For international visitors, a trip to shanghai is not complete without a stop at the South Bund Tailor-made Center where they arrive with an idea and leave days later with perfectly fitted, custom-made garments. On a weekday afternoon, the center is bustling with activities, with tailors busy assisting customers from across the globe, measuring fabric, discussing styles, and making last-minute adjustments.
"It is very famous in Italy, this place. We have a bunch of friends who already came here and bought some clothes. So now I was very curious to try myself," said an Italian tourist.
The center's popularity is well documented. According to Tripadvisor, it ranks second on its list of "1,429 things to do in Shanghai," trailing only the iconic Bund waterfront.
Previously known as the Dongjiadu Fabric Market, the venue was once a quiet marketplace focused on selling textiles. Over time, the fabric trade began to shrink while demand for custom tailoring surged. After nearly two decades of transformation, the center has reinvented itself.
"This place used to sell just fabrics. But the fabric industry kept shrinking, while tailoring grew increasingly popular. Now 95 percent of the shops here provide tailor-made services," said Zhang Shengxiang, general manager of South Bund Tailor-made Center.
With more than 280 fabric suppliers and tailor workshops under one roof, customers can find virtually anything they want. A tailored suit costs roughly one-third of the price of comparable bespoke services overseas. Standard orders usually take about a week, and express service can deliver within two days.
The appeal extends well beyond cost and speed. Many visitors are drawn by the unique styles and craftsmanship on offer.
"I have made a suit and a shirt to attend my friend's wedding. It is the new style and very comfortable," said an American tourist.
"We bought silk suits. And we bought them with beautiful Chinese patterns, with dragons and flowers. And they are very special because we cannot find them in our country," said an Italian tourist.
Business has been booming here as the number of customers visiting the South Bund Tailor-made Center has increased by around 30 percent so far this year compared with the same period in 2025, with approximately 60 percent coming from overseas. Many shop owners are well accustomed to serving international clients and they can speak simple English, making the experience smooth and welcoming for first-time visitors.
Shanghai's South Bund tailor-made center emerges as custom tailoring hotspot for int'l travelers
