Relax - Wholesale therapy

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[top photo: Wholesale market at the Beijing Zoo Commercial Zone]

Platinum Mall

Bangkok, Thailand

www.platinumfashionmall.com

Opening hours: Daily, 10.30am - 9pm

Directions: Exit BTS Skytrain station Chit Lom and head to Petchaburi Soi 21 (opposite Pratunam Complex), about 10 minutes away

The lowdown: A relatively new shopping centre, Platinum Fashion Mall is likened to Chatuchak market, except it's air-conditioned. With five floors of long winding walkways, most of the stores are small and crammed with wares, so expect to do some digging to find what you like. Dedicated to disposable fashion, you'll find maxi dresses, oversize tunics, studded sandals, patent leather heels, designer-inspired bags, accessories, belts and maternity wear - but don't expect top quality stuff. There are no fitting rooms and there's no trying before buying, so you'll have to do some guesswork involved. But at such low prices, who's complaining. With more than 1,500 shops, you'll need at least two days to trawl the mall.

Wufenpu Garment Wholesale Area

Taipei, Taiwan

www.wufenpu.com.tw

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, noon to midnight

Directions: Take the Bannan (Banqiao-Nangang) Line to Houshanpi Station (Exit 4) and walk along Yongji Street to the corner of Zhongpo North Road

The lowdown: Wufenpu offers the latest fashion trends at some of the lowest prices in Taipei. The bustling wholesale garment district, which is seven times the size of Bugis Village, houses over 1,000 little shops selling trendy clothes, shoes, bags and accessories. New stock arrives twice a week, mostly from Korea and Hong Kong, although you'll also find pieces from Japan and local designers.

Qipu Lu Clothing Market

Shanghai, China

Opening hours: Daily, 6.30am - 6pm

Directions: Take Metro Line No. 2 to Nanjing Road E, then it's about 15 minutes away on foot
The lowdown: With a reputation as Shanghai's "cheap road", Qipu Lu comprises three multistorey buildings crammed with tiny stores no bigger than 130 sq ft. As you make your way through the shops, keep a lookout for bargains among the seasonal clothes, bags and shoes. From jackets to scarves, shades and wigs, you'll find them all here - and going for a steal too! A lot of the small shops along the streets of Shanghai get their stock from Qipu Lu - what they do is trim off the loose threads before slapping on their own labels. Sizes tend to be on the small side so anyone above a UK 12 will have trouble finding items that fit.

Beijing Zoo Commercial Zone

Beijing, China

www.zoopi.cn

Opening hours: 5am - 5pm

Directions: Take Subway Line 2 or 4 to Xizhimen Station, Exit C

The lowdown: This massive wholesale market located around the Beijing Zoo is divided into districts that house buildings crammed with shops and markets: the popular ones include Dongding, Julong Trade, Tianle Palace and Shiji Tianle. You'll find a variety of products and trendy clothes from Korea, even specialist vendors, such as the one offering over 700 styles of hats or leather handbags and wallets. Footwear fiends shouldn't miss the underground Shoe City, with its mind-boggling selection of stilettos, knee-high boots, trainers, strappy sandals and ballet flats at dirt-cheap prices. There are even tailors around in case you want to get stuff tailored. Just be prepared to spend the day meandering through the chaos and bargaining and jostling.

Dongdaemun Market

Seoul, South Korea

www.dongdaemun.com

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am - 5am

Directions: Take subway line 2, 4, or 5 to Dongdaemun Stadium Station and exit #1 or take subway Line 1 or 4 to Dongdaemun Station and exit #7

The lowdown: Popular with both locals and tourists, Dongdaemun in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is one of the world's largest wholesale shopping districts. It encompasses five buildings with 26 shopping malls spread over 10 blocks, 30,000 speciality shops and 50,000 manufacturers. There's nothing you can't find here, given the extensive selection of clothes, bags, lingerie, fabric, socks, even buttons. Navigating this labyrinthine centre can get confusing so make sure to jot down the numbers of the shops you may wish to revisit. If you prefer something slightly less chaotic, check out malls like Doosan Tower and Migliore, with their wide walkways and bright lighting, where each level features a certain type of clothes. However, there aren't many changing rooms and bargaining (which might get you a 10 per cent discount at most) isn't a common practice.

Dongdaemun Market

Get a copy of the November 2009 issue of Simply Her for more smart shopping solutions. Simply Her, published by SPH Magazines is available at all newsstands now.
Melissa Chin is a fashion writer with Simply Her magazine by SPH Magazines.
Check out more stories at Simply Her online, www.simplyher.com.sg.

Wholesale therapy

By Melissa Chin, Simply Her | Fri, Nov 20 2009

If you're game for bargains, shopping at wholesale centres is the way to go. We round up some of the treasure troves around Asia - so bring out those comfy walking shoes already.