SHANGHAI
September 13th 2009
First off, HOLY MOLY! The FABRIC MARKET in Shanghai, located now at 399 Lu Jia Bang road, is one of the most alluring and dangerous places I have ever been. It was Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and I embodied every single one of the bratty child characters at one point, including Charlie, in the end.
THUNDERDOME
Instantly, I mesmerized by the row of booths showcasing custom and classic designs of jackets, suits, dresses and drawn to the promise of cheap, tailor made clothing. I mean, it’s where J.Crew and Michael Kors get their clothes done, right? Surely I can then custom ordered jackets and dresses by the boatload in expensive fabrics like Cashmere all for under $300. I wore the determined face of a Supermarket Sweep contestant and set off to collect and design my bargain treasures.
A rainbow of cashmere options - the snozberry wallpaper equivalent
I learned to haggle with the myriads of “I make a good price for you, Lady” vendors and felt like a kingpin as I plucked the rolls of fabric from the wall and drew my designs on the seamstress’ design-pad. I nodded yes to their statements of 100% Cashmere though the sample felt a tad different, caught up in the belief that my jacket when it came THE NEXT DAY would be indeed, the 100% quality they assured. So, I went around to my various chosen booths, I doled out the 100-RB notes for the deposit on the various items (two dresses, a long jacket, a cape and a silk shirt) and left the market feeling like I’d just gotten a steal of a new winter wardrobe. Oh yes, I was chewing the gum (Violet) and taking gulps of the chocolate river (the fat German kid – Hans?), though somehow still floating upward on fizzy-lifting drink like Charlie…
**more to come
