptable. One way I personally try to avoid poorly made or questionably sourced fabric is by staying away from the very cheapest listings. Price differences might reflect a difference in how they’re produced but even then, there are still a lot of unanswered questions.

The tools and notions, I would say, are certainly almost all mass produced. What’s interesting is that many of those found on AliExpress can also be found on Amazon. So if this is an important consideration for you, try look for a local shop with transparent sourcing or DIY some of your own sewing tools.

Sustainability is also a huge factor when it comes to buying sewing related stuff on AliExpress. Shipping all the way from China for many is not the most environmentally friendly option. To add on that, the items are individually wrapped in A LOT plastic.

There’s really no getting around this issue, AliExpress gets a very low mark for sustainability. What helps me personally is being very intentional about what I buy by only purchasing tools I truly need and buying in quantities that will last me for years. Also avoid adding novelty gadgets just cause they are cheap.

I’m not here to preach about what you should and shouldn’t do. What matters most is making choices that feel aligned with your own values.

4. How long does AliExpress shipping take for sewing supplies?

The first time I made an order on AliExpress a few years ago, it took over 2 months to arrive. These days my orders arrive in about two weeks with is a massive improvement. Where I live, there’s also a local courier affiliated with AliExpress that gives me the option of home delivery or pickup, which is helpful if you’re trying to reduce unnecessary deliveries.

Of course, shipping speed is very region-specific, so your experience might be different depending on where you live. But for me, two weeks has been the consistent average.

5. How reliable is AliExpress buyer protection?

Things are tricky when it comes to buyer protection on AliExpress. As I said, I’ve personally had good experiences and one seller offered me a refund for fabric that was out of stock. Not everyone is lucky though; just browse the AliExpress subreddit and you’ll see that disputes and returns can be hit-or-miss. For this reason I never make very expensive purchases and only buy from shops I trust (more on that in the next section).

My honest advice is: don’t spend money you can’t afford to lose. It also helps to take photos and videos of you unboxing items that just got delivered just in case you need to provide proof in a dispute.

6. How do I find reputable sellers on AliExpress?

When shopping for sewing supplies, here are some of my top tips:

Use filters to narrow down results

Search results on AliExpress can be overwhelming and are full of irrelevant listings that AliExpress is just trying to push. Make use of the filters (best match, orders, quality ratings) to help you bring the more relevant and reliable listings to the top.

Always check the item rating and reviews

This is non-negotiable. I personally don’t buy an item with no reviews, I know it seems a bit unfair, but I would like to know what people think about an item before making a purchase. Don’t just look at the rating; read the reviews. Some people give a low rating but praise the item in their written review

Check the store rating and not just the item rating

This is especially helpful if an item has no or few ratings and reviews. A well-rated store is, most of the time, usually consistent across all its listings.

Look for thorough product descriptions

Good shops tend to be extremely detailed in their product descriptions. They’ll tell you everything from the fabric weight to the fibre content and pattern scale. They’ll also provide several product images. If a listing is vague or sloppy, my advice would be to skip it.

Compare similar items in the same shop

If you’re unsure about one listing, look at what else the shop offers. Often, fabric shops stock materials within the same category or fiber family. Similar listings with positive reviews can give you a clue about the overall quality.

Closing thoughts

My experience with AliExpress has been positive so far. I still thrift a lot and use secondhand textiles whenever I can, but for the fabrics I genuinely can’t find locally and for most of my sewing tools, I’ve found AliExpress to be a reliable option. With a bit of research, I believe it can be a useful resource for sewists, especially those who don’t have easy access to the supplies they need.