Translation guide
A draper is a person or business that sells cloth and sometimes related goods. In Japanese, this is expressed with specific terms for the shop or the merchant, depending on context.
To refer to a person or store that sells fabric and textiles.
A shop that sells kimono fabric and traditional Japanese textiles. This is the most common term for a draper in a Japanese context, though it specifically refers to Japanese-style cloth.
あの呉服屋で着物の生地を買いました。
I bought kimono fabric at that draper's shop.
A shop specializing in clothing fabric, often for Western-style clothes. This is closer to a general draper's shop.
服地屋でスーツの生地を選んだ。
I chose suit fabric at the draper's.
A shop that sells rolls of fabric (tanmono). This term is less common and more traditional.
A fabric store, often used for general fabric shops including those selling craft or interior fabrics. Can be used for a draper in a broad sense.
生地屋でカーテン用の布を買った。
I bought fabric for curtains at the draper's.
The term 'draper' is somewhat old-fashioned in English. In Japanese, specify whether you mean a shop selling traditional Japanese textiles (呉服屋) or general clothing fabric (服地屋). If you're unsure, 生地屋 is a safe, general term.
反物屋で帯に合う反物を探しています。
I'm looking for a roll of fabric to match my obi at the draper's.