Here are my top 10 favourite shops where I get my sewing and craft supplies in Hong Kong. Some didn’t make it on, “My Ultimate Guide to Fabrics, Leather, Crafts and Sewing Materials in Hong Kong”, list in time or is a bit further out than Sham Shui Po.
Selection, quality, and price is usually what I look for when I buy my supplies. Just click on the links to find out the price, products and addresses. In no particular order:
They have a large selection of very lovely fabrics from around the world.
You don’t just get girly floral prints, there are fabrics to suit all tastes. Geometric, whimsical, fantasy, cute mascots, dainty prints, oriental inspired, organic cottons, Japanese fabrics, you name it.
There are a lot of fabrics here that I actually want to buy to make clothes with. Other products include a huge selection of squishies, Arts & Crafts, bento boxes, plush toys, stationery, and bags for kids. If you are into kawaii Japanese/Korean cute characters then this is the place for you.
I recently found this place by accident. Though the selection isn’t very large, it is worth a mention because I have found the only place that sells beautiful Picot Crochet Edge Binding in Hong Kong. I have yet to find a manufacturer or retailer that sells this in a roll in Sham Shui Po. Obviously I could order from Amazon or Ebay. Things are not so cheap here. Some items are sold by 1/2 yard or metre.
Before I forget, their cotton bias tapes makes you want to bind everything and anything! They also imported Japanese, Korean, and US fabrics. There is a small selection of sewing notions and tools, nice craft books, and paper patterns to make bags and accessories. I have also noticed they stock fabrics sold by Log-On, not just in pre-cut packs but also on the roll. The pre-packed fabric bundles are around $8 cheaper than Log-On. You will also find a small selection of Gutermann threads. The latest addition to the fabric collection is Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.
My favourite and the best stationery shop I have found in Hong Kong. It claims to be Hong Kong’s largest office supply retail store. Located in a 5 storey building it sells all sorts of Art & Crafts supplies, stationery, stencils, craft books, printers, calculators, paper, Copic graphic pens, paper punches, clay, origami, and craft kits to name a few. I was actually walking past one day and the hubs spotted it. Knowing how much I love stationery, he was probably thinking “I hope she doesn’t see it”! That is because I could spend hours looking and not buying anything!
And that was exactly what I did! When you first see this place it is not what you will expect. It just looks like a small shop selling only pens and not much else. That’s until you go up the elevator at the back of the store.
Lai Chi Kok, D2 Place 1 Shopping Mall.
This is the place to be if you are into felt art. They stock tools, books, and equipment for felt modeling. The fleece for felt making are available in an array of eye catching colours. This is not the tacky, cheap stuff. Looking at the alluring display outside you know that you will be spending a lot of time and hard earned cash in here. You can buy pre packed felt kits or go with the flow and get whatever tickles your fancy.
This is the only place I have found to stock rare items like plastic eyes in an assortment of sizes. They are very well known for their craft, having been featured in a few newspapers and publications before. The range seems to be getting bigger every time I visit this place. They have now started stocking clays, UV, and Resin Art materials. If you are into crochet amigurumi then they have pre packed kits with instructions for you to test your skills. Although the prices don’t seem to be too expensive but I did notice some items are a few dollars more than some stores on Yu Chau Street.
Jusco Living Plaza or also know as Living Plaza
Facebook Page: Aeon Stores HK for store locator
The brand is actually Daiso so some of you may know this as Diaso or Japanese Dollar Store in your country. I’m sure they have almost conquered the world. Though, I am still waiting for it in UK. Originally from Japan, they are known for selling almost everything at $12 each in Hong Kong.
They put the British Poundland to shame. The day it arrives in UK will be the day I need to remortgage! They sell home decor, kitchenware, gardening stuff, makeup, underwear, stationery, food, first aid, storage & organising, the largest selection of cotton wool buds/Q-Tips in one shop, crafts, hair accessories, DIY tools, wood work just to name a few. You got to go before leaving Hong Kong.
I come here to pick up some baking supplies, storage solutions, and craft supplies like wool/yarn for some of my practice amigurumi or projects. They also have a good range of crochet hooks and some knitting needles. I made sure I had a whole collection of their pastel handle crochet hooks, they are that nice.
The store I recommend is just off Nathan Road, Mong Kok. I think this store is way better than the Flagship store in Lai Chi Kok. Not forgetting to mention it is easy to get to. I almost made it my bucket list to visit every Jusco Living Plaza in Hong Kong, but once I found the best I stopped visiting the rest! Obviously the Jusco Living Flagship Store is the biggest in Hong Kong but I just feel the $12 section is not up to scratch. I notice not every store stock the same items too. My personal second best Daiso store is Jusco Living Plaza is in the Mega Box, Kowloon Bay. Located inside the Aeon Store. Though it is a bit crammed, they seem to have a good range of yarns, tools as well as everything else.
I found this company by chance around 6 years ago. It’s about 10-15minutes walk from the nearest MTR (Sai Wan Ho). Inside is a very friendly owner. He won’t rush you into buying anything. Very helpful and his English is quite good too. I know this because the first time I came here I spent 5 hours just looking and an extra just buying the stuff. I came back within the week and stayed another 3! If you are into doll making, clay modelling, sculptures, making miniature
models, fake display food, clay flower making, then this is the best place in town to source all your needs. They have a vast selection of specialized clays for model making. A number of resin for glazing, moulds for moulding Nailart, and polymer clay trinkets, modelling tools for clay or Sugarcraft. Special cutters for making flowers are available but you might have to ask to see more. Other specialised products include hair for dolls, plastic eyes for making felt animals, books on fabric flowers, components like stamen in an array of shapes, colours and sizes. The website just won’t do it any justice. Here, I’ve taken a few pictures just to show you how enticing it is to pay this place a visit. It is best to contact and enquire about what you want in case they don’t stock it anymore. I came here in the last few years and each time the display seems to be getting smaller. It’ll be a waste of a journey since it is a bit of a trek to the other side of Hong Kong island.
Tung Shing Sewing Machine Co. Ltd
In the corner of Nam Cheong Street and Lai Chi Kok Road is this sewing machine shop. I bought my latest machines from here because they are agents for a lot of leading sewing machine brands.
The staff are very helpful, everybody that buys from here always mentions Justin! The shop also sells the usual sewing notions, rulers, pattern masters, and set squares. You can get Kam plastic press studs, sewing threads, knitting machine needles, fancy chalk pencils, and clover products. Surprisingly I got some plastic machine bobbins for my Brother Innovis around $12 for 8 compared to the UK which cost me £13.49 for 25 bobbins. Yes, they work perfectly. I was doubting them at first when I heard the price.
If you are after professional pattern cutting tools, equipment and sewing courses then this is it. I haven’t personally taken any courses with them but I have bought products from them many times. Pattern masters, mannequins, pattern paper, pattern card, grading machines, the lot. Just check out their website. You can see the range they have to offer. I bought my ½ scale mannequin for $250, that is equivalent to £25.
In the UK it will cost you anything from £99 for an OK looking mannequin to a K&L brand for £399 from Morplan. You do the math.
The only down side I have with Norray is the pattern paper seems a little off white. More on the raw unpolished rice coloured scale. But that’s just me being fussy. To be honest I don’t think you can get the pattern paper we are used to in Europe. I am used to the Dot & Cross and the Plain variety.
Click image to enlarge
Pattern paper here in Hong Kong feels a slightly thicker tissue-like tracing paper. Also check the mannequin measurements. Most are made for the slight petite Japanese market.
I seem to always find these places by accident. Last but not least I give you Hawkers Bazaar of Yen Chow Street. It is so strange that I have never heard or seen this place until I came in 2015, and this was my 5th or 6th time here in Hong Kong. And guess what? I find out a week later the government wants to claim it back to build more residential buildings. So, I wonder how long before this place is no more.
To be precise, Hawkers Bazaar is in the corner of Yen Chow Street and Lai Chi Kok Road. First time seeing this place you would have thought you were in a squatter’s camp. The roof is made of tarpaulin and plastic sheeting tied to trees, branches and whatever they can get their hands on. Navigating this place is not so bad as it is almost in a grid layout. The problem is trying not to trip on the low steps.
Not exactly the most aesthetically pleasing fabric shop you have ever set your eye upon but it will soon be forgotten once you see what treasures they have here. Even better when you spot a designer name printed or woven into the fabric! Oh yes you heard me right!
The government is supposed to have shut this place down for redevelopment so if you are lucky it might still be here when you visit. Will keep you posted if the government decides to give the hawkers a new location.
That is my Top 10 Favourite Sewing & Craft shops in Hong Kong. But you know what? I am going to mention 2 more. They are not exactly shops but a street and the other is a shopping mall. I won’t go into it in any detail but if you read up my Blog on “My Ultimate Guide to Shopping for Fabrics, Leather, Craft and Sewing Materials in Hong Kong”, you will see Yu Chau Street and the Dragon Centre mentioned there.
Yu Chau Street is the Ultimate Crafters Paradise. Dragon Centre houses a number of craft shops in one small area.
So, that’s my top 10 favourite Sewing & Craft shops for now. If I do find anymore I’ll let you all know about it. See you in my next blog.
Happy Shopping!
Shan x