Shopping in Asia
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Jalan Petaling
The commercial heart of Chinatown is one of the most colourful and busiest shopping parades in KL, particularly at night when stalls cram the covered street. It offers everything from fresh fruit and cheap clothes and shoes to copies of brand-name watches and handbags, and pirated CDs and DVDs. Be prepared to bargain hard.
reviewed
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A
Daikanyama Address
Just northwest of Daikanyama Station, this small retail complex is notable for its clever suspension bridges and four dozen or so designer boutiques selling clothing, eyewear and other sartorially stylish accessories. The open-air plaza is a treat on quiet afternoons, and weekends tend to be relatively free of mad throngs of shoppers.
reviewed
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Classic Model
Bold geometric patterns define this clothing brand from fashion designer Sumate Phunkaew, a native of Nan Province. Certainly, the boy-from-the-province success story is heartwarming, but the clothes have a high frump factor. If you flip through the racks with enough concentration though you might find some suitable ‘teacher’ wear.
reviewed
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C
Paramita
If you can’t make it to Tibet, at least swing by Paramita for its inspiring collection of souvenirs, including yak-bone amulets (Y90), masks, jewellery, framed mandalas and other Buddhist treasures from the Himalayas. It’s a nonprofit organisation, founded to help Tibetans with minimal education find employment.
reviewed
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D
Ranking Ranqueen
Come here to find what young Japanese are nuts about – the hottest, quirkiest consumer products, ranked every month according to sales. The No 1 selling teeth whitener? They’ve got it. The best-selling bath salts, bottled tea, cellulite killers and tools to make your face look smaller are all here, too. Enjoy the madness.
reviewed
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Tibetan Handicrafts Cooperative Centre
Tibetan Handicrafts Cooperative Centre employs newly arrived refugees in the weaving of Tibetan carpets. You’ll pay around Rs6000 for a 0.9m by 1.8m wool carpet in traditional Tibetan colours and you can watch the weavers in action. For made-to-order clothing, head over the road to the Tailoring Section.
reviewed
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E
Pasar Burung
Elsewhere in Denpasar, a short distance north on Jl Veteran, Pasar Burung is a bird market with hundreds of caged birds and small animals for sale, including guinea pigs, rabbits and monkeys. There are also gaudy birdcages. An impromptu dog market also operates directly opposite the bird market. While you're here, have a look at the elaborate Pura Sutriya, just east of the market.
reviewed
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F
Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Voted Singapore's favourite one-stop shopping mall, Takashimaya has all the usual men's, women's, food and household departments, as well as a fitness centre (home to Singapore's largest swimming pool) and the giant Kinokuniya bookstore. The basement is great for a bite - the Japanese food here is especially good.
reviewed
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Jones the Grocer
This rather trendy deli also serves up a decent feed. Or is it a restaurant with a full-service deli? It’s hard to tell, as Jones has craftily blended the two into a beautiful high-ceilinged, airy space. The cheese room is a delight, as is the open-faced wagyu burger. The espresso-based coffees are top-notch too.
reviewed
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Page One
A chain, yes, but a good one. Page One has Hong Kong’s best selection of art and design magazines and books; it’s also strong on photography, literature, film and children’s books. There’s a smaller branch in Tsim Sha Tsui.
reviewed
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Hauz Khas Village
This arty little enclave is packed with designer Indian-clothing boutiques, art galleries and furniture shops. It’s a great place to find superb old Bollywood posters. Try Country Collection for antique and new furniture (they’ll post overseas), and Cotton Curios for handprinted kameez, and soft furnishings.
reviewed
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Ba Yan Ka la
This well-conceived store offers a luxurious line of natural beauty products derived from Chinese herbal medicine. Goji berry (skin revitalisation), lotus seed (skin nourishment) and mulberry (detoxification) are the principal ingredients in the shampoos, bath salts, facial scrubs and scented candles.
reviewed
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J
Island Beverley Mall
Crammed into buildings, up escalators and in back lanes are Hong Kong’s malls of microshops selling local designer threads, garments from other parts of Asia and a kaleidoscope of kooky accessories.
reviewed
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Shin-Puh-Kan
This new Downtown shopping complex has a variety of boutiques and restaurants clustered around a huge open-air atrium. The offerings here run to the trendy and ephemeral, which seems to appeal to all the young folk who congregate here. Occasional art and music performances are held in the atrium.
reviewed
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Bugis Street Market
Lock up your teens. A far cry from its seedy past as Singapore’s most notorious red-light area, the Bugis St market is now a teeming three-level hive of stalls selling clothes, shoes and accessories, plus a few manicurists and nail bars, food stalls and, in a nod to the area’s past, a sex shop.
reviewed
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M
A Bathing Ape
This A Bathing Ape Exclusive (Bape) outlet of the uberhip urban and hip-hop outfitter line is more like a museum than a shop, with fab sneakers on a rotating steel conveyor belt, mirrored surfaces and lots of sparkle. You can pick up Bape plastic models and some of the coolest bags in town.
reviewed
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Night Bazaar
Most of the vendors next to Sai Ngam are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and serve Thai and Isan basics, including pàt phimai, which is basically similar to pàt mèe koh râht but always uses handmade noodles. Phimai also has a small night bazaar.
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O
Shrujan
Selling the intricate embroidery work of women in 114 villages in Kutch, Gujarat, the nonprofit Shrujan aims to help women earn a livelihood while preserving the spectacular embroidery traditions of the area. The sophisticated clothing, wall hangings and purses make great gifts.
reviewed
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Shabari
This is a fixed-price government emporium selling Adivasi handicrafts from small, spindly iron figures (Rs. 20) to more expensive, heavy bell-metal statues. From the Sanjay Market end of Main Rd, take the third right and continue for 500m. It is opposite the Bank of Baroda ATM.
reviewed
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Dastkar Craft Centre
This place, 3km from the station, is worth a visit. The organisation empowers low-caste village women, who produce the attractive handicrafts on sale, including saris, scarves, bags and bedspreads. You can visit the workshop located beyond the park entrance near Khem Villas.
reviewed
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Greenhills Shopping Center
Greenhills Shopping Center is somewhat like a flea market, with stall after stall selling DVDs and brand-named clothing of questionable legitimacy. But snoop around and you’ll find quality antiques and the best selection of genuine pearls in the country.
reviewed
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Q
Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre
This private centre at the south end of Thimphu produces hand-woven textiles on site and has a selection of cloth and ready-made garments for sale. This is one of the few places where you can watch weavers at work. A finely embroidered kira can take a year to make and cost over US$1000; cheaper ones start at US$40.
reviewed
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R
Soho Wines & Spirits
Its name notwithstanding, this place’s forte is its large selection of beer and spirits. If it’s not here, it probably isn’t made or consumed any longer. Its prices tend to be keen, thanks to the shop’s hospitality-trade wholesaling business.
reviewed
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S
Gobi Cashmere Shop
The major cashmere and wool factories are Goyo (Mongolian-American joint venture), Gobi Cashmere (government-owned) and Buyan (owned by the prominent politician Jargalsaikhan). Excellent products can be purchased at the Gobi Cashmere Shop opposite the Russian Embassy.
reviewed
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Shanghai Tang
Shanghai Tang has reopened in a four-floor ‘mansion’ near its old address. If you fancy a cheongsam (a body-hugging Chinese dress for women) with a modern twist, a Chinese-style clutch or a lime-green mandarin jacket, this is the place to go. Custom tailoring is available; it takes two weeks to a month and requires a fitting. Shanghai Tang also stocks a range of lifestyle objects – cushions, picture frames, teapots, even mah-jong tile sets, designed in a modern chinoiserie style.
reviewed