Cicerone

ekscruncy, that is so strange you should mention the sample places, because I think one of the places you are referring to is the Win Core Leather Garment Factory. I have not been, but the American Women's Association sponsored a trip there last month. The one thing one of my friends who did the trip said was that that sizes tended to be on the small side, the largest sample size they have is a 12 and mostly she said they were size 8 and smaller. (She did say they had a larger range of men's sizes, however; and she did say that the prices were really god.) Also they only take cash, no credit cards. The factory is in West Kowloon, you can take the MTR (to the Lai Chi Kok stop, try to get a map of the area, the Hong Kong Tourist office may have one). They may have originally been in Mongkok, I can't say for sure. I believe they are similar sample factories in the area. You might want to check Suzy Gersham's book Born to Shop Hong Kong to see if she has suggestions, I can check mine tonight .

Win Core Leather Garment Factory
Blk B, 10/F, Hang Fat Industrial Building
550 Castle Peak Road
Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Phone : ý+852 27439916

I am not sure that they are open on Sundays, and also not so sure about Saturday afternoons, so I would call if you are planning a trip out on anything other than a weekeday.

Cicerone

There is a good map of the area around the Lai Chi Kok MTR station at the mtr.com.hk website. On the main page, click on "customer site", then "station facilities" then scroll down to the bottom and click on the Lai Chi Kok. You can enlarge and print the map. For Castle Peak Road, you want Door B1. The building numbers are shown on the map as well, and major buildings are identified. #500 is north and east of the station.

ekscrunchy

Cicerone: Great informtion from you as usual. I was curious because I remember the great things I bought at those factories (I cannot recall the names) long ago, and yet I never saw them mentioned here. Small sizes sounds about right..the problem for me now is that I was a few sizes smaller then..the items had been purchased from Italy to copy so it makes sense they would be small; I had forgotten that detail!! I remember going up in a freight elevator of a warehouse/factory building.

I will store away your information for my next visit to Hong Kong. (Winter 08-09??) As I wrote, I have not been back since the mid-1980s so I am due for a return!

Thanks again!

Cicerone

I checked my Suzy Gersham and she does not mention the sample factories either; I was not aware that these places existed until the AWA put the trip on the calendar; none of my books on Hong Kong mentions them. I don't think there are a whole lot of them here anymore, as the PRC and other places have really taken over as sales centres and of course for manufacturing.

Yes, if you were here in the 1980s, Mongkok would have been a lot more warehouses, it is much more offices, shopping malls, residential and hotels now after the airport closed and zoning allowed high rises, and that area is very valuable land. The skyline has changed quite dramatically, esp on the Kowloon side. If you come next year the gigantic 118-story ICC Tower on the Kowloon side should be completed, if not open, and that will really change the skyline view of Kowloon. As I say, Hong Kong has changed completely and not changed at all in the 20 years I have been coming here and the 8 years I have lived here. It is one of those cities that changes physically but not mentally.

Guenmai

Escrucnhy...I just saw your questions. I'll answer them as soon as I get a little more time. Happy Travels!

Guenmai

Escrunchy...As for Cotton House ...The fabric is nice, but not what I'm looking for. I like 100% cotton, Indonesian batiks which I buy in Singapore and then go to Bangkok after Singapore and take them into Cotton House. I try to make a stop in Singapore once a year and hit Arab Street.

As for fabric to make clothing with, I haven't really bought a lot in Bangkok although there's a lot of fabric in Bangkok. If you take the skytrain to the Chitlom skytrain station and then go into the Amarin Plaza shopping Mall which is attached to the skytrain walkway....there are lots of fabric shops in there. I'd take a look in those shops. There is a shop that I've done business with for years called, Come Thai. It's on the 3rd floor of the Amarin Plaza. Nong is the owner and she has hundreds of pre-cut ethnic fabric pieces. I think I've had a few pieces made from her fabrics. They are beautiful, but I usually buy them for home interior design items. But it just takes some imagination and you can buy fabric in there.I can have an outfit made up out of about anything. I took my Hawaiian print, Macy's Charter Club duvet cover off of my bed, threw it into my suitcase and took it to Cotton House in August with an idea and sketch and had it converted into an Asian top and matching skirt and I wore it to the Honolulu GTG, pre gathering in September. So, it's all about vision. Happy Travels!

ekscrunchy

Guenmai: I like your style. And here I thought I was the only one to use bedding for clothes..I once took a King sized cotton sheet (shocking pink no less) to Mexico and had it made into a caftan and those shalwar-khameez-type pants. I actually have a king-sized ivory linen sheet (Chambers outlet store) that has developed a hole in it..now you have given me an idea to just bring that along and see what I can dream up!

All of your ideas are so good..I only wish I had more time. With only 5 nights in BKK, I have to get the fabric asap after I arrive, or bring it with me. But it sounds like Cotton House would be able to mail me the finished clothes with no trust issue.....

Your idea about using the batiks is very cool. I have a number of nice ones that I brought back from Java about 20 years ago and are still tucked into a drawer someplace..I am going to dig these out later tonight. But with only one of each prints, I am not
sure exactly what I could make with these.. But without your posts here I would never even have thought of using them!

Thank you so very much for taking all this time and answering my incessant questions..

Guenmai

Take the batiks and have Cotton House transform them into the Asian style tops I mentioned with the handmade buttons. I also have them put small patchpockets on the tops if they have enouogh fabric left over. I like to have pockets to throw my car keys into.

The style Asian top I have made doesn't have a mandarin collar...it's just a slightly curved "V" neck and then the cloth, hoop-style closure starts, with the handmade buttons. This style is extremely comfortable, but looks chic if a great piece of batik has been
used. In spring/summer weather just throw it on with a short, but non-hoochie lenght skirt and sandals and you're ready to go about anywhere. Smiles. I even have that style made out of heavier fabric for fall/winter weather.

When are you going? Maybe I can take a photo into Cotton House and leave it there and then they can show it to you when you arrive. I'll be there mid December to early January. Reed the owner will be away, on vacation when I'm scheduled to be there, but Da her assistant will be running the place. Happy Travels!

ekscrunchy

Guen..Wonderful idea for you to leave the pics..thank you!

I will arrive in BKK late at night on Saturday the 5th and be there until the morning of Thursday the 10th..

I am assuming Cotton House is closed on Sunday, right?

So if I get there asap Monday morning..they would only have until late Wednesday to finish the clothes..enough time for fittings? They could mail me the finished clothes, right?

Guenmai

The 5th and 10th of what month? Happy Travels!

ekscrunchy

Oh, Guenmai, sorry. Of January, 2008.

Guenmai

OK...so you'll be there 2 days after I have left. Perfect in that they won't forget to show you the photos. I'll leave them there with the name "Guenmai" on them. You should have enough time to have your clothes made., They're used to people on tight schedules. Happy Travels!

ekscrunchy

Guenmai you are amazing! Thank you. Thank you.

Happy travels and happy shopping!

Guenmai

Have a great trip. Happy Travels!

Guenmai

I don't remember if Cotton House is open or closed on Sunday. I keep thinking that they might be open, but close early, but I'm not sure. When your clothes are finished just have them deliver them directly to your hotel and then the hotel will receive them if you're out and about town. I always have my clothes delivered to my serviced apartment complex and then the staff/concierge has someone to send them up to me. I've never been charged a delivery fee and I live way across town at the Prom Phong skytrain station area. Happy Travels!

ekscrunchy

Just to be sure..Cotton House is in the Oriental Shopping Center, right?? So just across the river from the Penn where I will be staying..??

Happy Travels, Guen!!