This is part 4 of my blog, “My Ultimate Shopping Guide to Fabric, Leather, Craft & Sewing Materials in HK”. It was only suppose to be a one page blog about my craft stores in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong. Like most things, I got carried away and end up writing a 20 plus page essay! So, I split the blog up into manageable sizes, each one focusing on different sources/materials in Sham Shui Po. Hopefully this one is the final part of this blog. This post is probably the longest because of the amount of photos I will be posting. Some shops I will be repeating from the previous posts but this time I will be focusing on the haberdashery side. You might need to make a cuppa and get a packet of biscuits for this one. Enjoy!
Let’s begin by downloading and print off:
My Ultimate Map of SSP 2020
Here I’ve plotted some of my favourite shops where I get my supplies from. I hope this will come to some use for those that will be visiting Hong Kong in the near future. Make a list of the numbers/shops you will be visiting. You definitely want to double back on Yu Chau Street where I have labelled numbers 1 to 7 in Red.
- Blue dots are for fabric shops and haberdashery.
- Pink dots are for leather shops.
- Green dots are for buttons, buckles, eyelets and rivets for jeans.
- Red dots are for craft shops.
- Orange dots are for sewing schools. They also sell pattern cutting equipment.
- Purple dots are for sewing machine shops and repair/service.
- Brown dots are for curtain and upholstery fabric. Obviously there are more shops than this but here is just a few of the shops to get you warmed.
- The Yellow Areas marked are manufacturers that have fabric samples free for you to take. Sometimes it is marked with a price. That’ll be the cost for the wholesale price.
- The Purple Areas are the open air market stores. Some will call it flea market. They sell new products as well as old/second hand. Some are even counterfeit or given a different name altogether. The hubs find it very amusing with some of the names manufacturers have come up with. Here in Aplui Street is a random magnet store where you can buy some strong magnets for keeping your pins and needles in place.
- The Pink Areas is a toy street, but most people know it as Stationery Street or Decoration Street depending on the time of year. Most of the time you can get toys and stationery, but when Chinese/Lunar New Year is approaching you will find it most of the stationery has been replaced with the current trend.
Sham Shui Po is more than the usual fabric, haberdashery and craft shops. For the man in your life there is Aplui Street. There are hordes of tech, power tools, HiFi, knives, torches, EDC/Multi tools like Leatherman/Gerber/Victorinox, and camera equipment, “Boys Toys”, in other words, running along both sides of the streets. For the Kids, there is Toy Street. Just click on the link to find out more: SSP for the Guys, SSP for the Kids Part 1 and SSP for the Kids Part 2.
I am focusing on the final colour on the map: Red dots. On the map I could only fit in 7 number dots. I will be listing more than 7 on that stretch of the street because there are just too many shops here that are too good to leave out. I will try to put them in order along the road to the best of my knowledge. Otherwise I will suggest a number near by. Please excuse me if the photos are not too clear. Most shops don’t allow you to take photos outside never mind inside.
1. Starting with Red dot 1 the first haberdashery shop on the list is Real Speach Ltd.
You will find lace trims, cord, braid, rope, string, and rickrack/ricrac braid. Not exactly a special shop, but the bargains outside are quite good.
Lee Wah Hong Decoration Co. The best place for pretty Chinese coiled buttons, etc.
2. Update: There used to be 2 Flying Dragons on Yu Chau Street. In Summer 2021 Flying Dragon took over Hashimotoya. If you are after string and cord it is best to go to. You can find cords in an array or colours and sizes. Mostly synthetic woven. Not sure if the Paracords are safe enough for rock climbing, but definitely suitable for making knotted necklaces and sports hoodies. They also have tapes and woven ribbons suitable for making pacifier straps. They have a small stock of soft picot edge lingerie elastic in an array of colours.
4. Wing Fung Industrial.
One of the biggest stores around in SSP. I come here quite often just to see what new products they have in store. They sell buttons, braids, seat belt type woven tape, string, cord, ribbon, tassels, bra elastic, wire edge ribbon, elasticated cord, aglets, bra hooks, swimwear clasps, and leather tools. You can get a diamond heat tool for $150 as well as hot glue guns and other tools. The best place to source velcro.
Red dot 4-5. Kwong Yiu (2nd shop). Their first shop is located next door to Pink dot 1. This shop recently opened in August 2018. It not only sell similar stock as their first stall, but even more more!
They have a very large range of jewellery findings and accessories. Cut flowers is something new. Some prices range from around $12 for 15 pieces, etc. They also have a good range of boning and bag making supplies.
Pak Lee Hong Co. Pak Yip Accessories Co.
Just 2 doors away is another shop selling similar products to Wing Fung but when it comes down to beads and sequins, this place is extensive. You can find small packets of sequins, beads, jewellery and bag making components here. There’s always bargains outside to entice you to pop in.
Hang Chow International Enterprise Company, 209 Yu Chau Street. A haberdashery shop that sells all colourful crafting products. The outside is so full of stuff that it’s sometimes difficult to go inside to have a look around. They sell sequins, pompoms, embroidery hoops, Chinese knotting cord (Rat Tail Cord), fabric flowers for making corsages, sewing notions, buttons, elastic, string, organza bags, a big selection of tassels in an array of colours, bag making handles, iron on motifs and that is just what I can see from the outside.
You can get cross stitch fabric, embroidery threads, craft tweezers, glitter covered foam, and almost like chain mail linked metal sheets. In the back of the shop you will find rolls of trims hanging from ceiling to floor. It has been a long time since I went in. Most times when I am here in SSP I usually just pop in and out of stores for supplies. I know if I go in here I will be stuck for a long time. You need to pop in to see it for yourself. It’s going to be hard to leave empty handed. Many of the best craft shops in SSP have either shut down or down sized their supplies. This is one of the few stores left that still amazes me how much stuff is crammed into one place!
Next store along is A&A Accessories. Not a big shop but a lot of crafting components can be found here. You can get small packs of Swarovski crystals, sequins, beads, badge and brooch backs, hat pins, earring hooks, keyring, the list goes on. There is a small selection of sewing threads and accessories. If you are after metal rings to make baby slings, there’s 2 sizes available. I am not sure if they have been safety tested or even the right ones for making slings but the steel rings are soldered together and even if it did split it will still hold together. $8 each.
Update: Summer 2020 closed down. It is now a restaurant.
They now have an online store:
5. J&J Imitation Jewellery. Looking from the outside you know you are about to pop into an Aladdin’s Cave of goodies. Once you are inside your jaws will drop when you see how much stuff is in here.
6. Next store along is Bead Box, another craft shop worth visiting. It is very tight in here but if you are after components to make keyring, bag trinkets, bracelets, and necklaces then this is the best place to be. Some of the beads are only found here. You need to spend some time just looking through their products because you want to buy everything. I came here to get some really nice keyring components. They were more silver in colour than the usual grey metal colour.
Tin Fu International (Shop 1). Not exactly my type of craft shop but if you are into huge plastic beads then you can’t get better than this. I spent the first 2 years avoiding this place. That was until I got hooked on stringing beads!!! Inside you can buy nylon stocking for making nylon flowers. Their quality glass and crystal beads are found along the walls. They are really nice there and will allow you to take photos of their goods. Just make sure you buy some beads and ask first.
People tend to buy these beads for making mascot ornaments. Half the shop is in the alleyway and it is quite open so no risk at knocking stuff over by accident. Not great on a rainy day though. There’s also other products like string, cord, tassels, fishing wire, and other charms are found inside. If you walk further up the street you will get to shop 2 with more choice. The kids would love it here, and your purse too!
Update: Spring 2020. This shop had recently been renovated. It is less cluttered and a bit more spacious. The same beads are still available.
Pak Lee Hong is another wow shop. They sell sequins and beads and the collection is pretty extensive. These are just some of the aisles I manage to take photos of. Sequins and beads sold by the weight. It felt like I was let loose in a candy shop!
7. Trademark East Accessories Co. The final shop before you cross Pei Ho Street. This shop sells leather products and feather trims. I get my faux fur trim from here for my lion head, around 1.5 inches wide and about a metre long at $8 a packet. Outside they have offcuts of leather which is good for sampling leather flowers and other small craft items. I haven’t add this shop to my leather shop list because this shop is a little random and others are more specialised.
You can buy feather wings, feather boas and woven trims here. They have a small selection of bag making parts and leather edging dyes.
Update: September 2018. This shop has closed down and replaced with a vegetable stall.
Across the road there should be this shop selling a variety of haberdashery and sewing notions. This shop is located just before shop Red dot 8, but on the opposite side of the road. It is quite small and I always miss it. They stock random craft items like animal masks and feathers.
Update: Closed down in Summer 2019. Replaced with a restaurant.
8. Tin Fu International (Shop 2).
This is a bit of a random shop too. Their first shop sells beads and ornamental making crafts. This shop sells silicone baking trays, plastic tubes, tassels for bags as well as other random products. You can find jewellery making components, buttons and Japanese seed beads here.
This shop may be closing down at the end of 2021.
9. Further along the street is Tao Yuan Fashion Beads. This shop specialises in all sorts of beads and sequins for crafting and sewing on clothing. It is like coming to a candy heaven except it is beads!
Around the early 2000, making beaded mascots were the hype. Now you understand why so many bead shop exist in Sham Shui Po. Now a days this is not so popular so only a few shops exist selling beads while others venture into selling other goods like leather.
October 2020: This shop has relocated. If I remember correctly, They have moved across the road somewhere between Green dot 2 and near Blue dot 13.
Wah Kee. They sell gift wrap packaging as well as bits of leather tools and goods. They have a good selection of different size eyelets in a few metal colours. A selection of jewellery tools and bead trays can also be bought here. Their clips, fasteners, clasps, and buckles are quite extensive. Rat-tail cord is also very cheap if you pick the rolls outside. I came here to buy binder clips to make my own personal organisers. A lot cheaper than some leather shops in the area.
Unfortunate Wah Kee shut down in November 2018. Replaced with a restaurant.
10. Wah Kiu Plastic Bags. If you make crafts to sell or just need packaging for organising your stuff, this place sells a range of packaging to suit your needs. Anything from plastic bags to paper bags, kraft shopping bags to bags with gussets for cookies, they have them. Other plastic items like big fat straws for drinking bubble tea is also found here.
11. Star River. You will find more quality jewellery making findings and components here. They also sell a variety of coloured jewellery wire in many thicknesses compared to the other stores. I come here for wires and PP ribbon for my crafts, though they tell me they will no longer sell the ribbon once the stock is gone as they are phasing it out due to low demand. I recently came here to buy some sew on diamante gems for my smocking project. They were quite cheap, around $12 for 10.
Update: Closed down Summer 2021
These next 5 stalls are in the Dragon Centre, Yen Chow Street.
(Update: December 2017, Handcrafter has relocated to their new store which is bigger and better. Lai Chi Kok MTR station exit D2. Located in D2 Place 1).
Handcrafter is not longer located in the Dragon Centre (Dec 2017).
They sells everything you need for making felt mascots and felt art, amigurumi yarn, UV resin, moulds, Fimo, clays, craft books, appliqué patches, small pieces of Japanese fabrics for crafting, and more. They stock tools, equipment and every colour of fleece for felting under the sun. This is the only place I have found to stock less known items like plastic eyes in an assortment of sizes. I have noticed some items are a few dollars more than some stores on Yu Chau Street.
It is a bit further away to travel from SSP but it is only 2 mtr stations away. It is worth it if you are into craft. Check out their website first to prepare yourself.
12. Cutie Creative 7100. They stock resin art equipment, MT Tapes, Polymer clay, and a small selection of fleece for felting. Great for making fake food for display. If you are after expanding foam for making Squishies, this is the place. This is the first place I have seen expanding foam mix sold. Recently I have started to see the mix being sold in one or two stalls on the 7th floor but you will have to hunt for it. Usually displayed in the window so it is not very hard to spot.
Update: Closed down Summer 2020.
An update of the shop above. In 2019 they were either taken over by new owners or they had a good tidying up. The windows are not so crammed with fake food crafts piling high in dust. The place seems a bit more organised, but the stock seems to have dwindled. They don’t sell Fimo. Well, I definitely didn’t see it the last 2 times I have been there.
Tak Cheung Co. 7th floor. No.7201. If you are after a cord like crochet yarn for making display ornaments and purses then this is the place. The prices are reasonable too. They also stock polystyrene balls for flower making, ribbons for silk flower making, embroidery yarns, plastic eyes and specialised ribbon for crafts. This is the only place I know that sells the thick synthetic yarn for crochet crafts, and also nylon stocking fabric for making nylon wired flowers.
Unfortunately this place has closed down. I haven’t seen it on the other floors. They used to be on the 5th floor before moving here in 2020. They were the only store that sold quality crepe paper and quality nylon for flower art. If you are after this stuff, best to pop to either Tin Fu (Shop 1) or Bead Box on Yu Chau Street.
13. You will find plenty of shops on the 5th and 7th floor selling masking tapes. If you go to store number 7077B-C and store 7170-7171 you will get to a shop that sell their own brand of masking tapes and products. I come here to get some journal/diary stationery supplies. There is a huge variety of washi tape but it is a shame I don’t find many use for. They also sell diary inserts, notebooks, fancy paperclips and stationery. Some items are quite expensive compare to where I can get similar items at a fraction of the price.
14. Craft Shops. These little stalls are in the back of the 5th floor Apple Mall, in the Dragon Centre. If you go right to the back aisle you will get to a bunch of stalls packed with tiny ornaments and figures. Great for cake decoration, making photo frames or miniature landscapes. The original stall was number 5K356 but recently the owners have rented a few more stalls and have bunched all their little stalls together. There are actually a few more stalls if you venture around the corner.
15 and 16. Magnets on Aplui Street. There used to be only 1 store a few years ago. If they are not located where I have indicated then just walk the whole street. You will eventually see the store. There are very strong magnets and great for picking up dressmaking pins. Sometimes these stalls get moved about. If you can’t find the 2 stalls then just pop into one of the Carabiner (Mountain climbing hooks and clips) stalls and you should find some magnets there. My favourite store is located on the left of Aplui Street towards Nam Cheung Street. The last few stalls.
Was at location Green dot 6. Lung Moon Elastic Weaving Factory. This is more than just a ribbon and cord shop. If you want to get elastic for anything then this is the place. They sell elastic for making bras and underpants as well as huge rolls of shirring elastic. I guess you could get swimwear threads from here as well. I have not enquire yet but from outside you could see they have the woolly nylon thread they use for overlocking/serging stretch fabrics. They also do under wire for bras.
Update: August 2018, Lung Moon has shut down and replaced with an antiques shop. If you are after elastic, there’s a better place I have recently found. Close to Blue dot 24 is Shing Tai Hong. They have a huge range of elastics, great for sewing sportswear. Shing Tai Hong, Red dot 17.
18. Cord, Snaps and Trims. Another shop worth walking to just because either side of this shop are more similar shops. A long this road especially towards Cheung Sha Wan Road you will come across quite a few cord and trimming shops. They also stock many types of fastenings as well and sewing notions. Sometimes it could be so random. There are at least 5 shops in a row here.
19. Magnetic Snap Manufacturer. If you can’t locate a special type of magnetic snap fastening for your projects I guarantee these guys should have them…..and maybe more.
20. Jusco Living Plaza. One of my favourite stores in 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.
You can check out my A-Z Guide to Sewing & Crafts Hong Kong, where I list my interesting finds in alphabetical order. Maybe you’ve been looking for a certain item and never knew where to get it.
If you are interested in buying some wool to knit or crochet with in Hong Kong, then check out my next blog: My Ultimate Shopping Guide to Buying Yarn, Hong Kong
Yay, I’ve finally completed this blog!
I didn’t set out to write such a long blog but you have to understand why it had to be split into 4 parts. So many nights I have stayed up to do this. I hope it will come to some use for all you sewers, crafters, and makers out there. After reading and seeing what Sham Shui Po has to offer, you will want to visit Hong Kong very soon. Start saving for that ticket!
If you love cooking and baking you need to visit Shanghai Street. That’s my next blog.
See you there!
Shan x