The South Bund Fabric Market, known locally as the Lujiabang Road fabric market, is a multi-storey building south of the old town filled with small stalls selling cloth and offering tailoring. There are hundreds of units, and most of them will measure you on the spot and deliver finished clothes to your hotel within a few days.
What can be made
The standard orders are men's suits, blazers, shirts, overcoats and women's dresses, plus the qipao - the fitted Shanghai-style dress with a high collar and side slits. Stallholders keep a catalogue of styles and can copy a garment or a photograph. Turnaround is typically three to seven days, and it is worth ordering on the first morning of a Shanghai stay so that at least one fitting is possible.
Fabric and price
Fabric ranges from basic cotton and polyester blends to wool, cashmere blends, silk and brocade. Prices depend almost entirely on what you pick and how hard you negotiate. Treat the first figure as an opening, expect to end up somewhere between half and two thirds of it if you are patient, and be prepared to walk to several stalls comparing the same cloth. Rooms on the upper floors are usually quieter, less rushed and more willing to talk.
Common pitfalls
Choose the fabric by feel, not by the label; ask what the mill and composition actually are. Confirm the number of fittings and the delivery date in writing, and pay a deposit rather than the full amount. If something does not fit when you collect it, the stall should adjust it free, and a second fitting is normal even when they offer only one. Bring a photo of the cut you want from the back as well as the front - sleeves and shoulders are where copies go wrong.
Practical notes
The market is open daily from around 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is a short taxi ride from the Bund, near Lujiabang Road station. Mobile payment is standard but cash helps when bargaining. If you want a qipao for a specific event, allow two weeks, and bring the shoes you plan to wear with it so the length is right.
