Hong Kong correspondent Liz highlights one of the wholesale home textile resources in Asia...
Sham Shui Po, a Hong Kong neighborhood, can be a dangerous place if you have an addiction to collecting fabrics. The fabric district in Sham Shui Po is a dream source for designers or DIY-ers looking for textiles of all descriptions. Imagine streets lined with shop after shop selling fabric at both wholesale and very reasonable retail prices, samples spilling out onto the sidewalk.
Exploring your fabric options in Sham Shui Po can be an overwhelming task, but if you put in the time, you can usually find what you’re looking for, and more. I went in search of a large floral print, with very specific ideas of what I wanted.
Did I find it? No, but I came home with samples for a lightweight, felted wool that will work beautifully for HK $37.00 (about US $4.75) per yard and a great source for a personal drapery favorite, a silk (and linen?) blend for HK $42.00 (about US $5.40) per yard. The only problem I’ve encountered so far: fiber content is written in Chinese characters, but learning the characters for silk, wool, cotton or polyester is a small price to pay for such an incredible resource.
Photos and post by Liz
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
Oh goodness. It makes me quiver just to look at it. Thanks, that's a treat.
view Deborah's profile
I remember drooling through the neighborhood after I went to the bead district. The problem then, was that no one would sell anything under 6-10 yards! It is quite incredible though, especially because you can purchase everything your heart desires, and then go to Shen Zhen to have it all used for tailor made items!
view fotogrfeat's profile