Shanghai Fabric Markets

[Grumblemouse]

I'm off to Shanghai for 10 days and whilst I understand that the Fabric Markets there are not the best place to get a durable suit that will last generations the prices suggest that you can purchase something that will last a season - and at those prices who wouldn't!

Having researched a little it seems as if there is much variation between stall 506 and 507.

Does anyone have any good tips, suggestions or recommendations?

thanks in advance

 

[Simon at Elite]

The Shanghai fabric markets are a place where tourists buy cheap suits. The only locals that buy there are the same sort of people that buy $99 suits from Walmart here. However if you must

Realise that no matter what name is written on the fabric sample book it's more than likely a fake. Unfortunately you're not going to buy a suit made from genuine Scabal fabric for $200. Not only is it not genuine it's probably not even wool.

Be prepared to bargain and bargain hard. Get their first price and target around a third of that as the final one.

Accept that you're dealing with a retailer not a tailor. They don't make suits. Rather they get your order and send it to one of the many suit factories in Shanghai who knock them out overnight.

There is a reason the suits are so cheap. The seller knows that by the time any problems start to show up you will be 4,000 miles away and unlikely to bring it back demanding a refund.

There are some great tailors in Shanghai who will make you an very good suit at a reasonable price. However, you won't find them at the fabric markets

 

[Grumblemouse]

Hmmm thanks Simon - sounds ropey. Which proper tailors would you recommend in Shanghai?