The standard drapery question, updated

I need new drapes made for my living room window. The window is large enough to justify shopping around. Hong Kong/Queen's Road East prices are quite high. So here would be an ideal scenario: when I am in Shenzhen, in or near the big drapery area behind Dongmen, I could select the material I want. That company would have someone already in HK who could drop by, make the correct measurements, and then I could go back to Shenzhen later and pick up the finished product. Ignoring for this purpose the cost of the train tickets (because I go to Shenzhen anyway), does anyone have a good experience doing this? Any specific recommendations? We are unsure that our own measuring skills are up to the task of getting it right.

or you can pass by li yuen street in central... you can hear the filipina ladies touting their curtain services

I am planning to do the same thing. Heard it is quite easy. Why don't you just measure the window size yourself - inside window frame and the drop to the floor if you want full length and then give the measurements to the tailors in Shenzhen - they are professional and used to putting them together. They can also give you the curtain pole and arrange delivery to HK for you. Where is the curtain place in Dongmen?

Tulip2007, I know it sounds easy to measure but somehow I manage to get it wrong because I misread the hems at the bottom, or the squeezing along the rods at the top, or something like that. And there are a lot of shops in Shenzhen that are not very professional and not fully invested in their work because they know we have no real recourse if something goes wrong. This is why a personal recommendation would help--but yes, I know the principle of "you get what you pay for." Anyway, and I'm sorry this sounds a little vague, if you take the bus #1 (among others) from Lo Wu City, it starts going north and turns right, then turns again and follows the main street (Dongmen Rd) just to the right of a main entrance to Dongmen. The stop is just after the main overhead pedestrian bridge and also in front of the Jiang Nan Hotel. Can't miss it, as almost everyone gets off there. Instead of going over the bridge to Dongmen, go exactly in the opposite direction--east--and about two minutes' walk off Dongmen Rd is one very large building that is nothing but curtain and drape makers, and probably anything requiring textiles. I picked a shop at random once, and liked the material a lot, but got the measurements wrong. I want to try to keep the same curtain rod that's here now.


So, yes, in theory it's easy but takes a bit of diligence.

I heard that ShopNo. 3066 on 3rd floor in Low Wu is very professional and know what they are doing. It seems that most of the shops have all the same swatch books. What I did is find the material I liked in HK (so you don't spend hours browing the material in Shenzhen), cut a sample of it and then going to get the same material in Shenzhen. I am trying this out on Monday so willl let you know how it all goes. Also the Cotton House in Li Yuen West Street was recommended on this site. I went there yesterday and they are really really good and very helpful and experienced but I think the cost even though reasonable for HK is probably double what it will cost in Shenzhen to make them. Thanks for details of Dongmen.

And thanks also to you...will watch for results of your excursion! Side note: Lo Wu City prices are approaching those of HK due to popularity with HK shoppers.

There is a large area in Sham Shui Po just near Mongkok, Apliu Street and other nearby streets, with tons of textiles and material. It's just overwhelming and I think, from one pass through there, mostly wholesale. Not sure.

As Goloh says, you certainly can buy curtain fabric in Sham Shui Po. Cheap and plenty of choice.

Pine,


Check my original post again. It would all be the same company, probably in Shenzhen, but they would have someone in HK to do the measurements and communicate these to their shop in SZ. I could pick up the finished product and hang the curtains myself, or they could do it, but it costs more to have them transport the finished product over. Anyway I'll see Tulip's report, hopefully, then just make a decision on what to do.

Just returned from excellent shopping trip in Shenzhen. I bought 21 curtains for the whole three floor house for just $8,950 - that included black out lining for bedrooms, rails fitted already with roman blinds as well as expensive pelmets and borders on some of the curtains. I had a few roman blinds made up the same day and took them to the house and they fit PERFECTLY ($350 for one roman blind)! All I need to do is just drill two holes in the wall as the rail comes with all the fittings. In Hong Kong I was being quoted $35,000 and $28,950 for EXACTLY the same material. It can be quite overwhelming when you are buying so many curtains and looking at so many different samples. the trick is to go into the nice comfortable curtain shops in HK to look at materials to get ideas then get a sample if you can which you can take to Shenzhen and show them and they are amazing at pulling out the same fabrics from their swatch books. If you can get swatch or material number that is even better. I am waiting to take delivery of the curtains next week so will let you know how they all fit ($250 for delivery charge for heavy 21 curtains!). I also got wooden blinds made for the kitchen. I was quoted $1240 in HK for two blinds - I bought 2 in Shenzhen for total $425 including fittings. Go to see Annie at Shop 3066 on 3rd floor (near BBC restaurant). She speaks excellent english and is very knowledgeable and professional about curtain sizes etc. Truly worth it to get them made in Shenzhen as most curtain shops in HK send them to China to be made anyway. If you don't want to trek out to Shenzhen the I would recommend The Cotton Shop in Li Yuen West Street - they have amazing selection at reasonable prices for HK but you will stay pay 3 times more getting them made in HK compared to Shenzhen..... let me know if you need any more details on this. BTW, I went to Shampshuipo and I found that it is mainly material for clothing and not for curtain fabrics....

Just saw this and also your other thread. This is really useful. Thanks and I am happy you were successful. I make regular runs to SZ so it's no problem to look around--though Lo Wu City is usually somewhat cheaper than HK, it is still higher than places further into the city (assuming we get it all right the first time). And yes, after a return trip to Sham Shui Po, I agree it's not the best choice for curtain fabrics.