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Fashion street stitches together splendid surprises
By Xu Wenwen and Wu Huixin |
September 3, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Wulin Road is known as a fashion street with an emphasis on women's clothing. It's also a trendy hangout for hip youngsters.
The 1,650-meter-long road has existed for more than 1,000 years. It has more than 1,000 clothing stores and numerous beauty salons. The street even hosts a fashion show during the annual West Lake International Expo.
But besides shops selling fancy wigs and shoes, there are some small stores hidden alongside streets or in residential buildings.
Shanghai Daily discovers a few gems selling creative knickknacks, cheongsams, tailor-made clothing and ethnic minority clothing.
Pangzi Tailor Studio(胖子工作室)
This studio hidden in an old residential building is rather plain, but has many loyal customers including some local celebrities.
Customers say owner Shi Guomin can solve problems other tailors cannot. Shi has a reputation for being able to alter common clothes to make them look like a famous luxury brand.
Shi has run the studio for 18 years. He has altered everything from jeans and suits to leather jackets. He says his skill is simply based on experience.
His prices are based on how long it takes, not on the brands. It costs 5 yuan to alter the length of trousers but 400 yuan to 500 yuan to change men's clothes into something more feminine.
Over the years he has altered clothes made by Burberry, Versace and other luxury bands. Although he works with luxurious clothes every day, Shi maintains his own philosophy about clothes.
"Simple, comfortable and cost-effective are the elements I like best," he says.
Address: 133 Wulin Rd
Peacock Nest (孔雀窝)
If you think the souvenirs found in the City God Temple in Shanghai and Hefang Street in Hangzhou are ordinary, check out Peacock Nest. This shop sells ethnic accessories and clothes on Longyou Road, a side street of Wulin Road.
Here you will find 50-centimeter-long earrings, silver necklaces that cover your entire chest and berets embroidered with a dragon and phoenix.
Peacock Nest was founded by Yang Liping, one of the country's most famous ethnic dancers who is nicknamed "Peacock Princess," and there are stores around the country. The store on Longyou Road is owned by Hei Zi, a fashion and accessory designer from Wa ethnic minority. Hei is one of Peacock Nest's main designers.
Many ornaments designed by Hei feature bits of antique beads and metal, bright ribbons, bone, horn and big tassels. Hei recombines materials in special ways, many conveying a message.
The store also sells bright-colored clothing with silver or other metal accessories. The designs have a clear ethnic minority look and feel, but are nonetheless different.
Address: 7-2 Longyou Rd
Pankou (盘扣年代)
Pankou is easy to miss as it is in a residential building. The shop has many repeat customers since its reputation for cheongsams has spread by word of mouth.
Owner Qin Ke, a former rock 'n roll singer, studied fashion design in Shanghai.
She loves cheongsams, or qipao, but wanted to do something a little different. Now she makes them looser, uses cotton and linen instead of silk and sticks to mostly solid colors rather than elaborate patterns.
Qin says this kind of cheongsam matches the original style of the early 20th century, when Chinese woman were more conservative and did not dress sexy.
She seldom designs long cheongsams because she likes to see women mix and match her cheongsams with jeans and other clothing.
The small store has developed a strong reputation among local women who like the style as well as Qin's tailoring skills.
As stated above, the shop is tricky to find. The shop's name, Pankou, can be found on a small, faded blue sign.
Address: 230 Wulin Rd
Easy Plus Variety Shop (对话框杂货铺)
Providing creative home furnishings and daily commodities, Easy Plus Variety Shop sprung up after the local government announced its plan to turn the city into the country's cultural and creative industry center.
The two-floor shop is on Changhua Road, a side street of Wulin Road, and it sells clothing, bags and furnishings from lights to vases and trays.
The items are either designed by Easy Plus Studio or purchased from designer brands such as Dulton, Do and Rosti.
Easy Plus is owned by interior designer Sun Yun and his wife Yue Dongfang, a writer and cartoonist. Sun designed the interior of Alibaba Group's officein Hangzhou.
Some items may make people wonder what they are or what they are for. For example, a beer bottle with its neck cut off is a vase; a container shaped like a flower is to hold a remote control; and a piece of wood in an X-shape is a coaster. Of course, the items can be used for other things depending on the whims and imagination of the owner.
Address: 9 Changhua Rd
The 1,650-meter-long road has existed for more than 1,000 years. It has more than 1,000 clothing stores and numerous beauty salons. The street even hosts a fashion show during the annual West Lake International Expo.
But besides shops selling fancy wigs and shoes, there are some small stores hidden alongside streets or in residential buildings.
Shanghai Daily discovers a few gems selling creative knickknacks, cheongsams, tailor-made clothing and ethnic minority clothing.
Pangzi Tailor Studio(胖子工作室)
This studio hidden in an old residential building is rather plain, but has many loyal customers including some local celebrities.
Customers say owner Shi Guomin can solve problems other tailors cannot. Shi has a reputation for being able to alter common clothes to make them look like a famous luxury brand.
Shi has run the studio for 18 years. He has altered everything from jeans and suits to leather jackets. He says his skill is simply based on experience.
His prices are based on how long it takes, not on the brands. It costs 5 yuan to alter the length of trousers but 400 yuan to 500 yuan to change men's clothes into something more feminine.
Over the years he has altered clothes made by Burberry, Versace and other luxury bands. Although he works with luxurious clothes every day, Shi maintains his own philosophy about clothes.
"Simple, comfortable and cost-effective are the elements I like best," he says.
Address: 133 Wulin Rd
Peacock Nest (孔雀窝)
If you think the souvenirs found in the City God Temple in Shanghai and Hefang Street in Hangzhou are ordinary, check out Peacock Nest. This shop sells ethnic accessories and clothes on Longyou Road, a side street of Wulin Road.
Here you will find 50-centimeter-long earrings, silver necklaces that cover your entire chest and berets embroidered with a dragon and phoenix.
Peacock Nest was founded by Yang Liping, one of the country's most famous ethnic dancers who is nicknamed "Peacock Princess," and there are stores around the country. The store on Longyou Road is owned by Hei Zi, a fashion and accessory designer from Wa ethnic minority. Hei is one of Peacock Nest's main designers.
Many ornaments designed by Hei feature bits of antique beads and metal, bright ribbons, bone, horn and big tassels. Hei recombines materials in special ways, many conveying a message.
The store also sells bright-colored clothing with silver or other metal accessories. The designs have a clear ethnic minority look and feel, but are nonetheless different.
Address: 7-2 Longyou Rd
Pankou (盘扣年代)
Pankou is easy to miss as it is in a residential building. The shop has many repeat customers since its reputation for cheongsams has spread by word of mouth.
Owner Qin Ke, a former rock 'n roll singer, studied fashion design in Shanghai.
She loves cheongsams, or qipao, but wanted to do something a little different. Now she makes them looser, uses cotton and linen instead of silk and sticks to mostly solid colors rather than elaborate patterns.
Qin says this kind of cheongsam matches the original style of the early 20th century, when Chinese woman were more conservative and did not dress sexy.
She seldom designs long cheongsams because she likes to see women mix and match her cheongsams with jeans and other clothing.
The small store has developed a strong reputation among local women who like the style as well as Qin's tailoring skills.
As stated above, the shop is tricky to find. The shop's name, Pankou, can be found on a small, faded blue sign.
Address: 230 Wulin Rd
Easy Plus Variety Shop (对话框杂货铺)
Providing creative home furnishings and daily commodities, Easy Plus Variety Shop sprung up after the local government announced its plan to turn the city into the country's cultural and creative industry center.
The two-floor shop is on Changhua Road, a side street of Wulin Road, and it sells clothing, bags and furnishings from lights to vases and trays.
The items are either designed by Easy Plus Studio or purchased from designer brands such as Dulton, Do and Rosti.
Easy Plus is owned by interior designer Sun Yun and his wife Yue Dongfang, a writer and cartoonist. Sun designed the interior of Alibaba Group's officein Hangzhou.
Some items may make people wonder what they are or what they are for. For example, a beer bottle with its neck cut off is a vase; a container shaped like a flower is to hold a remote control; and a piece of wood in an X-shape is a coaster. Of course, the items can be used for other things depending on the whims and imagination of the owner.
Address: 9 Changhua Rd
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