Fabric Market Shanghai Prices: How to Bargain (2019 Edition)

Fabric Market Shanghai Prices is part of the TPOL in Shanghai Trip Report.

Disclaimer: If you click on my Bluffworks affiliate link and buy something, I get paid. 

Who’s the flyest Arab you know? The answer is TPOL. While I stay looking good thanks to blog affiliate Bluffworks (see Bluffworks: 30,000 Miles Later, How I Showed Up Wrinkle Free to NYC), I require a full wardrobe of attire to stay fresh. And the best place to get said attire is at the Fabric Market in Shanghai. I wrote about it previously (see TPOL’s Guide to Bargaining Abroad) but have an update for 2019.

I have been coming to the same tailor since 2009. The suits last forever and the wrinkle-free shirts can’t be beaten. Ten years later, I still have to bargain to get the 朋友 price. They tried to say that the prices of old were now impossible, but you know I wasn’t buying that. Here’s what I paid and the delta. The initial prices were at least 50 percent more if not double. Here are the Fabric Market Shanghai 2019 prices:

• Pants: 200RMB, $28 (same)
• Suit: 500RMB, $71 (same)

  

• Suit with interior lining: 600RMB, $85 (First time, not sure lining should be 100RMB more but maybe next time I’ll say 550RMB).
• Tuxedo: 700RMB, $100 (paid 200RMB more but this one is fancier! I think 600RMB would be more appropriate).
• 3 Sportcoats linen: 1100RMB, $52/coat  (first time and my favorite)

  

• Wrinkle Free White Shirts: 100RMB, $14 (same)
• Pattern shirt: 110RMB, $15 (10RMB more) I think this is nonsense because I never paid more for patterns before. I won’t budget next time.
• Tailored ties: 33.3RMB, $4.75. Silk ties should be 10RMB, $1.43. These are ties made from the same fabric as my shirts. And they are beautiful.

  

Overall

I bought enough clothes to last me until my next expat trip. I came away knowing that when it comes to bargaining, I still got it and I think they still like me (contrast my Fake Market post 2019 Edition where I was not welcomed). They seem to get a kick out of my bargaining style. When I brought up freshly purchased suitcases to pack my clothes, they were in awe that I only paid 230RMB for two giant ones. Obviously, the tailor must make some money off of me. Otherwise, they would say 不行 and leave me naked.

TPOL’S TIP: Don’t fall for the ‘really no profit line’. They’ll respect you for it.

TPOL’s TIP: Fabric Market Shanghai is located at 399 Lujiabang Lu. Take DiDi to get there.

TPOL’s TIP: My tailor is #261. Show them a picture of me for your entertainment. Let me know if you receive a better price than I did.

TPOL’s TIP: Always better to get tailored stuff made at your fattest. It will motivate you to get in shape.

For female reader’s here are the prices I negotiated for Ms. TPOL. I haven’t done enough reconnaissance to say they are rock bottom, but I believe they are very good.

• Trench coat: 500RMB
• Shirt: 100-150RMB depending on the style
• Pants/Shorts: 160RMB, $23
• Professional dress: 400RMB, $57
• Blazer: 400RMB

Fabric Market Shanghai Prices is part of the TPOL in Shanghai Trip Report.