Another place to buy the fabric of our lives

Shanghaiist spent Sunday as we often do -- shopping for wedding dress material. Our dressmaker told us to check out the fabric market on Dongmen Lu near Zhonghua Lu, and perhaps you had the same reaction we did: There's a fabric market on Dongmen Lu near Zhonghua Lu? We were under the impression that all the old vendors at the Dongjiadu Lu fabric market had moved into the new digs at Lujiabang Lu, which we have mentioned a couple times before. Not so.

A vendor at Dongmen Lu told us they opened a couple weeks ago, and that rents, and thus fabric prices, were cheaper there than at Lujiabang Lu. Evidently, that message isn't spreading like wildfire throughout the city. On a Sunday afternoon, the place was completely devoid of customers. So, these early days might be the best time to head over there -- while shopkeepers are a little desperate, you might be able to grab some bargains. Keep in mind that the Shiliupu Material Shopping Market, as it is called, doesn't yet carry the "Chinesey" designs that can found so readily at Lujiabang Lu and many foreigners seem to love. It is a good place to go, however, if you are in the market for some photos of shopkeepers napping.

An aside: Shanghaiist was one of those who lamented the loss of the Dongjiadu Lu market. We said the new place had no character. While that is true, the new places -- both of them -- have air conditioning. And on days like yesterday, air conditioning trumps character easily. Sunday would have been brutal, perhaps unbearable, at the old place, may it rest in peace.