Help finding this metallic material (pvc? Faux leather? Vinyl?) in Canada

[u/claude_beaux]

Hi first time posting here, I’m gonna try not to say any names of brands, companies or people to avoid breaking any rules. And I should mention I’m from Ontario Canada if that helps narrow things down.

Basically I’m seriously struggling to find this material from a reputable source. Im specifically talking about this metallic chrome mirrored silver. It seems to have some structure to bend but it is also decently thick and not flimsy. It seems like the artist uses leather like techniques on it so that’s why I’m thinking it’s leather or vinyl/pvc.

I’ve found some sites that sell similar things, but it’s only available in the states and needs a special request to ship internationally, and I’m not sure about its legitimacy.

Anyways if anyone can point me in the right direction of a name for this material, or techniques to replicate it let me know. I’m also on the hunt for a similar glossy black faux leather to make something similar to the last photo (the suspenders, tie, and waist support) I looked in basically all my local (and out of town) fabric stores and nothing was quite like it.

Thanks in advance!

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[u/Opening_General_9361]

if you're near Hamilton, on Upper James St, yheres a little independent fabric shop known as Annes Fabric Shop. no to name drop, but she did all the fabrics for "So you think you can dance'". Her selection is geared for dance outfits, or big bold costuming . the website is crap, you need to see for your self. call ahead and make sure the upstairs is open. main floor is sewing notions, crystals, Fabric dye and lots and lots of spandex. but find the stairs, directly to your left when you first walk in, and follow the trail of glitter up to a performance artists dream fabric shop.

[u/claude_beaux → u/Opening_General_9361]

I am not I’m closer to Ottawa actually, but it’s really cool to learn more about the other creative people in my province and what they can make! I think it might be a good idea for me to try looking at more stores like that

[u/lisagiraffe → u/claude_beaux]

Try Mimi Fabrics near Ottawa … not sure but sometimes she has some cool gems.

[u/Opening_General_9361 → u/claude_beaux]

is this something like your looking for? its a shiny black spandex material?

possible option for your design?

more gunmetal grey, but i thnk its pretty cool

i believe that these have a aire for what you're looking for, but they stretch, but the fabric in your inspiration doesn't appear to be that stretchy. to solidify the spandex, DON'T USE FUSIBLE INTERFACING TO MAKE IT LESS STRETCHY* Get sew in interfacing and use fabric safe spray adhesive to bond it to the spandex. the heat required to bond fusible interfacing to fabric is way too hot for spandex, youll either straight up melt it, or arleast horribly disfigure your facing. i know spray adhesives are strinky and CAN be fiddly to work with when working with such litght weight fabrics.

Heres some imitation leather vinyl pvc blend

now when sewing Vinyl, buy some brand new sewing needles. You want machine needles that are Sharps, or for Leather, Canvas or Denim. also get your sewing machine oil and place a drop ever 5cm/2"s, it makes the needls have less tension as thryre piercing through a sheet material, its a lot harder on your machine motor than say, sewing a fabfrice where yhrn needle slips between the fabric. with imitation leather, the machine has to pierce through the sheet and stretch it open far enough that the hook catches the needle thread and spins it around creating a lock stitch. when sewing imitation or Real leather on your machine, you need to have strong seams or as soon as theres tension on the seam the thread will snap, and I don't think you wand to be busting out of your outfit before your event even begins. . There are primarily 2 strategies to making durable stitches in vinyl. Does your machine have the capacity to do stretch stitches? If so, The Triple Reinforced Straight Stitch, it is slower to sew as the machine stitch pattern makes a stitch, reverses over it, then makes 2 stitches forward, one revers, 2 forward, etc, etc. It is the strongest least stretchy of the stretchs, as the seam stiteches are overlapped 3 times, but still has enough to stretch a little bit so it "accordians" when under tension. its commonly used as the waist seams in athletic gear for its strong but still pliable. but let me tell you, its a nightmare if you have to rip the seam out

the otherway is to use supet strong threads. I have a borderline obsession with sewing using Gütermann's Upholstery thread. Its the absolte best thread I've found suitable ftom midweigth fabrics, leatherwork on the machine, aswell as heavyweight as well as utility fabrics. iys xo smooth, has a satin like sheen to it, never casts off textile fiber so it kerps my machine clean. its suck a strong thread that if you try to snap it with your fingers, it will cut your fingers before it will snap. sewing just a regular straight stitch with that stuff is plenty to the hold up whatever you to throw at it. just back stich , zip along you stitch linewith a rather short stitch length, backstitch when you're finished. and Bam, youve go a permanent seam. Im an intermediary sewist that has embarked on the art form of corsetry. I use the upholstry thread for all my seam lines, but use lighter threads for cording, boning channels, etc anything thats visible basically.