Have you ever had your clothing tailor-made? In Shanghai you can have an entire wardrobe made in a matter of days. For that matter you could have every textile item in your home made… The Shanghai Fabric Market (address below) can whip up dresses (ready to wear, to wedding dresses), communion dresses to costumes, business suits, ties, table runners, bedding, bathrobes, under garments, coats, even chopstick holders…. if it involves fabric the market in Shanghai can make it for you.
The Shanghai Fabric Market is located in a three floor building that houses hundreds of tailors. Each stall has clothing examples, books with designs to select from, and fabric. Though it is best to bring an example of what you want made.
Chelsea and I went to the Fabric Market to have a business suit, and a couple of shirts made for her.
We walked in and instantly were overwhelmed. The selection was utterly awesome: Every type of silk, cashmere, linen, cotton and fleece was available. Let alone thousands of styles. A shirt alone brings numerous choices for the cuff, collar, button, fabric, sleeve, and dart lines…
A paradise for the creative.
A paradise for the shopaholic.
A paradise for anyone who enjoys designing their own clothing.
An eye opener for a mother and daughter who rarely go shopping.
The hardest part was selecting a tailor. Though what we soon learned was that each tailor's stall specializes in an article of clothing and fabric type. As Chelsea wanted a dark grey and navy blue suit we selected a tailor who offered suits in cashmere.
It pays to come to Shanghai to have you clothing made, a cashmere and silk lined suit (jacket, skirt and pair of pants) runs for about $75 to $100. A fraction of what it would cost in France, and the quality cannot be compared.
Of course you have to negotiate every price, though that is the part I loved.
It is a must to know that when negotiating the price with the tailor the more you buy the less it should cost. The cost is also reflective on what type of fabric you use.
One also must not being afraid to walk away if the price isn't what one wants to pay. There are plenty of qualified tailors to pick from at the Shanghai Fabric Market.
Each tailor measures you. A suit can takes up to a few days to make. It is good to go for two fittings before before paying the final sum, though it is customary to leave a fifty percent cash deposit.
Silk ties and cashmere scarves are under five dollars.
Button down shirts around fifteen dollars (though we bought our buttons at a button shop within the Fabric Market because the quality and selection of buttons were a very good deal and surpassed the buttons offered.)
Though the best buys comes with buying a raincoat or wool coat. The harder, more complicated the item is to make, or if the item is a knock off of a well known brand, or if it is a knock off of Kate Middleton's wedding dress (YES, you read me right. Photos were up of her wedding dress (and dresses) the day of her wedding.) the better the price.
I selected a Chinese style dress, coat and pants in silk cotton.
Of couse I'll show photos of our new clothing when they arrive.
What to remember when going to the Shanghai Fabric Market:
Go early.
Take water.
Have an idea of what you are looking for and keep focused.
Bring an example of what you want made.
Speak slowly and clearly, though most of the tailors speak English, details can be lost in translation.
Write everything down, or go over the receipt with the tailor to be sure you both understand what you have ordered and what you are going to pay.
Make a date for a second fitting.
And know you will be overwhelmed.
When we returned to our hotel Chelsea said,
"Now I know what it means to shop until you have dropped."
Address: Shanghai Fabric Market.
Address: 399 Lujiabang Road (near the Bund). 上海南外轻纺面料市场, 399陆家浜路，近南仓街
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm
Getting there: Take Line 4 to Nanpu Bridge Station, 南浦大桥站
Resource advice from CNN, about the fabric market in Shanghai click here.
Other sources for tailored made clothing, around Asia, click here.
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