Bargains for Kids
Clothes
“The Lanes” in Central have have some children’s clothing, shoes and accessories for sale in the stalls, but there are also permanent shops selling clothes for kids along the sides of Li Yuen Street East. Most sell sizes primarily for babies through about 5 or 6 years, and are a mixture of factory seconds of popular international brands (such as Carters, Oshkosh, and Gap) as well as some Chinese and Korean brands. Prices are low, but double check the “seconds” for any noticeable flaws, as they are occasionally imperfect.
Several shops are at ground level (including Smile, one of our favourites), but the largest, Kid & Kids, is on the 19th floor of the Li Dong building. This shop is a great place for inexpensive children’s formal wear and for costumes. For children’s shoes (from babies’ first walking shoes to school shoes for primary kids), the prices at Hang Lam Childrenswear next to Smile are fantastic.
If you are looking for classic children’s clothing, head to Smock Shop on the second floor of Star Ferry Terminal in TST. This wholesaler makes clothing for high end kid labels in the states. Smocked dresses that cost around HK$250 go on to retail for US$100+ in the states. They also do wholesale for the American kids brand (Busy Bees).
Granville Road in TST has factory outlets with local and international brands that sell budget and mid-priced labels. It’s fun to have a rummage around and you will definitely find some more quirky fashion here both in the Beverly Shopping Centre and Rise Shopping Arcade.
Apple Mall in Stanley Market probably offers the largest selection of kids’ clothing outside of a department store or shopping mall. Popular brands such as Ralph Lauren, Gap, Carter’s, Oshkosh, Verbaudet, and more are often available, though it can be impossible to discern which are factory overruns and which are lookalikes. If this is unimportant to you, there are great deals to be had here on everything from play clothes to shoes to swimsuits to baby blankets. To find Apple Mall, veer right as you are approaching Stanley Market from the taxi roundabout and head towards the promenade; you’ll spot a sign for Apple Mall and a tiny gap between two children’s clothing stalls about halfway there.
In general, most markets (Wan chai, Jardine’s Bazaar in Causeway Bay) will have at least a few stalls selling childrens’ items, but you may need to wander a bit in order to locate them.
Toys
On Tai Yuen Street (near its intersection with Johnston Road) in Wan Chai, there are six or eight shops selling all sorts of toys located behind the market stalls – they are easy to spot due to colourful displays out front and inflatable swimming toys hanging from their awnings. These shops sell everything from little items like sheets of stickers, wind up toys, and action figures perfect for stuffing party bags to larger ticket items like models and electronic toys. The closest MTR exit from Wan Chai Station is A3.
Clothing/Shoes for Adults
Clothing
For absolute bargain-basement prices on adult clothing (often factory seconds or samples – each item is often $50 or less), there are several stretches of outlet stores in Wanchai and Central. In central, head to Li Yuen Street West, and look for Uno Oun and Fast Fashion Warehouse. These shops can be great spots to look for bargain swimwear (large busted ladies, take note – there is often a good selection of D-cup bikini tops in the sample bins – the challenge is in locating a matching bottom) , costume components, and the occasional cut-label items from name brands like J.Crew and French Connection.
In Sham Shui Po, head to the clothes market on and around Cheung Sha Wan Road. Bargains galore with everything including menswear, outdoor wear, children’s clothes and accessories and women’s clothes – some good, some bad and some downright scary! Prices are very low and it’s worth rifling through the rails to snap up a bargain. We have a detailed guide on Sham Shui Po here for more information on where to shop.
Shoes
If you’re looking for a specific pair of trendy sneakers (or don’t know what you want and would like a large selection to choose from), Fa Yuen Street in Mongkok is sports shoe central. Numerous shops stock an astounding number of styles – do note that they tend to carry the latest looks, so shoes are priced accordingly. Footwear Supermarket (116 Austin Road in TST) also has an enormous selection of popular brands of athletic shoes at discount prices, as do the Apex Outlets (also in TST at 46, 47, and 62 Granville Road).
Huge selections of fashionable footwear for ladies are available in pretty much any market in Hong Kong, as well as down many of the allies of of Des Vouex Road in Central. Most are under $99, so these stalls and shops are perfect spots to pick up a trial pair to see if leopard-print pumps are really your style. Surprisingly, these cheapies are substantial enough to hold up to a season of wear, which is great for trendy shoes you’ll only need for a few months, but be warned that you do get what you pay for – if you’re taking a pair home to a cooler climate, it can feel like you’re walking barefoot on the cold or snowy pavement!
Sportswear
From XXL ski jackets to baby-sized wet suits, Stanley Market has you covered no matter what the season is in Hong Kong (we’ve bought waterproof toddler mittens in June!) There are several shops directly in front of you and to the right as you enter the market from the taxi roundabout, and a few more towards the opposite end of the market if you turn left from the entrance (these carry street clothes as well, but displays of bathing suits and athletic clothing should be fairly prominent at the front of the shop). For practical rather than fashionable swimwear near central, several stalls on Tai Yuen Street in the Wanchai Market sell swimsuits and rash guards to fit the whole family.
Happy Shopping!
