The South Bund Fabric Market, a time-honored market for customized suits and other clothing in Shanghai, has become popular among customers from around the world for its quality products and good service, including English-speaking staff. Priorly known as the Dong Jia Du Fabric Market, the market is home to hundreds of tailors and business elites in the industry and is the city's prime destination for bespoke clothing garments. "I think it's a very interesting market. I haven't seen, I haven't been in such kind of market before," said a foreign customer. "I looked for it on the internet. A lot of good recommendations were there about this market," he added. For many overseas visitors in Shanghai, the ability to overcome the language barrier is key.
"And then also we recognized that people speak English here. So we decided to come," said another customer. Hou Lianlian, owner of Suits by Susan, said she continues to improve her spoken English in order to better help customers who visit the market.
"I knew some basic English before, and this environment itself is actually a big classroom. You will meet different customers every day, from different countries, and practice every day. Of course, we are more familiar with expressions about clothing, and only know a little in other fields. We are not that professional in English, and do not have a TEM-8 certificate as some have said. That's just exaggeration," she laughed. The series of transit visa exemption policies recently implemented by China have further stimulated the vitality of China's inbound tourism market, and as a result, foreign customers are flocking in. To save customers' time, the stores in the market also provide expedited or delivery services. Foreign customers typically come to the fabric market in search of customized suits, leather jackets and coats. Among the customers are NBA basketball stars and foreign politicians, who sometimes take photos with the merchants after a successful transaction. Hou said that high cost-performance and good shopping experience are key to the market's charm. "I think our biggest advantage is sincerity and service, and just being reliable, as people these days like to say. Our purpose is to make things well. As for customization, if you want to stay long, quality is definitely the key," she said.
Custom clothing market in Shanghai attracts foreign customers with English-language services
