Divisoria Guide for Crafters

I would like to apologize ahead of time if I wasn't able to take pictures of how we got there, the signs and stalls in Divisoria, due to the fear of getting my phone snatched.

I decided to ask my aunt who is also a crafter to accompany me to divisoria this saturday since it was a holiday for Quezon City. Now I'm going to share my experience with you on this trip to buy materials!

I always go to Divisoria to buy clothes or other stuff but seldom with crafting items because Ylaya and Tabora street are quite far. I went there today with my tita because I asked her to make cosplay wings for me while I'm making my other costume requests and commissions.

So here's how you go there.

If you're living in Quezon City, then lucky for you because LRT line 2 is such a blessing!

Anyways,

From Quezon City - Katipunan, we rode a jeepney going to LRT line 2, the jeepney stops at a terminal and from there you will walk going to the right side and pass by St. Bridget school to get to the LRT - Katipunan Station. It is better if you have Beep Card because it's a stored value card that you can also use in MRT, but if you don't want to get a Beep Card, you can buy a single journey ticket which is only 25 php, From Katipunan to Recto station.

Recto station is the last station in LRT Line 2, which is also the connecting station to Dorroteo Jose - LRT Line 1. You will go down on recto station and make sure you get off the station on the other side of the street, not on the same street with Isetann. It's usually on the right side once you got off the train and down the staircase. Now from there you will walk a few more steps, near the stoplight and intersection to ride a jeepney going to Divisoria.

Now if you're somewhere far from Katipunan, let's say you live in Fairview, you can ride a jeepney or bus going to Baclaran or Quiapo. From Quiapo there are jeepneys that go straight to Divisoria.

If you're somewhere near cubao, don't fear! There's a Jeepney that goes from Cubao straight to divisoria! :D Amazing right? or if you don't want a long journey filled with traffic, you can go to Gateway and ride from LRT 2 - Araneta Cubao station going to Recto. Then from recto, go down on the right side/other side of the street and ride a jeepney going to Divisoria.

How will you know if you're already in Divisoria or not? Once you spotted the Tutuban Mall, you go down already because the jeepney will be really slow as it goes deeper because of the amount of people walking in the streets. It'll be faster if you walk.

From tutuban mall, you go straight ahead, pass by 999 Mall, 168 and D8 Mall. If you don't want to be confused don't go inside those malls (unless you're gonna buy clothes or other stuff there). You keep walking straight ahead and look closely in alleys/streets on the side. Once you see a red sign on the street that says "Ylaya", then bingo! you found it already!

Ylaya street is divided by the huge street in the middle, the right street is filled with other things for crafting like empty jars, bottles, souvenir materials, other raw materials, etc. The left street, across the huge street in between is filled with cloths, raw materials, clothes and finished souvenir materials for wedding, etc.

Usually behind the stalls in front there's a lot more stores and stalls at the back, you just really have to look carefully and walk slowly if you want to scout.

I found these amazing Fur Cloths for the cosplay costume I'm making in Ylaya street! For only 480 php per yard you can already have these! They also sell by half yard! :D

Along the Ylaya street I was able to buy a bunch of cotton for only 75php

After that me and my aunt went to Tabora street which is just the street next to Ylaya. If go straight to Ylaya, there's another straight road and just a little walk to the right, there's another street which is Tabora.

**HINT: You'll know you're seeing the entrance to Tabora street once you saw stalls with feathers**

Tabora street is known for costume making, wings, headdresses. Me and my Aunt bought feathers here for only 50 php to 80 php and a bunch of glue stick (more than 20 pcs) for only 30 php! However I wasn't able to take pictures of everything we bought because we separated ways going home and she took it all along with her already to start the making of the wings.

Aside from feathers, headdresses, there's a lot of EVA Foam around for armor crafting.

We found one stall that sells one roll for only 100 php! One roll is equivalent to 1 yard.

Overall the Divisoria trip is so fun and worth it especially if you want to spend thriftily on materials for crafting.

Divisoria is known for bargain and cheap buys, so make your trip worth it by following these tips.

#1 - Whenever you're lost, go out to the main road so you know where you are, where you came from and where will you go back.

#2 - Buy in bulks, the discount is bigger

#3 - Don't just settle in one stall, go for more, canvass the price and choose which one is the cheapest.

#4 - There are stalls/shops behind tent stalls in front, so walk slowly and examine things carefully.

#5 - Bring extra money, who knows if you stumble upon something you also want

#6 - Don't be afraid to haggle.

#7 - Don't bring out your gadgets out in the open. For Safety.

#8 - Don't bring out your wallet when paying, it can get snatched. Put your money instead scattered inside your bag, and know exactly where you placed it, so that when you pay, you give the money directly without bringing out your wallet.

#9 - Remember to hydrate yourself, bring your own water bottle, buying water along the way is quite costly.

#10 - Watch out for vehicles, it's quite cramped and still there are vehicles passing by.

Lastly: Visit divisoria a little bit early, because the amount of people going there increases by midday. It's hard to ride a jeepney going back to Recto station when it's past 1pm.

Enjoy the rest of the day and shop wisely! :)

#Divisoria #shopping #adventure #bargain #materials #crafting #craft #DivisoriaGuide