Ellen's Shopping News

SHOPPING FOR CUSTOM-MADE SHOES AND HANDBAGS IN HONG KONG

2011-04-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

There are still a few remaining custom shoemakers in Hong Kong who can make up a pair of shoes and a handbag within a few days. They cater to men, women and even children. Surprisingly, their prices are quite reasonable considering the work involved.

TWO TYPES OF SHOEMAKERS

Three of the shoemakers below design a pair of shoes from scratch. They ask clients to either bring in a photo, an old but comfortable pair of shoes or an outfit that they would like to match the shoes with.

The other two have their own unique designs, all made up and displayed in their shops. If you wish, they will make up one of these designs but adapt them to your feet and design preferences.

WHY CUSTOM-MADE SHOES?

For some people, it’s just a matter of having a combination of a design and a leather or color of their choice.

But for most customers, it’s to achieve a comfort level which they can’t easily find buying shoes off the shelf. There are loads of reasons for this: Their feet are too narrow or too wide, their instep is too high or too low, the lining is too hard on the skin of their feet, one of their feet is a different size from the other or, one of their heels needs to be higher than the other. Any of these reasons and more, makes it difficult for them to look as stylish as they wish and to feel comfortable at the same time.

Hence the custom shoemaker.

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR VISIT TO THE CUSTOM SHOEMAKER

Bring your most comfortable and favorite pair of shoes, regardless of what your having made. It’s a good starting point to help the shoemaker determine the best last for your foot. Then bring along some photos of the kind of shoes you would like to have made. And finally if you’re trying to match the shoes to an outfit, then definitely bring along the outfit.

WHAT’S IT GOING TO COST YOU?

It can cost you as little as HK$329 (US$42) and as much as HK$3000 (US$385). It can go much higher if you select exotic skins such as crocodile or snake.

Here they are.

SHOES MADE FROM SCRATCH

LIIILIII

The Admiralty Centre, Tower 2, 1/F, Shop 75

Admiralty MTR Station, Exit A,
Hong Kong Island
Tel: (852) 2136 9739

Email: LIIILIIIcouture@yahoo.com.hk

Mon to Sat: 11am-7pm
Sunday: 1-4pm
Shoe designers: Alan and Billy Chan

The Chan brothers are passionate about shoe design. They have their own Hong Kong workshop in Central and love the process of designing a shoe for someone, of selecting the appropriate leather and color and of supervising every stage in the production.

They import their leather from Italy and Spain and boast of a thousand colors to choose from.

It can take as little as 24 hours or as long as one month to finish a pair of shoes, depending on the complexity of the design and on the uniqueness of a leather type and color, which, if you’re looking for something special, might need to be shipped from Europe.

Of all the custom shoe makers on my list, the Chans are the only ones that are original designers. Not only do they love to design an upper, they also like to add designs to the heels and to the sole of the shoe (see photo above). And they are quick to tell you that they won’t copy someone else’s design

The walls of their shops (they have three) are lined with past designs. One shop is dedicated to women’s shoes (and children’s), one to men’s shoes and one to their handbag and accessories designs.

Most shoes cost between HK$2000-$3000 (Approx. US$250-$385)

SHOEMAN LAU

The Sheraton Hotel Arcade, Basement Shop S23

Corner of Salisbury and Nathan Roads, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel (852) 2367 2539
Email: shoeman.lau.co@hotmail.com.hk

Open daily from 9am to 7pm

Craftsman for men and women’s shoes: Philip Shu

Shoes

Philip Shu has been providing custom-made shoes for as long as he can remember. His list of clients date back at least 25 years. Some don’t even come to town anymore- they simply email their order. He has their last, their size and their address. This is the nature of their clientele – one that stretches over time and distance. He keeps notes on them all: which ones have narrow or wide feet or the left size bigger than the right. Some of his clients have more of a medical problem and need shoes to be adjusted in small but significant ways. Some have no problem at all – they just want a pair of shoes that are attractive and fit well – shoes made especially for them.

Models of his shoes line the walls of his shop, some for men and some for women. They are elegant and look comfortable.

It takes a few days to make up a pair of shoes. If time is short, they’ll make up the shoes in canvas in a day or two to get the right fit. Then the shoes can be made up with leather or some other material and sent overseas, if the client is travelling through.

An average pair costs around HK$1400-$1500 (Approx. US$180 - $190)

Handbags

Shoeman Lau offers a wide range of attractive bags as well. It’s now springtime in Hong Kong and his window displays an attractive lineup of brightly colored shoes and bags. His handbag business is a big part of his shop. His items are heavily influenced by famous bag designers.

Prices vary depending on the bag size and on the quality of the leather. His bag prices start at about HK$1600 or about $200US.

RICCO

Sheraton Hotel Building

Street Level, Salisbury Road (facing Sogo)
Near corner of Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui

Tel: (852) 2367 7673

Email: riccoitaly@yahoo.com
Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 7:30pm
Sunday: 10am to 7pm

Shoes

With 35 years of experience to back him up, Francis Chan who runss the shop says he can make any style the client wants. Bringing in an old and much loved pair of shoes or a fashion photo is all he needs to get the process going. He works with craftsmen in Hong Kong and can closely supervise the quality of the product.

Most clients are looking for a good fit. Some clients just want shoes and a handbag to go with their newly tailored clothes. Two things they always want: fashion and fit. And that’s what he delivers.

This shoemaker travels to a city near you

His equally experienced boss, Tommy Fung, travels to the US and Europe, to measure old or new clients who wish to order specially-made shoes. If you want to get measured and see his leather samples when he comes to your city, email the shop. The same process is followed. A copy of the shoes is first made in canvas and sent to the client for a fitting. If they fit, the shoes are made up in leather and shipped out.

Depending on the client’s wishes, shoes are made with calf, cowhide or lambskin.

The average pair costs around HK$2000 (US$250).

Handbags

The shop is lined with a variety of handbags models which he can make as well. Often clients like their bag to match their shoes. The same rule applies: Bringing in a photo or a favorite old bag works just as well. The price of their handbags starts at about HK$2300 or about US$300.

READY-MADE DESIGN WITH A CUSTOM FIT

VICKIE SHOES

2 shops in Central

3 Queen Victoria Street, Central
6 Li Yuen Street East (The Lanes), Central
Tel: 2525 6402

Email: vickieshoes@biznetvigator.com

Monday to Saturday 10:30 to 8pm
Sunday and Public Holidays: 11 to 7:30pm

Vickie’s is one of those shops that locally designs and makes their own shoes and exports them internationally, as they have done for 25 years. Twice a year, they come out with a new line of elegant but inexpensive shoes. They’re not one of those international brands that charge clients as much for their marketing as for their leather. Their prices are reasonable, even when custom fitted.

While it is known for carrying ready-made shoes in large sizes, up to size 44 for women, it might not be widely known that the shop custom-makes shoes to fit their clients as well. Customers can choose any of the shoes on display in their shops and can ask to have them custom made to meet their specific needs, be it a fitting issue, a different heel, a different leather, fabric, lining or color. Clients can even bring in their own fabric.

The shop also carries a line of satin wedding and special occasion shoes.

Generally, the price varies little for the custom-made version, at the most HK$100 more (US$12), from that of the ready-made shoe, especially if the same leather is used.

Vickie’s shoes are priced between HK$320-$700 (US$41-$90).

GIGI

171 Wong Ngai Chung Road

Causeway Bay
A short walk from the Times Square exit of the Causeway Bay MTR station
Email: gigi_shoes@yahoo.com.hk

Open daily between 10-8pm

Closed during Chinese New Year

GiGi is one of only two shoe shops left of the many that lined Wong Nai Chung just a few years ago. Desmond Ng from the shop, claims they have had their shop for 40 years and have no plans to move.

The shop has a wide range of shoes on display and like Vickie’s, above, custom-makes shoes in their own factory.

Gigi will remake any pair of shoes in their shop to better fit the customer. Just like the other shoemakers, this may involve a narrower or wider shoe, a different heel, a pair with one shoe a size larger than the other and so on.

Often, customers simply want a change in color or fabric.

The shop also has a line of satin dress shoes for weddings, parties or balls and can custom-make a pair with a different fabric, if needed.

Shoe prices start at HK$500 ($65US). Depending on the changes involved, the custom-making price can vary. GiGi also custom makes handbags. Prices start at HK$1000 and can go as high as HK$9800 for a crocodile skin bag (see below).

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE?

Now that you've figured out that you don't have to settle for what you see in shoe shops, start thinking about what shoe designs you'd love to wear. Next, think of the comfort factor: width, instep, size of heel, softness of lining, different sizes of left and right feet, and so on.

Believe it or not, you can have both fashion and comfort, just like everyone else!

The rest is easy. Look over this list. There are five shoemakers to choose from. Four are in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central or Admiralty. The other is a quick taxi ride from Admiralty or a short walk from the MTR. And wear a comfortable old pair of shoes!

Whoever you choose, it'll be a pleasure to finally find a shoe shop that pushes comfort as their first priority.

Have a great time shopping!

STRETCHING YOUR SHOPPING MONEY IN SHENZHEN

2010-08-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

A Pleasure to Shop in Shenzhen

I would never have written six editions of Shop in Shenzhen if I didn't personally enjoy shopping at such a great discount. There are so many valuable practical things to buy among its 1000 + shops - you can not only shop for the whole family but furnish your home as well. I don't travel there regularly but when I go, I make sure to bring along a list that I have been adding to in between trips.

Quick Shenzhen Journey

A few days ago, I made a quick trip. I gathered all my documents: passport, ID card, customs form to fill out, a copy of my guideand my list of things to do and buy. It's sort of my job to keep track of any new developments. My main purpose this time was to try out a few clothes at the tailor's and at the same time, to try out a new tailor. I had a few other errands to do, and went off in the late afternoon. It's the best time of day as by then, the touters are feeling weary and won't be as persistent as they usually are throughout the da

Tailor Wang Jing Wai

This tailor shop is always very busy and popular among westerners. Stall # 19 is located at the far left end of the fabric market as you walk in. When the staff see a westerner approaching, their English speaking assistant immediately comes forward to help you. The shop has lots of catalogues and fashion magazines to choose designs from and staff have a very good sense of western styling. This time, I had clothes made for a friend in Switzerland and had some made for myself. Most of the clothes were made just as I had requested. Out of 20 pieces, perhaps one, a skirt, was a total loss. I consider these odds pretty good considering the very reasonable price one pays for tailoring in Shenzhen. I would readily recommend this tailor. In fact, she's already listed in my 2010 shopping guide under 'My Recommended Tailors' section, thanks to the many people who sent in their recommendations.

As always happens when you return to the tailor's, they asked me to return in two hours time to allow them to make the alterations. Because I'm always on the lookout for great shops to add to my book, I can always use the time to look around. However, like everyone else in the middle of a shopping Mecca like LCC, I rarely escape without doing at least some damage to my own pocketbook.

Optical Shop

I'd been looking for a pair of prescription sunglasses for a long time. As always, it's the frame that I couldn't find. I had a very clear idea of what I wanted but just couldn't find it anywhere, until that day. I shopped around at the various optical shops and finally found what I was looking for. This optical shop occupies the corner of a stall in one of the jewellery bazaars. The shop is called Angie, shop 3368, stall A50. It's actually run by Angie and her husband. Both are professional and friendly. The husband is the optician so he does the eye test and selects the prescription. For a pair of progressive lenses, with sun protection, anti-scratch lenses, the cost was 1200 Reminbi - about one third of what I had paid in Hong Kong a few years before. So far, I'm thrilled with them.

Men's Tailor

While shopping around, I bumped into Tony, a tailor who had made a suit for a young gentleman who had visited us a few weeks back in Hong Kong. Tony is an excellent tailor. The young man brought along a copy of GQ Magazine which showed a photo of a smart business suit. Tony recommended a swatch of beautiful Italian wool for the suit and had it made up in record time. When we returned for the first fitting, it took a long time to figure out which alterations had to be done , But in the end, the suit fit perfectly. Our young friend was so pleased that he ordered a cashmere coat and had Tony sent it to him in New York. I was a bit worried about that one but he was thrilled with the coat when it arrived. Tony is at shop 5123.

Men's Designer Fashion Overruns

The quality of men's fashion at Lowu Commercial City really makes me jealous. You can tell the quality of the garment by the feel of the fabric. There are a number of excellent shops all around the mall. Some of these men's shops will even do alterations for you. Generally, men's fashion at this mall is of a higher quality than women's.

I strongly recommend that you order a copy of my book on my website, www.shopinshenzhen.com. There are so many valuable tips that will make your shopping journey super efficient.

Jewellery Bazaar

You can't visit Lowu Commercial City without dropping by the Jewellery Bazaar on the third floor. As you come out of the bubble lift, take a right and walk to the far end. It's truly a wonderful place to have jewellery made up. The big hall is lined with stalls in the centre and shops along the walls. While some shops sell only ready-made jewellery, others display strings and strings of semi-precious stones hung together from which you can create your own pieces. You can even bring your own pearls and have them re-strung. They don't charge for this but will do it for free if you're already buying something from them.

Eat Well at Lowu Commercial City

When you spend so many hours on your feet, it's good to know that you can sit down and have a great meal when you're ready to collapse. Laurel on the 5th floor is just what you need. It's the most popular Chinese restaurant in Lowu Commercial City and the best. Go early to make a booking before getting too caught up in your shopping.

Manicure and Pedicure

I stumbled into shop 3316 totally by accident. It's actually a beauty salon which also does manicure and pedicures. It looked and was clean and comfortable. They did a great job with my pedicure.

HONG KONG'S LUXURY DESIGNER DISCOUNT OUTLETS

2010-07-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong’s Best Mall for Luxury Outlet Stores

Today, there are a number of buildings in Hong Kong that group together famous brand outlet stores. Some of them are phenomenal, some of them are less so. Horizon Plaza, an old industrial building in Ap Lei Chau Aberdeen, falls in the first category. Over the past five years, it has become a magnet for Hong Kong’s luxury designer retail outlet stores, offering high quality fashion at a fraction of the original price.

Shopping at Horizon Plaza and all over Hong Kong is well covered in my book, 'Shop in Hong Kong'. Pick it up at all Hong Kong bookstores or at just buy it at my website at http://www.shop-in-hongkong.com/

What to Expect at Horizon Plaza

These wonderful outlet stores follow the same principles:

The fashion and accessories are discounted up to 90% of the original price.
They offer fashion of the season: Anytime after February 1st, most shops offer spring and summer fashion from the previous year, up to five years before. Anytime after August 1st, you’ll find fall and winter fashion, from the previous year, up to five years before. The more dated the fashion, the better the price.
Most fashion outlets carry shoes and boots. Lane Crawford, Max Mara, Blubell and Armani carry up to size 39-40.
The largest sizing can be found at Max Mara, Lane Crawford, Marijuana and Club Monaco/Juicy Couture
Fashion and accessories for men can be found in all but a few outlets.
In multi-brand stores, each brand dictates their own rate of discount.
Every shop is well laid out. There is little or no junk parading as designer fashion.
You can try clothes on
All open daily from 10am or 11:00am to 7pm.
All prices below are in HK dollars.
See parking and transportation information at the end.

Shopping Logistics
Horizon Plaza was originally an industrial building. Because the elevators are slow and located on each of the building’s four sides, it’s better to take the lift to the 27th floor and walk down a floor at a time instead of waiting for elevators to take you there. The best shops are between the 27th and 19th floors. One is on the 10th and another is on the 5th floor.

Overall Rating of Each Store

I’ve rated each fashion outlet below on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best overall based on the size of the store, the range of its sizing and the broadness of its appeal. For specific information on each store, see below. All the outlets are grouped by floor, to make your shopping more efficient.

27th Floor

Max Mara, Rating of 5

Club Monaco and Juicy Couture, Rating of 4

Diesel, Rating of 3 Marni, Rating of 3

Marni, Rating of 3

AUN Fashion, Rating of 1

26th Floor
Amazing Inspiration Workshop, Rating of 1
25th Floor
Lane Crawford, Rating of 5
22nd Floor
Marijuana, Rating of 3
Armani, Rating of 3

Pompeei, Rating of 2

Moiselle, Rating of 1

21st Floor
Joyce, Rating of 4
19th Floor

Fairton, Rating of 4

Bluebell, Rating of 4

Replay, Rating of 3

Imaginex, Rating of 1

10th Floor
Ugg Boots (Inside Lavital Store), Rating of 1
5th Floor
IT Outlet, Rating of 3

Information On Each of the Outlets

Outlets With A 5-Star Rating

Lane Crawford
25th floor
Tel: 2118 3403

http://www.lanecrawford.com/brands (list of Lane Crawford’s brands)

Lane Crawford is the best fashion outlet in Horizon Plaza. The designers’ names alone are enough to wow you and the discounts allow the average person to easily own some very impressive fashion. The store is large and carries a huge collection of fashion and accessories for women, men and children. Its shoe department is particularly interesting with a wide range of sizes.

Max Mara

27th floor, #2709

Tel: 2722 9608

http://www.maxmara.com/it/Pagina-Iniziale (Brand’s website)

Brands sold here are Max Mara, Marina Rinaldi, Penny Black, Marella and others. Women who wear large sizes will love Marina Rinaldi with its wide range of sizes: Italian sizing 9 to 27, with 27 being the equivalent of UK22/US18. Footwear up to size 40. Fashions in this store favor career-oriented women and a smart casual look with jackets, tops, shoes and accessories.

Outlets with a 4-Star Rating

Club Monaco and Juicy Couture
27th Floor, 2719

Tel: 2118 2986

http://www.juicycouture.com/

http://www.clubmonaco.com/072010/default.asp

A shop that actually sells in US sizes! A nicely laid-out store with fashion and accessories for men and women: Juicy Couture shows young, casual and sassy fashion in women’s sizes XS to Large an in men’s waist size 28 to 36.Club Monaco has smart, classic styling and carries women’s sizes 00 to 10 and men’s 28” to 38” (waist size). Prices start at $150+.

Joyce Warehouse

21st floor, #2102

Tel: 2814 8313

No website available

Joyce’s Boutique and warehouse cater to an upwardly mobile crowd looking for cutting edge design. It has a large number of brands such as Galliano, Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garcons) etc.. Because its clothes are so trendy, it may not appeal to all people. If you like to make a statement, you’ll be in heaven as Joyce Ma’s stores rank up there with the most defining fashion names in the world.

Fairton

19th Floor, 1919

Tel:2873 2230

This outlet carries a number of major brands, namely Costume National, Fratelli Rossetti, Galliano, GF Ferre, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Just Cavalli, Kookai and Lloyd. European sizing for men up to 2XL. Footwear up to size 39. To give you an idea of pricing, tees run between $300 and $400, jeans between $500 and $1000.

Bluebell
19th Floor, 1902-05
Tel: 2580 1722

The Blubell outlet carries four major brands: Moschino, Paul Smith, Blumarine and Jimmy Choo. Discounts vary between 20% and 90%. Women’s sizes range from 38 to 44. Largest shoe sizes are 41 for women and 9UK (Paul Smith) for men.

Outlets With A 3-Star Rating

Marijuana

22nd Floor, 2216
Tel:2580 0645

A small European woman’s fashion and accessories (jewellery) outlet with niche non-‘commercial’ European designers – Goti, Rare, Audigier, Collection Privee. It has larger sizes than most outlets in this mall: They carry up to European size 48. Discounts range between 50% to 80% off the original price. Prices start at $150.

Diesel
27th Floor, 2701
Tel: 2518 0775

Designer jeans and tees, some footwear and accessories. European sizing. Men up to 2XL, Women up to Medium. Maximum discount is 60%. Discounted jeans average HK$1000. Tees around HK$200-300. Footwear up to size 30 for women and 45 for men.

I.T Outlet
5th floor, 5002-5004

Tel: 2553 8356

One of this company’s three outlets in the city. This multi-designer shop carries fashion from Europe and Asia, selecting up and coming or breakthrough designers. Their discount ranges from 50% to 90%. Their largest size is about size US6 or UK10. Very large store. Prices starting at HK$200-300.

Replay

19th Floor, 1918-1920

Tel: 2311 0080

www.replay.it

Italian designer jeans outlet with a range of casual wear for men and women. Stock is up to 5 years old. Women’s waist size up to 31” with up to XL size tee. Men’s tees up to 2XL. 50% reduction off all stock plus another 20% off that.

Armani

23rd Floor, 2203

Tel: 2552 9880

Open: 11-7pm

http://www.armani.com/

This designer needs no introduction. The outlet store for men and women’s fashion and accessories is elegant and the products beautifully merchandised. Sizes run from 38 to 44 (some 46) for women and from 44 to 56 for men. Shoes for women up to size 39 and for men up to size 43 ½. Discounts up to 60%. Prices start at $2000.

Marni
27thfloor, 2713

Tel 2553 5263

Website:http://www.marni.com

Italian designer brand for women’s fashion and accessories with feminine and quirky designs. Up to Italian size 42, with the occasional size 44. Reductions range from 60% for previous year’s fashions to 75% for 3 year old fashion.

How To Get There

Drive and Park in the Building

Take the Aberdeen Tunnel. At the exit, stay on Wong Chuk Hang Road (the main road) until you see a sign on your left for Ap Lei Chau. Turn left at this sign. You’ll be driving over a small bridge. Stay on this road (Ap Lei Chau Bridge Road) until you see a clear sign on your left for South Horizons. Turn left on this road (Lee Nam Road) and stay on it as it takes you by the waterfront. Once you reach the waterfront, look ahead and you’ll see a few industrial buildings. Horizon Plaza is the first and is clearly indicated.

The building has a car park but the entrance is a little tricky to find. Keep circling the building to get at it. If you buy something at Horizon Plaza, get the retailer to stamp your parking ticket. You’ll get a discount on your parking.

Take a Cab
It'll cost you HK$90 to get there.

Take a Bus
There are a few buses from Central, Kowloon and the Airport that will take you directly to Horizon Plaza on the way to Ap Lei Chau Estate.

From the airport

Bus A10

From Diamond Hill MTR Station in Kowloon

Bus 671

From Exchange Square in Central

Bus 90

From The Central Ferry Pier

Bus 91

From Causeway Bay (Ask for directions to bus stop at MTR station)

Bus 92

You’ll be hungry…

Grab a bite and a cuppa at the following shops:

Tree Café 28/F

Sift 22/F

Monde Chocolate et Cafe 10/F

Cafe Piatti 2/F

SHOPPING FOR CASHMERE IN HONG KONG

2009-08-02T04:17:00.000-07:00

MY FAVOURITE CASHMERE SHOPS IN HONG KONG

International Fashion and Great Value

Hong Kong is a fantastic place to buy quality cashmere at great prices. During most of the year, Hong Kong prices are half of those in Europe. During sales periods, you can buy a cashmere sweater for one quarter or less of European prices. Doesn’t that sound like you can’t afford not to buy it? Most prices in the shops I recommend are comparable, unless I state otherwise.

Eric Bompard, Paris

K11 Shopping Mall, #214, Hanoi Road, TST

Tel: (852) 2369 3588, 2369 6588
Fax: (852) 2316 2802
Email: ebompard@biznetvigator.com

Pearls and Cashmere

1. Peninsula Hotel Shopping Centre, Mezzanine Floor,
#MW1, TST
2. Mandarin Hotel, Mezzanine Floor, #5, Central

Tel: (852) 2525 6771 Website: www.bypac.com
Email: info@bypac.com
All three shops have great colour combinations.
Largest size: Up to Asian 2XL for women
(Up to 40” chest size) and up to
3XL for men (Up to 50” chest size).

Tabla
The Prince’s Building, Shop M31
Central, Hong Kong

Tel: (852) 2525 5590
Email: Tania@tabla.hk
Website: www.tabla.hk
Gorgeous elegant cashmere dresses and tops designed by Tania Mohan and made in India.
Elegant colours, often with metallic thread trimming on sleeves, edges and around collar.
Sizes: for women only up to XL. Price: More expensive than the others (but not that expensive!)

Vica Moda

TST: Peninsula Hotel Shopping Centre and Hyatt Hotel, K11 Shopping Mall,
Central: The Landmark, Bank of East Asia Building

Tel: (852) 2723 8283
Website: http://www.vicamoda.com.hk/
Email: sales@vicamoda.com.hk A long established smart Hong Kong brand. Their styles
are classic yet more unique than in other stores. For the elegant
woman. Their largest size is 46 or 3XL.

Chinese Arts & Crafts

1. Star House, 3 Salisbury Road, (Next to Star Ferry), TST
2. Asia Standard Tower, 59 Queen’s Road Central, Central
3. China Resources Building, 26 Harbour Road, Wanchai

Tel: (852) 2839 1188
Website: http://www.crcretail.com/

This store always surprises me with its elegant
selection of classic styling. Large selection of styles
and colours for men and women.
Women up to 2XL; Men up to 3XL

Dorfit

1. Pedder Building, #605B, Central
2. Mary Building, 71-77 Peking Road,
6th Floor, TST

Tel: (852) 2501 0018
Sizing: Up to western size 2XL for women
and 3XL for men.
Website: http://www.dorfit.com.hk/ Email: info@dorfit.com.hk
Another long established Hong Kong brand with a long list
of return customers. Sizes up to 3XL for both men and women.
They also have a fabulous personalized service: for 10% more money, they will custom-make a garment based on your choice of colour, size or style! Something else I like about them – they like to boast about their ‘competitive prices’! Now that is worth checking out…

Fable

Pedder Building, 4th floor, Pedder Street,
Opposite The Landmark, Central
Tel: (852) 2530 5148
Great range of sophisticated colours.
For women only Chamtex

1. The Peninsula Hotel Shopping Arcade, #BW11, TST
2. Isquare Shopping Mall, Shop 206, TST

Tel: (852) 2723 5139
Sizing: Up to western XL for women and 2XL for men.
This is a good quality shop with the usual range of cashmere fashion.
SHORT OF TIME?

If you’re traveling through and have no time to visit all the shops, here are the best cashmere neighbourhoods…

Tsim Sha Tsui or ‘TST’

Some of the best shops in this area are located in the Peninsula Hotel Shopping Centre and the K11 shopping mall. My favourites are Eric Bompard, Pearls and Cashmere and Vica Moda . Central

The Pedder Building in Central has one classic long established cashmere shop and a few smaller ones. The best shop is Dorfit (see above). Others in the building to check out while you’re there are Fable (4th floor) and Kinu Kobo (6th floor). Also, Pearls and Cashmere in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Stanley Market

There are quite a few shops in Stanley selling cashmere. They carry a small range of traditional cashmere styles and western sizing. Be careful though. Some shops call their garments ‘cashmere’ even when most of the fabric is synthetic. They usually come clean when you ask what percent of the garment is ‘cashmere’.
A FEW MORE FACTS ABOUT CASHMERE

When does Cashmere go on Sale in Hong Kong?
The best time of the year to buy cashmere in Hong Kong is in the period just before Christmas: October and November. This is when shops all have their sales promotions on so prices are at their lowest. Wide Range Of Styles And Sizes For Men And Women
Most shops in the city sell cashmere wear for men, women, children and even babies. Sizes run the gamut of very small (XL) to very large (5X+), depending on the shop.

Most shops in the city sell a pure cashmere in winter and a combination of cashmere/silk/linen in summer for a lighter, breathable more comfortable garment. All shops sell scarves, shawls and sweaters/sweater sets and these items represent the large majority of cashmere sold in Hong Kong shops. A few others sell stoles, ponchos, hats, mittens, gloves, skirts and pants.
How To Care For Your Cashmere
Nearly all shop owners recommend washing cashmere by hand with Woolite or an equivalent hand washing soap. Then lay it flat to dry. A few others recommend dry cleaning as a better way of retaining the wool’s original colour and the garment’s longevity.
Tourists, do some advance research

I’ve listed all the best shops above. If you are traveling to Hong Kong, are short of time and want to do some advance research, call or email the shops that interest you to find out more information. For example, you may give them your measurements and ask if they have your size, or you may ask if they carry a colour that you are trying to match. Emails and telephone numbers are listed below with each shop. Look up their websites to get an idea of what they carry. Keep in mind that websites show the latest season’s fashions but often don’t show the standard styles they carry year in and year out. A note about the author..

Ellen McNally is the author of the book, 'Shop in Hong Kong'. You can purchase the book on her website www.shop-in-hongkong.com.
_______________________________________________ This cashmere shop has a wide range of classic
fashion. The largest size is European Large.

Christmas Shopping in Shenzhen

2008-12-16T18:16:00.000-08:00

I’ve just spent the most frustrating day in Shenzhen!

But I’ve forgotten that it’s always like this. There is just not enough time and not enough money to do a proper job at Lowu Commercial City. My goal was simple - just to have some clothes made. Most Shenzhen shoppers know that this is a process that starts at home as you plan your garments but the best part is looking for fabrics in the Fabric Market. The selection is mind-bogglingly beautiful. At this time of year, wools and cashmeres are everywhere and the colors are wonderful. The stunning range of soft fake fur fabrics makes you want more than you need. Stall holders often display a made-up jacket to give you an idea of how one of their fabrics looks like. It’s such a great idea if you have difficulty visualizing fabric on a finished garment. As usual, I split my clothes making between a few tailors. Everyone is hungry for business today so it’s my way of spreading the wealth! So after visiting John (a jacket), Cindy (some tops) and Helen (a dress), I met up with a friend for lunch at Laurel, the fantastic Chinese restaurant right next to the Fabric Market (Phew! Thank God I had reserved when I first arrived! So many people had lined up waiting for a table and had at least a one-hour wait.) By 2pm, we were ready to either go home (my original plan) or to look around. This time I was a shopper, not a book researcher with a deadline and it was so much fun! Lowu Commercial City is a Mecca – no doubt about it!. Every time I go, I discover something new. I also go back to the places I had previously researched and could finally enjoy, just for me this time.

The most noticeable change at Lowu Commercial City, compared to past years, is the growing number of original, highly discounted designer outlets selling garments and accessories. And there are just as many shops selling women’s fashion as there are selling men’s. In fact, most of the designer outlets for men are for casual clothes. They’re all over the mall and of course, some are much better than others. Even better, while prices were set in stone just a few weeks ago, shopkeepers are more flexible these days and are happy to negotiate. And oh yes, there’s even one shop, #291, that carries up to size US18-20!

I also came upon a great little shop (#2608) selling clothes made of bamboo! It feels like a very soft cotton. Their clothes are mainly underwear or yoga style tops and long pants – very simple cuts in pastel colors.

I really wanted to have jewelry made up but discovered that you can’t do this in a rush. It’s like having clothes made up. You must plan it before coming to Shenzhen and then spend a good deal of time in LCC looking for the ‘parts’. There seems to be a million little jewelers throughout the mall and some have excellent made-up jewelry as well. But there again, you need a little money and a lot of time!

My friend reminded me that we had earlier decided on a manicure and pedicure so we knew if we didn’t stop shopping right now, we’d go home disappointed with ourselves. My friend went home with gorgeous gelled nails. I was too busy chatting with her the whole time to realize that the attendant had cut my nails down to a sliver because of my one little nail that had broken off a few days before. Damn!

In the end, I think I blew it. Bad time management. There were so many potential gifts that I should have bought and didn't - slippers, shawls, earrings, great wallets,very cool woolen hats, a really cute painting and so many perfect and reasonably priced ideas. Mmmm, let's see, when can I come back...?

How About Shopping in Shenzhen?

2008-11-30T17:08:00.000-08:00

Shopping in Shenzhen

If there ever was a time to shop in Shenzhen, it has to be now when the economy in the ‘real world’ is in such a dreadful state. Prices in Shenzhen are still well worth the journey. The tailors, the pearl shops, semi-precious jewellery makers, the designer fashion outlets, the curtain shops, the bedding shops ,etc offer great value. Not only that. Shopkeepers have had a hard time surviving the dramatic slowdown that happened during the Olympics as so many shoppers simply couldn’t get visas to travel to Shenzhen. Shopkeepers are now even more eager to do business and to negotiate.

A little bit about visas

Thankfully, the Olympics are over and the self-punishing China visa restrictions have been relaxed. It is once again possible to get a 5-day single entry visa to the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone at the Shenzhen border. If you plan to go to Shenzhen only once or twice , this is the cheapest and easiest way to get your visa.

When you do apply for a visa at the border, you are expected to pay in RMBs so change your cash before you arrive in Shenzhen.

The cost of a Shenzhen border visa varies by passport holder. Passport holders from ‘reciprocal countries’ pay 160RMB. Those holding passports from ‘non-reciprocal’ countries pay more and the price varies by country. Reciprocal countries include Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most European countries.

The UK and the US are ‘non-reciprocal’ countries. US passport holders cannot obtain a visa at the Shenzhen border. UK passport holders can. The cost is about 460RMB.

China Visas

If you would rather get a China visa, i.e. one that allows you to travel beyond Shenzhen, for example if you want to go to the Guhe Antique Market in Zhuhai, you need to get your visa at the Chinese Government Building in Wanchai North or at a China Travel Service Bureau (or any other visa granting agency). If you want to get an idea of prices at the government office, check out their website at www.fmcoprc.gov.hk

New Border Crossing

There are now two pedestrian border stations that can be reached by Hong Kong’s MTR urban transport. In fact, taking the MTR is the easiest and fastest way to go. The second and newest pedestrian border station is at Lok Ma Chau which takes passengers to the Futian part of Shenzhen. On the Shenzhen side, this station is called ‘Huanggang Station’. A lot of people use this border crossing if they’re going to a spa or if they’re going to play golf. However, the Lowu border crossing is still the best one to use if you’re going shopping. From here, you can go to Lowu Commercial City or to Dongmen, which is where all the locals love to shop. Going to the Dongmen area from here is a snap. The new ‘Metro’(Shenzhen’s name for their MTR) station is right at the border and the Dongmen is three stops away, at Lao Jie Station.

Shenzhen’s Glitzy Spas

Spas are the latest tourist attraction in Shenzhen and many Hong Kong residents come here to spend a large part of the day being pampered at prices they never thought they could afford. The spas in my book are elegant and comfortable. The prices are wonderful. Most spas do massages and facials and offer use of their ‘spa’ which is what they call their heated whirlpools, etc. One, the Queen’s Club also does more advanced skin rejuvenation treatments.

Tipping for Spa Services in Shenzhen

You are expected to tip those who provide the services at the spa. Here is a guideline on what to tip:

For a 20-30 minute service, the ‘suggested’ tips are Y10 (satisfactory), Y20 (very good) and Y30 (excellent). For 90 minute services, the ‘suggested’ tips are Y50, Y70 and Y100.

At the end of each treatment, you will be asked to fill in the amount of your tip on the bill.

Enjoy!

Hong Kong’s Answer to Shenzhen Tailors

2008-09-25T01:30:00.000-07:00

One of the great pleasures of shopping in Shenzhen is having clothes custom-tailored. As most Shenzhen day-trippers know, the tailoring prices at Lowu Commercial City are cheap (RMB175-200 per suit) and the fabrics abundant. And if you are exhausted from the battle with vendors, you can sit back and get a back massage or go to Laurel Restaurant for a comforting cuppa tea. No wonder so many of you are addicted!

Unfortunately, because of current tight China visa restrictions imposed on foreigners since last spring, many shoppers have held back and are now desperate for some new clothes. For all you Shenzhen enthusiasts, look out for the 5th edition of ‘Shop in Shenzhen, An Insider’s Guide’ to be released in November 08 (www.shopinshenzhen.com). By then, perhaps China visas will be easier to obtain and hopefully – less expensive.

Some of you may not be Shenzhen enthusiasts at all! Perhaps you hate that trip to Shenzhen and wouldn’t mind finding a local tailor/seamstress right in the middle of Hong Kong to whip up something that you just can’t find at the ready-made shops?

You’ve Come to the Right Place!

Check out my recommended Hong Kong tailors below. They do good quality work and their prices are very reasonable.

I have loads more Hong Kong shopping secrets for you. You can find them all in my just released, totally new version of “Shop in Hong Kong”. Take a look at my website, www.shop-in-hongkong.com and order a copy! Your shopping will suddenly become easier and definitely more fun!

Hong Kong Tailors!

Yes, there is an abundance of tailors everywhere you look in Hong Kong. And for every tailor you see, there are many more that you don’t see as they are working for themselves in small low-rental workshops throughout the city. Many of them make clothes for women and some of these tailors are on my list below.

Are they more expensive than Shenzhen tailors?

Of course they are! But perhaps not as expensive as you think. There are many many more expensive tailors/seamstresses in Hong Kong but I have chosen these for their more reasonable prices.

The Upside

There are great advantages to finding a good tailor in Hong Kong. Here’s what they’ve got going for them:

o They actually make the garment themselves. In Shenzhen, tailors do the measuring but the work is done in outside workshops.

o Hong Kong tailors give you at least one fitting with the garment before it is finished. In Shenzhen, you are expected to pick up the garment once finished, without a fitting in between.

o That means better quality for your money and fewer clothes donated to charity. (Shenzhen regulars, you know what I mean!)

The Downside

It’s a matter of time. Since they do the work themselves, Hong Kong tailors need 2-3 weeks (and sometimes longer) to make up your clothes, depending on how busy they are.

(A note for travelers. If you’re coming to Hong Kong and want to have clothes made while here, you need to let a tailor know ahead of time so that she can block off time for you. Perhaps you even need to use two tailors at the same time.)

Be Prepared!

When you go to a tailor, the onus is on you to be totally prepared before you go. Here’s a checklist:

o Buy your fabric ahead of time. See how much fabric to buy below. (Consult my shopping guide, SHOP IN HONG KONG, for fabulous fabric shops in the city.)

o Decide exactly what style you want to have made. Bring something to copy or a very clear picture of a garment you want to have made. Make sure the picture shows the main seams and cutting lines. Otherwise, you and the tailor will have to guess and the result might not look the same.

o Make sure the style of garment suits your personality and body style. Have you ever spent a ton of money on an outfit that didn’t make you look great? (Haven’t we all!) Here’s another secret. Call up Eve Roth Lindsay at Savvy Style (852 2522 2592). She will transform your appearance with just a few clear do-able ideas that are personally adapted to your look and body type. Translate this information into the clothes you choose and you’ll be set for a lifetime of elegance no matter what you wear.

o Book an appointment with the tailor. Let her know how many garments you want made up. Don’t show up unannounced. She splits her day between appointments and actual tailoring so doesn’t want to interrupt her work with unplanned appointments.

o Play it safe for your first garment. Get one of your favorite outfits copied. If that works out, move on to something else. Most seamstresses can work with photos or illustrations but save these for later garments. A tailor is a bit like a hairdresser. They need to get to know you first.

How Much Fabric Do You Need?

Here is a basic rule of thumb.

FABRIC 60 INCHES WIDE
Buy the equivalent length of the finished product. For example, if the finished length of your trousers is 39inches, buy 1 1/5 yards. For a jacket, buy the required length for the ‘finished’ bodice (depending on how long you want it) plus an additional length for the sleeves (approximately ¾ of a yard). Apply this basic rule to anything you plan to have made up.

FABRIC 44-45 INCHES WIDE
Apply the above rule of thumb (for 60” fabric) AND DOUBLE IT.

MY LIST OF HONG KONG TAILORS
(For women only)

Here are a few reasonably-priced tailors/dressmakers in Hong Kong who make clothes for women. The prices I list below are for straightforward garments. More detailed or elaborate garments cost more. Nearly all the tailors speak English or have access to an English speaker and are located in Central or Sheung Wan, a mere 5 minutes further by tram. They are usually open for appointments daily between 11am and 7pm excluding Sundays and Public Holidays.

Please call them up and use them. And do let me know how it worked out! I’d love to get feedback and will incorporate your input into future blogs.

Aida Fashion Workshop
Commercial House, 5/F, Rm 504
35 Queen’s Road Central
T 2537 4836

Rita the tailor can show you photos of lots of smart clothes that she or her staff have made. Her English is fluent and she obviously has plenty of experience. She can copy a garment from a photo or illustration.

Women’s Suit: HK$1050
Dress: HK$650

D C Fashion
Sun Fung Building, 3/F, Flat A
52-60 Lyndhurst Terrace (near Hollywood Road)
Tel: 2815 7330

Doris Cheung is another experienced women’s tailor. Her English is fluent.
Women’s Suit: HK$1100

Fung Ling Fashion
The Winner Building, 11/F, Flat B
27-37 D’Aguilar Street,
Tel: 2521 2133

Ah Bing the tailor is very experienced. Her English is fluent. She carries fabric swatches. You can either order fabric through her or bring your own.

Women’s Suit: $1210
Dress: $685

Teresa
Teda Building, 1/F
87 Wing Lok Street
Sheung Wan

Close to Western Market

Very experienced tailor. Carries fabric swatches but you can bring your own.
Women’s suit: HK$1500
Dress: HK$850

Shing Yue Shanghai Tailor Co
120 Wing Lok St, Yau Shing Bldg, 10/F, Room1B
(Close to Western Market)
Tel: 3114 7527 Mob: 6588 3488

This tailor speaks no English although she can call up an English speaker who will translate over the phone. Clothes are made in her workshop although I was told that she occasionally uses a workshop in China when overloaded.

Her prices are the least expensive (cheap by Hong Kong standards!) of the tailors in this list. Because this tailor cannot speak English, it is best to have her copy clothes rather than begin a new garment from scratch, then gradually have her do more complex work.

Women’s pantsuit HK$420
Dress HK$320.

Mens’ Tailors
This entry is for tailors catering to women only. For men’s tailors, pick up a copy of my book (www.shop-in-hongkong.com) for my complete list of excellent tailors.

____________________________________

Back to University: Last Minute Shopping

2008-09-10T02:04:00.000-07:00

My first post is dedicated to all those guys and gals soon heading for university in the northern hemisphere. These days, they’re shopping for everything they need for the coming season. And Hong Kong is the place to shop for people with small budgets and great fashion sense.

Teenagers will have a field day in Hong Kong. There is so much variety and great street fashion in this city that this is the place to spend what limited dollars they’ve got. You might think that Japan and Britain are the big league for street fashion but Hong Kong designers are way up there with their rebellious looks and much more affordable prices.

So read on guys - this is the place to stock up. You’ll be very happy when you see how the prices compares with those in the west.

Hong Kong Teen Fashion Stomping Grounds

First on your list are jeans, tees and various casual wear to hang out in. And you’re probably planning on loads of accessories and cheap fun shoes. And your mother will probably add,’ The most important thing is a good winter coat!’. She’s right. You’ll thank her when the cold, rain and snow settle in. Look for something really casual and sporty. It's hard to shop for winter coats in the sweltering heat, but keep looking. You'll find it!

Here’s where to head first, where you’ll find the best value shopping for the 18years and over crowd in the city.

Fa Yuen Street in Mongkok, site of the Fa Yuen Street Market. Mongkok MTR Station, exit B3. Loads of tees, skirts, shorts and cheap fun shoes. A few outlets here sell overruns meant for Europe, Australia or America. That means sizes are not too small and prices are a fraction of what they will sell at wherever you end up studying.

Granville Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Loads of accessories – belts, hats, earrings, stockings, leg warmers. It’s the luck of the draw but make this a definite stop on that long pursuit of the ultimate university wardrobe.

Esprit Outlet Store at 4-6 Hankow Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. You know Esprit! They're great and their outlet is THE BEST!

Lee Garden Road in Causeway Bay. A little street with one side lined with outlet stores. Great value from PJs to skiing jackets.MTR Station, Exit F. Ask for directions. It's just a few minutes away.

Stanley Market The grande dame of Hong Kong markets. Beautifully laid out. No pressure. Look for the outlet store next to the giant T-shirt sign. Ask. Someone will point it out for you.

Clothes with A Real Attitude

Nobody does rebellious better than some of my favorite Hong Kong street fashion stores.

Here are two of them. They have the full range of clothing for guys and gals with tons of unique accessories. Their looks are mostly influenced by European and Japanese fashion.

Ice Fire
Tsim Sha Tsui, 79 Chatham Road
Causeway Bay, 42-44 Yee Wo Street
Tel 2808 1184

Izzue.com
Silvercord Building, LG64, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel 2314 2556

While you're in the Silvercord Building, look out for the little street fashion shops with local and international brands in the back where the rent isn't so high. These shops are unisex but, let's face it, they're mainly for the guys.

If you’re looking for international street fashion brands, meaning jeans and tees with all the right markings, these next two shops in Causeway Bay won’t let you down either.

But don’t go early. These cats burn the midnight oil and start up late in the afternoon… Both are in Causeway Bay and a short walk from each other.

Juice
53 Paterson Street, 2/F
T 2881 0173

8Five2
Skateboard fashion
506-508 Jaffe Road, 4/F

Great Accessories for Teens

Two shops that offer great college fashion at deliciously affordable prices if you’re young, slim and on a budget are:

mi-tu
Park Lane Shoppers’ Boulevard, #62, Tsim Sha Tsui
T 2302 1150

Maple
26A and 64 Granville Road
Tsim Sha Tsui

____________________

So good luck with shopping, your studies, exams and see you at the Christmas break!