Here is a short blog to show you where I source my elastics from, in Hong Kong. Most of my elastics are bought in Sham Shui Po, but you can find them in most haberdashery shops or haberdashery section in good department stores. For more specialised elastics, that are harder to source, I tend to buy those online. For those that will be visiting Hong Kong in the near future or are already living here, I have included photos and the shop locations to make it easy for you to find the elastic. I have created this map to help you get around Sham Shui Po. My Ultimate Map of SSP.
Knitted Elastic
Middle of Ki Lung Fabric Market. Real Speech, Flying Dragon (Formerly Hashimotoya), Wing Fung Industrial, Pak Lee Hong, and Hang Chow are located between Red 1-7.
Blue dot 1 haberdashery shop. Pop Up shop between Red dot 18 and Green dot 4. Haberdashery shop somewhere between Green dot 6 and Blue dot 28.
Blue dot 10. 161 Ki Lung Street. High Faithful Trading Company.
Close to Bue dot 24. Shing Tai Hong. 171 Yu Chau Street.
Braided Elastic
Most people tend to recognise this type of elastic since it is common and readily available in a lot of haberdashery shops. It comes in black or white. Also available in a few different widths.
Red dots 1-7. Real Speach. Flying Dragon (Formerly Hashimotoya), Wing Fung Industrial, Hang Chow, and Pak Lee Hong.
Blue dot 1 haberdashery shop.
Blue dot 10. 161 Ki Lung Street. High Faithful Trading Company.
Middle of Ki Lung Street fabric stalls. Opposite Pink dot 7.
Clear Elastic
Clear elastic used in knitted jumpers, cardigans, jersey garments. As an aid to help give grip to garments, especially on dance wear, gymnastic leotards, swimwear and lingerie to help keep garments in place. Please note: I prefer the chlorine safe elastic for swimwear. Also this type of elastic, depending on brand and make, can deteriorate fast over time.
For more pictures see below: High Faithful Trading Company. Blue dot 10.
Elastic Thread (Commonly Known as Shirring Elastic)
Definitely at Blue dot 2. C&S Industrial Company.
Blue dot 1 haberdashery shop.
Between Red dot 18 and Green dot 4.
Might be some located at Red dot 2, 197B Yu Chau Street.
Middle of Ki Lung Street Fabric Market. Opposite Pink dot 7.
Some sort of elastic similar to shirring. High Faithful Trading Co. Blue dot 10.
Corded Elastic
My favourite shop is Wing Fung Industrials. Red dot 4 but the next few shops also sell assorted elastic.
Between Red dot 18 and Green dot 4.
Flying Dragon, close to Red dot 3.
Middle of Ki Lung Street Fabric Market. Opposite Pink dot 7.
Blue dot 10. 161 Ki Lung Street. High Faithful Trading Company.
SHATIN
You can get many types of this lingerie elastic. The elastic is soft and meant to sit next to the skin. The edges are sometimes scalloped, picot or have other decorative details or just plain. This elastic means you can finish it on the right side of the underwear.
Assorted elastic from Lucky Plaza, Shatin, HK. Behind Genki Japanese Sushi restaurant. Around $12+ a packet around 2m long. Update: Closed down 2020.
BARGAIN BINS!
Real Speech, Red dot 1. Not just a shop that sells cord, tape, braid, and Ric-Rac. I always find some bargains in the boxes outside. At $10 a bundle, it is not too bad just for sampling. Usually I don’t see elastic outside but today was my lucky day. They seem to sell all sorts of elastics from tape to cord. Other shops to look out for bargains outside is Wing Fung Industrial, Pak Lee Hong, and Hang Chow.
I have been lucky enough to spot some The North Face, and Esprit FOE.
Do save your money and walk further down the street to Hang Chow if you don’t mind slightly damaged goods. I have seen rolls of Fold Over Elastic for $20 a roll. The outside is slightly grubby, but worth the cost.
Not in the bargain bins. For soft picot edge lingerie elastic, try Flying Dragon close to Red dot 3. They have a small rage in stock and available in a few colours.
FLYING DRAGON (FORMERLY HASHIMOTOYA) RED DOT 3
They have a very large selection of Yoga and sports elastic on the left of the store as you wall in. The designs are very extensive. They come in different weaves and colours.
WING FUNG INDUSTRIALS. RED DOT 4
HAWKER BAZAAR. BLUE DOT 30
BLUE DOT 10. HIGH FAITHFUL TRADING COMPANY.
Blue dot 10. 161 Ki Lung Street. High Faithful Trading Company. They have 3 sizes of this clear elastic for swimwear and for stabilising knitwear. Around $5 for the thinner elastic, and $12 for the wider one. This is the only place I have found that had better quality straps.
I have seen a yellow bra strap elastic on the shelf. I haven’t seen any other colours or widths though. If you are lucky you might find some Esprit FOE on the racks.
SHING TAI HONG. CLOSE TO BLUE DOT 24.
LUNG MOON ELASTIC FACTORY
(Update: Lung Moon Elastic Factory. Red dot 17. Closed down August 2018. I will update if I find where has moved to. I’m keeping these pictures on here just in case I find them again). Flying Dragon (Formerly Hashimotoya) will not disappoint you. On the left as you walk in. Red dot 2, Yu Chau Street.
Sometimes you will find rolls of discontinued stock and surplus samples of elastics sold very cheaply outside random shops in Sham Shui Po. You just need to keep your eyes peeled. Just the other day I found some The North Face, and Columbia FOE outside a reflective fabric shop on Nam Cheong Street for just a few dollars. I went back again a few weeks later and the shop was shut for renovation. So, you’ll just have to be lucky really.
I hope this blog is useful and help you find what you want in Sham Shui Po and beyond. I didn’t really pay any attention to elastic much until I started making and sewing my own underwear. At first I just went to my local haberdashery shop and there really wasn’t much choice. When I started looking for elastic in Sham Shui Po I was spoilt for choice. In my future blogs I will be covering how to sew elastic and how draft and sew knickers/underpants.
Happy shopping and see you in my next blog!
Shan x
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