Where To Shop: Hong Kong (HK)
Just in case any of you are traveling to Hong Kong over the long weekend (due to Hari Raya hols), I thought I'd post some suggestions on where to shop as emailed to us by our HK contributor Tricia Yap.
For super cheap shopping:
1. Mongkok
Head to the Ladies Market but forget about going to the actual market. Along the sides are shops which stock goods brought in from Shenzhen (Dong Men side) or made in the HK factories. I've scored wool avant garde-looking coats with thick wide belts for about HKD200-299 (RM100-150) there. It's a long road, many shops, and you can actually bargain a teeny bit (but not as if you were in SZ).
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Around Mongkok there are many shopping centres - the main Mongkok shopping centre stocks three floors of cheap goods and is literally right outside the train station exit, just follow the hordes of teenagers. If you like Sungei Wang, and can apply the same hunting rules with much more people in less space (try to avoid it on a weekend if possible) then head here because it's the cheapest in HK - you find the same stuff in Causeway for double the price (but half the headache if you know what I mean).
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A fave of area of mine. Look for the Rise Shopping Centre, it's tucked in an alley about 5-10 mins walk from the station. It stocks some pretty decent grey market designer clothing picks and Japanese imported fashion. Has decent shops for guys too. Less of a brawl than Mongkok but still as busy. On the other side of TST, the more commercialised Ocean Terminal hosts a huge two shopping centres. Inside Ocean Terminal, there is LCX which is like a youth fashion walk.
3. Causeway: Island Beverley
There are lots of local shops here but you can find the same items in Mongkok and TST for much cheaper. There are a few notable stores - one on the top floor which is very plain and stocks grey market stuff, and one which I think is on the first floor which I always go to. The name escapes me, but the lady that runs it has a pixie haircut, models part time and it's quite close to the escalator (if you walk straight coming out of the escalator, it's a shop on the right). Prices start from about $499HKD though, but I like her fashion picks versus the other shops where they clearly went to SZ and bought whatever was on hand.
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In Causeway, there's a new shopping centre called JFT that specialises in Jap fashion and only just opened which I've yet to check out. I've heard mixed reviews - from not promising to pretty cool. It's on Percival Road.
Outlet shopping:
1. Citygate Outlets
Tung Chung (take the train from Central to the Tung Chung station), is a huge outlet mall, and has the I.T. outlet which is the fashion conglomerate that brings in designer labels. I sometimes do find decent bargains there but probably because I'm a giraffe compared to everyone here. If you're a US4 (UK/AUS 8), you're in clothes heaven because everyone is a size 0-2 here.
2. Horizon Plaza at Ap Lei Chau
Situated closer on the island, it has an outlet mall and an IT outlet. On top of that you can find the Club Monaco and Juicy Couture outlets here as well.
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I guess the trick to HK shopping is what type of shopper you are. If you can battle your way in crowds and have the energy to trawl through stuff, than Mongkok and TST (the dark side) are great as it's much cheaper. If you want to experience as few people as possible, then you head to Causeway Bay where you can weave your way through people as opposed to bash your way through people. Bashing through people = cheaper goods. :)
Vintage stores:
1. Amours Antiques
- On Staunton or Elgin. Stocks true vintage from the States. Clothing bags and jewelry.
2. Somewhere in Time - somewhere.com.hk
- A little corner shop, so small you could almost miss it. It specialises in vintage jewelry and there are also bags. A little on the pricey end but if you know what to pick, I've found some valuable pieces from the '20s and '30s here.
3. Fang Fongs
- Situated in Soho, it stocks a small selection of vintage upcycled clothing and some vintage pieces. Probably one of the few stores that actually stock up and coming designers and have relatively off the beaten track stuff. More about Fang Fongs here.
- Fang Fong, 47 Staunton Street, SoHo, 2857 2057
4. Beatniks
- Clothing selection is too retro for me but i really like their vintage sunnies and think they have a good selection.
5. Vintage HK
- Worth a peer inside for secondhand clothing, but the items are not really considered vintage. The most vintage you get is something from the 1980s, but be very wary as a lot of it is secondhand '90s clothing being sold as vintage.
6. King's on Lok Ku Road
- It sells a weird selection of stuff but I've picked up some treasures from there like straw-weaved basket bags from the '50s and '60s and the odd Givenchy '80s brooch. Be prepared to pick through marbles, furniture and loads of crap. Presentation 0, but treasure factor is high.
Another notable shop is:
Ladyplace
Unit A, 1/F, World Trust Tower
50 Stanley St., Central
- Not vintage but a teeny shop which half of high society sell their couture at. It's not cheap but worth a visit.
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If you have time, I really recommend to go to SZ itself. Between LoWu and Dongmen, you will find EVERYTHING in HK there and for wholesale prices. Plus, they let you try on clothes and are lot nicer than HK people. Basically everything you see in Bangsar are brought over from either SZ (LoWu, Dongmen) or Bangkok (Pratunam, Platinum Mall).
I barely buy stuff here in HK unless it's handmade because it's all imported in from China.
