Shenzhen sofa covers--help!

I'd like to have a slip cover made for a sofa, and I've read about the various places to go to in Lowu on third or fifth floor, etc. But a few questions:

1. With the cost of the visa (I'm American, with an HKID) is it really worth the time of going over there? How much cheaper is it?

2. What's the procedure--I look around for fabric I like then talk to someone about the covers? What if I find fabric I like at one store with a tailor somewhere else? Do I buy the fabric separately? What if I found fabric here in HK I really liked--would it be worth it to take it to a tailor there?

3. What info do I take about the sofa? I don't believe I can zip off the current upholstery, so do I just take photos and measurements?


thanks for any advice!!

there is a market in "Lao Jie" that would be third or fourth Metro station from "Lo Wu"

there is an entire market which makes all kind of curtains and sofa covers, you can choose the fabric and get it stitched there, but usually they need a day or two for preparing it,


and it may be additional trouble if you don't speak any Chinese, they will just stare at you if you speak English. :-)

You may go to Lowu but if you don't have a copy of the sofa covers, then its highly unlikely they will be correct. A friend of mine got some done but she brought the originals and had them copied, they were fine. Pictures only show how it looks but you will need exact measurements. The trick of getting things correct is drawing a picture and have EXACT measurements. Whatever you ask for, you will get so if you miss out something you won't have it. Dont expect them to 'assume' anything cos they won't.


As for the cost of the visa, it's not really worth your trip as you can't bring original covers and therefore its all done on your sizing and their tailoring which is often not spot on.


You can buy your material there or you may bring your own material. You can choose whatever tailor you want, there's dozens of them. They may not be able to make them there and then so you may need to wait a few days and have them couriered to you, that will cost you too. Once received if they don't fit, you've no comeback, just bring them back again and try to persuade them to repair. They will not make another set if this one goes wrong.


I've had lots of experience from tailoring in Lowu and its totally hit and miss and can honestly say unless you take original to be copied , don't expect it to be like original.


Also note the HKD is less than RMB now so in effect you will be paying more on the HKD.


Alternatively i suggest go to Sham Shui Po, buy the material there and find a tailor on the back streets of HK who will do it. They may even call to your house to measure it up correctly.

In Shenzhen there is also Curtain Street where they do fabulous sofa covers but this is professional so you need good measurements and photographs would be good too. They do lots of furnishings for hotels but prices are excellent although you need to buy Chinese fabric as imported fabric has a tariff.

You can find the location of Curtain Street on the Shenzhen map you can buy in HK Dymocks stores and it is in the area of CITIC plaza, near Da Ju Yuan metro station.

You go to a store, select a fabric and give them measurements and photos. You need an English/Mandarin dictionary - look for the pocket-size yellow one in HK bookstores as it is excellent and you can just point to the characters.

Where can I get this map?