In today’s blog, I will be introducing you to this place if you haven’t been to Hong Kong before. The famous Hawkers Bazaar, a fabric heaven for sewers and designers visiting or living in Hong Kong. I am sure there’s already a lot written about this place. So, today I am here to talk about my experience and to give you an insight to Hawkers Bazaar, and with plenty of pictures to show you what it is like to shop here.
Before I stumbled upon this place in early 2015, I have actually been to Hong Kong several times. I have only heard of the famous fabric market in Sham Shui Po, so I presumed it must be Ki Lung Street fabric market. You can find a lot of mentions and photos of this street market online by tourists and people shopping for fabric. I was so wrong.
I was destined to come here! The husband and I were picking up an item from Lai Chi Kok. We decided that we should walk back to Sham Shui Po since the mtr station was further away. As we walked along Lai Chi Kok Road, something caught our eyes. It was a bring yellow banner with Chinese characters on. The interesting things was, it was made with buttons, zips and other sewing notions. As we walked further, I saw fabric scraps hanging around an opening. I popped my head in. OMG, I was in heaven!
Aesthetically, this place looks like a squatter’s camp from the outside. The roof is almost nonexistence. It is made of pieces of plastic tarpaulin draped over head and around tree trunks, making it like a make shift tent. You need to look beyond this because inside is like an Aladdin’s cave with rolls and rolls of fabric and sewing notions piled from floor to ceiling. I have never seen anything like it. This place is so jam packed with fabric, you couldn’t see the end of the aisle.
Trust me, the photos will get better. Wait until you see the hordes of fabrics available, these ceilings, floor and walls will not deter you from this place. You will want to come back soon!
Hawkers Bazaar was created when street vendors were moved off the streets by the government many years ago. It was supposed to be a temporary solution but nothing was done and the vendors stayed. If you do come here make sure it is not in the heat of the summer. There is no air-con in this place but the occasion of fans dotted about. The floor is very uneven and every so often you will reach a little step which you will either trip over or suddenly drop! I remember coming here when I was pregnant and it was raining. Some of the aisles were so tight I couldn’t turn around in them. It was rather amusing seeing something like a waterfall running down an opening in a wall when it was raining heavily outside.
When it comes to fabric, Hawkers Bazaar definitely has its own uniqueness. You can always find some bargains here if you look hard enough. Hawkers Bazaar is not necessary cheaper than on Ki Lung Street fabric market. The prices are roughly the same to be fair. Also, not all vendors sell seconds and out of season stock. Some actually order in new fabrics from Korea and Japan. Some fabrics are current trends. I have seen fabrics sold here and on UK websites. The price is almost 50% off! Other interesting fabrics I have come across are of well-known western brands. I have seen Louis Vitton lining, Juicy Couture fabric, Moschino fabric, and Coach brand linings dotted around the place.
Do take your time to look around. Make sure you walk up and down all the aisles and look in every nook and cranny. I always find something interesting to look at when I am at the Bazaar. You need to look beyond the grubbiness and be prepared to search high and low. The vendors there are quite helpful. Sometimes you might not find what you want but there’s always something interesting to look at.
A range of trims, braid, appliqué, elastic, zips, ribbing, buttons, cord and threads can be found here.
Hawkers Bazaar is located at Blue dot 30 on My Ultimate Map of SSP. Situated on the corner of Yen Chow Street and Lai Chi Kok Road. There isn’t a precise opening time. Usually around 11:30am-12noon is best. They close around 6pm. Don’t come on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Avoid coming here for at least a week or 2 during the Lunar New Year celebrations.
I hope I have given you a glimpse of this place and prepare you when you come to visit Sham Shui Po. Hawkers Bazaar won’t be around for long since the government is planning to redevelop it into housing. This has been news for the last 20 years but it is imminent. This place may not be here after 2018 so do visit before it disappears.
Shan x
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