Retail Revolution: The Best Shopping in Shanghai

Escape the international brands and try one of these unconventional shopping experiences.

The fact is that the all shopping malls mostly sell the same stuff. Welcome to the globalized world, where you can buy a the same Burberry purse (or at least a cheap knock-off) in London, Montreal, Sydney, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur and almost any other city you can name. Shanghai is no exception. Most of its bigger malls also carry the same iconic international brands.

So where to go for a truly unique shopping experience? Where to get those really one-of-a-kind finds, those truly memorable souvenirs, those gifts your friends can boast about back home? Stick to shopping malls of Shanghai and you might think the city doesn’t have much unique to offer (with one notable exception, but we’ll get to that later), but veer a little off the beaten track and the city is teeming with unparalleled shopping magic.

South Bund Soft Spinning Material Market

Better known as the Shanghai Fabric Market, this clothing lover’s paradise is found at 399 Lujiabang Rd. in Huangpu. Almost every fabric you can think of is available from at least one of the hundreds of stalls. While the market may be a natural choice for tailor-made suits, it’s also a dynamite spot to collect one-of-a-kind souvenirs for the folks back home.

Need a pillow recovered? A custom tablecloth or runner? Silk ties and scarves can be had for under US$5 and make excellent gifts for mom and dad. Almost any item you can dream up can be made for the right price. 

Visitors offer mixed reviews about the quality of garments. It’s important to do a little research before attempting the Shanghai Fabric Market: have a good idea what you want, and maybe even read a few reviews and get a stall recommendation before having anything custom made. Having a suit made may seem simple, but remember there are an abundance of small details and decisions to be made style-wise: collar, cuffs, buttons, fabric, sleeves, dart lines, etc.

Success Tips at the Shanghai Fabric Market

1. Have an idea of what you want before you arrive. The choice can be overwhelming. Most merchants have a catalogue of looks to choose from. Bring a magazine cut-out or photo, if you like, but know that you’ll have the most success by choosing one of the items hanging in the stalls.
2. Select a tailor that specializes in the type of clothing or fabric you want. Not just any tailor knows how to construct a leather jacket, for example. Certain fabrics are an art form unto themselves. Keep in mind that if you don’t like the sample, you probably won’t like their other creations any more.
3. Bring a sample. These tailors are experts at copying your samples. The most likely route to success is to bring one of your favourite items from the closet and have it remade in a similar fabric.
4. Negotiate. Look for a bargain. Negotiation is not just recommended but expected. That’s the way business is done here. That said, remember that you’ll get what you pay for and not much more. Choice of fabric influences the price, as does the number of garments you buy. The more you buy, the less you should pay. If you can’t get the price you want, be prepared to walk away. If you’re really looking for a bargain, don’t get too attached to any stall.
5. Prices are lower on the higher floors. Keep in mind that ground floors stalls pay a premium to be where they are. With all the selection, many shoppers don’t even make it to the upper floors, where prices are significantly lower.
6. Come prepared. Bring enough cash for a 50 percent deposit and expect to come back for one fitting or more, depending on the complexity of the garment.  Weekdays are a little less busy, but specify if you need the item made right away. Make an appointment for a second fitting before you leave. You’ll be glad you did.

Make a day of it if possible. Bring refreshment and wear sturdy running shoes. Speak slowly and write everything down in case you need to refer back to it later. Not everyone speaks English around here.

Shanghai K11 Art Mall

For a bit of retail therapy with an artistic twist, K11 is a kind of art gallery disguised as a shopping mall. The mall even has a motto: In Art We Live.

A 40,000 sqm shopping haven with three basement levels and six above-ground levels, the K11 Art Mall is not just any shopping mall. It’s a shopping experience, speckled with art from top to bottom, featuring 15 major works not least of which is a giant Mona Lisa made entirely from toast. 

A 3,000 sqm basement, K11 Art Space, is home to a reading room, screening space and event space, which hosts talks, lectures and workshops weekly. See the schedule here. K11 Urban Farming is a 300 sqm urban farm showcasing the latest in urban farming. Shoppers can experience closeness with nature and closeness with Burberry all in one convenient location!

Artfully designed with all the stores and eateries of its competitors, the mall also features a spacious outdoor sitting area (rare in Shanghai), a game zone (basically just an Xbox hooked up to a giant  screen), free WiFi almost everywhere, an excellent supermarket, and far less crowds than other Shanghai shopping malls.

Plans for development of nine more art malls in China are already in the works.