so has anyone ventured to the new H&M yet?? whats the verdict.......are they stocking "normal" sizes??
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And I am curious if they also sell childrens clothes?!?
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Me thinks alot of ado about nothing.....HK is a shoppers' paradise ;)
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suze
19 yrs ago
Me for one am glad it has opened! Kids department great and sizes for all!
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TC
19 yrs ago
Queen's Road, Central just to the east of Pottinger Street. Can't miss it.
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cd
19 yrs ago
I went in for a quick look the other day, to see if they do big sizes (need UK 14-16),admittedly I didn't look very carefully because it was just too crowded, but I couldn't see anything above a 12 on the racks, but the signs by the t-shirts said the biggest was xl, uk 18-20. The boys section had some nice stuff and very reasonable in price but the crowds were awful, made me want to walk straight out again, and each checkout queue must have had at least 40 people in it. I think some things are definately tailored towards the local market, i.e the snoopy pictures on all the girls vest and knicker sets.
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Totty
19 yrs ago
I picked up two EUR 42 (16) skirts on Thurs and both fit beautifully.
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I went in on Saturday with my teenage daughter ... we were both totally unimpressed with the style and the quality ... I just couldn't bring myself to buy T-shirts that are so thin you can see through them. Not much in the way of larger sized items for myself ... found the sizes smaller than M&S. My daughter thought it was all a load of rubbish ... even though I offered to buy whatever she wanted she still came out empty handed, which is a first for her! We popped into M&S afterwards and spent $$$!!! I'll be sticking with them.
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Walked past on Sunday and was a queue back to the escalators!! From experience in the UK, it is not worth lining up 2 hours for that is for sure. H&M must be laughing all the way to the bank. Hopefully it will entice other high st stores to come to HK - GAP, Monsoon, Reiss, Karen Millen to name a few.
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gap had a small hole in the wall store in ocean terminal a year or two back together with other high stores.... some of them are still there but most of them have closed since.
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TJ Max and Marshalls are outlets that carry low cost end of season designer brands as well as miscellaneous brands at bargain basement prices and are not like H&M at all (or is H&K something else entirely?) You do need to rummage through to find the good stuff though. I think H&M offers good low/mid-priced clothing options and the items I bought are good quality... I went in on the 2nd day and there was no queue out front (lucky I know)and waited about 10mins in line to pay. You get what you pay for, like most things but the H&M ideal is to provide stylish clothes at an affordable price... obviously they won't appeal to everyone. Not sure why the lines are still happening... but let's just say their marketing dept must be busting out the champers because HK have eaten it up!
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I think the queues at H & M show how much of a need HK has for some stylist larger Western-sized clothing at reasonable prices-witness the popularity of Zara! Even though much of Zara's clothing looks cheaply made (and sometimes even trashy!) we buy it because there is nothing else like it here. (I am sorry: I find Marks & Spencer to be very matronly and poorly made for the price!) H&M and Zara stores do not carry top quality clothing, but as bakergirl says, they aim to turn out the latest styles as soon as they can have them copied at the factories. This is one of the reasons that the Gap is unprofitable these days-it hasn't been able to compete.
If you are looking for something similar to the Gap in HK, take a look at Club Monaco, which is the Canadian version, albeit a bit pricier but they do carry some larger sizes (up to a generous 12 or 14 but not sure?). By the way, a British size 10 is more like a US 8 or even 6 at Ann Taylor store.
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hkkm
19 yrs ago
I can't understand how people can order clothes on-line. I could never order anything more complex than a T-shirt on-line unless I had already been to a real store to try the clothes on. Sizes vary so much between labels and countries, and I just can't tell whether something is going to look good/feel comfortable unless I actually try it on. This particularly goes for bras - no way could I order underwear on-line unless I had previously tried on that exact model!
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Totty
19 yrs ago
Most online stores have a returns policy PLUS if you already shop at that store you should know what fits.
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Completely agree with you Babette - we need more western style/sized stores here (and ones that carry shoes in a size 41 and 42 please!) but interestingly when I saw the lines outside H&M on Sunday there was not one westerner in the queue (ans the queue was huge). Think that the lines more reflect the Madonna branded marketing and the fact that it is a new store. Zara, Esprit and M&S will be peeved.
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I am convinced that the queues are purely a publicity stunt ... when I was in line on Saturday (and we were quite a way back) it took just a few short minutes to be let in, and the store didn't seem any more full than other stores on a busy Saturday afternoon. There was a steady stream of people coming OUT of the store, so I see no reason why they can't have a steady stream of people going IN to the store. The queue at the check-out was long, but I would guess that this was more to do with incompetent staff or not enough of them. Totally agree with Babette ... there is a huge lack of stores that stock larger stylish/Western sized clothing ... and I do agree that M&S are a bit matronly ... but their quality is far better than H&M ... which I basically knew before I went along on Saturday ... I guess I was just hoping for something different. I can but dream of Next, Wallis, Warehouse ... even Dorothy Perkins, Etams or Top Shop would be an improvement! We can live in hope. I imagine that Zara, M&S and Esprit are rather peeved right now ... but I don't think it will last for long.
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I like Wallis and Warehouse too. Also Oasis. Why won't the stores listen to the customers and open here??!
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HKC
19 yrs ago
I too don't understand why the likes of Dorothy Perkins and Top Shop don't open here. They have been in Malaysia for over 5 years now and so has Miss Selfridge and I know they have Warehouse in Singapore, please please please open here! Maybe we should write to all of them! They even used to have a Debenhams in KL but that shut down as it was in the wrong Mall really!
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Dubai has a Debenhams which stocks Oasis, Wallis, Dorothy Perkins, Warehouse and best of all Principles (which I love).... If only we had a Debenhams in HK!
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How do they know that there is not a good enough market for larger Western sized clothing ... I've never actually had the pleasure of shopping in a store, other than M&S, with a decent stock of larger Western sized clothing to actually sell!! And why am I not surprised that the hangers are all well stocked with a bountiful supply of size 8-12's, and the larger sizes have all sold out! Perhaps someone has got their calculations wrong ... every Western woman I know here complains about the lack of larger clothes ... probably why we all end up going to work in identical M&S outfits!LOL If stores would actually stock them, they would sell them!
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crj
19 yrs ago
I completely agree that it would be nice to have some of the high street shops here, but there are lots of other advantages - like tailors and some great local designers that have been set up specifically for 'larger' (AKA normal in Europe and North America and Australia) sizes, like
http://www.cloud9asia.com and others?
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BHS (ok, not a high quality store but an example of a store with larger sizes) has over the years tried - and failed - three times in Hong Kong. There isn't a sufficient market for UK high street stores here.
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BHS - a great 'Home' Store, but not exactly 'fashionable' is it ... my gran used to shop there for her clothes. I don't think the failure of BHS in HK could have been down to the fact that they actually stocked larger sizes ... after all, they also stocked smaller sizes too didn't they, so it couldn't have been the fact that they only catered to the larger Western woman? I'm talking about high street fashion stores who's clothes people actually want to buy, those which have been mentioned above. God knows what I would do if M&S decided to leave town!! I don't expect a store to open in HK and purely cater for Western sizes ... but I don't see why they can't stock larger sizes as well as small sizes ... you only have to look around to see that there has got to be a market for them ... everyone I know has to stock up on clothes when back in the UK/Aus/US over the summer hols. There's a definite gap in the market ... we just need the right stores. I can't believe the excitement over the news that H&M were opening ... alas, the quality is disappointing ... I see better stuff in the sample shops around town ... and there's not much in the way of larger sized stock ... even the bras I looked at only go up to a size 36 ... that's not a lot of use to most of the women I know. Back to M&S it is then.
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Totty
19 yrs ago
No queue outside today at 2ish and had another peek in and saw several items size EUR 44.
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tgm
19 yrs ago
Sapphire - "you only have to look around to see that there has got to be a market for them..."
But where are you looking - relatively small areas of HK such as Central, etc where there is a higher proportion of westerners..?
HK population is about 7M of which about 60% is in the workforce (according to Immigration Dept website). Most of the population (say over 90%)is local Chinese and a fair proportion of the rest are also Asian (mainland Chinese, Filipino, etc). Even if half the remaining workforce was western (prob less), that would be about 200,000 people - of which around half would be male, and a fair proportion of the remaining western female workforce would fit into the available sizes in HK (ok, no basis for that one except a typical night out in LKF).
So the target market for larger sizes would be about 50,000 or so. They'd have to be buying a lot of clothes on a regular basis to make it worth the shops while to open in HK given the high rents etc.
BHS didn't survive, but I agree it's not a direct comparison. However, Gap didn't survive and neither did Guess (albeit American not UK retailer) - unless there's one of those still open somewhere. We just have to face the fact that as westerners we're not the target audience for most shops / broadband suppliers / mobile phone companies / etc. / etc. in HK.
Back to the original post, i haven't ventured into H&M yet, but from the posts by yourself and others it sounds like I haven't missed anything.
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Not sure that I agree with the cost of coming here - ie: rent price - as being a deterrent for these big stores. Look at Zara - it is everywhere and stocks a range from s to xl. Same with Esprit. Both are popular with locals and westerners.
I agree, I am not expecting shops to only stock size 12 and up but shops that will stock a range. Singapore has Warehouse, Oasis, Top Shop, Karen Millen, GAP, Dorothy Perkins and more. Why oh why not have the same here?
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my 3 cents : I like Zara more.. seems like better quality
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Totty, I did see a few items (not many) which were available in sizes upto EUR44 ... but certainly nothing I (or any of my friends who have since visited H&M) would be interested in buying, due to the poor style/quality. I would imagine if they don't sell them it's nothing to do with the fact that there isn't a market for these sizes ... more to do with the fact that it's crap ... just my opinion of course.
tgm - I get what you're saying ... I guess I'll just have to continue to shop back in the UK during the summer hols. And your assumption is quite right ... as far as H&M is concerned, you haven't missed anything ... again, just my opinion.
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NZlawyergirl - my thoughts exactly. Even the Phillipines has a selection of some of the stores mentioned above ... a friend of mine who moved there from HK has absolutely no problems getting clothes to fit her size UK16 figure, unlike when she lived here.
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cd
19 yrs ago
To Foolanhill
we don't want a shop here that just caters for larger sizes, we want the shops that are here to realise that a lot of women come in a size bigger than a 12. If M&S can stock size 6 to 18 then why can't other shops. Even if their range is smaller, its better than no range at all.
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cd - I agree entirely ... if M&S can do it, why not others, they actually stock upto a size UK20 in many items I've noticed. Stores don't have to have a full range of larger sizes, but a selection wouldn't be impossible surely. It's not as though they wouldn't be able to sell them and be left with them at the end of the season ... have you noticed that the larger clothes in M&S always seem to sell out quickly ... and the small clothes are the ones left on the racks during sale time? There's rarely any bargains to be had above a size 12-14.
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katyw
19 yrs ago
I eventually made it down to have a look on Friday and was really only impressed with the childrens wear. I think the womenswear was quite obviously designed with the local girls in mind so even in the bigger sizes the styles wouldn't have suited me. Also apparently the little girls section is proving very popular with alot of the local girls as they are small enough to fit into them so the prices work out even cheaper.
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Agree with Katyw, I only bought a few things for my baby from the children department. Both the Women and the Men stuff were not impressive; poorly made with cheap material. If I have to choose between Zara and H&M I will go for Zara (or even Mango).
Also, there was no baskets available, it would be nice if there was a basket to hold the shopping esp. with tiny kiddie clothes and shoes!
And, VERY POOR service - I tried to get help from a saleslady and she wouldn't let me talk and just told me she was busy - and when I finally found another lady and asked if she can help to check on an item to see if there is a bigger size (as only US 2,4,6 available on rack) - she simply told me they don't do stock check and everything is on rack (in a very rude way). I just don't believe a shop like H&M only carries 1 piece for each size!
Very disappointing.
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From my experience there aren't many Sales people at any of their global stores except perhaps in the fitting room. Basically it's all about cost cutting so the consumer can pay low costs for the latest styles (whatever 'they' deem them to be) and obviously quality comes into it as well. I have found a few basics in H&M but agree with most of you that Zara is better quality and more original designs. Sizing for tops here is fine but Esprit is the only place I can get pants to fit and I'm of average "western" size. Haven't tried any on in H&M yet but Zara's pants are so long and made for gals without bums.
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Taps
19 yrs ago
Zara quality better, it is made in Cambodia but quality control in Japan is strict.
I am an M&S believer in underwear esp. brassiere, the minimizer type.
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I bought an assortment of basic tees, tanks, denim minis, and shorts in Europe a few years ago, and all are still in very good condition. I think for casual everyday wear, the quality is satisfactory. Not very stylish but it's good value for money.
Haven't been to the shop here though, but very curious. Hope I can swing by tomorrow..
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i too like M&S their quality is better than others especially for mid.aged. Gone to H&M after standing in the Q but found nothing interesting after UK ones and very pricy.
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Taps
19 yrs ago
Lady Woverine, Zara sold in Japan are mostly made in Cambodia, probably to save cost. But the quality is good(which says for the strict q control there), in fact they are adding a lot of store everywhere. I suppose business is better for Zara in Japan than Mango(they started a few years ago but Z is a newcomer) which is a pity since this is one of the brand I really like.
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Totty
19 yrs ago
Am wondering what the opening times are, anyone know? Thanks
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Kaat
19 yrs ago
Mon-Sat 10:30am-9pm
Sun 11am-8pm
=)
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clan
19 yrs ago
MEXX in Festival Walk is great. The sizes are fab and just seem to expand for larger women. They're not too expensive and the quality is really good. Everything I've bought in there has washed well and not fallen apart. It's especially good value at sales time as they knock off quite a bit. Is it the only one in HK??
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Totty
19 yrs ago
Sorry for all that don't like H&M but i'm a fan.
Fab t's for only $50 that wash so well, much better than M&S.
Cargo's for &199, lovely skirts on gorgeous materials and i only queued to pay for 5 mins today.
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