MALL MANIA

With shopping centres, markets and shop-lined streets wherever you turn, Hong Kong offers endless opportunities for eager shoppers. And then there are the seasonal sales... THE WINTER SALES frenzy kicks in between Christmas and the Lunar New Year, which usually falls between January and February. However some shops start warming up the crowd before Christmas. Pacific Place and Festival Walk (two major malls) start cutting prices as early as mid-November. Both malls also offer exclusive deals to tourists from the mainland. The boutique chain Swank, which stocks high-end European designer labels such as Sonia Rykiel, Roberto Cavalli and Gianfranco Ferre, usually begins its winter sale towards the end of November. Look out for the sale signs in shop fronts, and the large crowds heading towards them. Shopping is the No 1 hobby in Hong Kong. At no time does passion rise higher than during a sale, when half the population fights furiously for the season?s best bargains. Discounts offered change according to the stage of the sale, but towards the end can go up to 60 per cent. Initially expect discounts of 30 per cent or 40 per cent. In the meantime, here is an idea of what you can expect to find in the major shopping districts. Central The highest concentration of luxury labels is to be found in the central business district. If you have a particular brand in mind, there is a good chance you will find it here. The malls are linked by walkways, which can be a blessing in bad weather or a curse when you are maxed out on credit and the sale signs keep beckoning. The IFC Mall is above the Airport Express check-in area. Most shops here are dedicated to fashion, with at least 40 designer labels. There is also a good selection of cosmetics and jewellery shops. Burberry opened its flagship city store here in spring and, in addition to women?s wear, children?s wear and accessories, offers tailoring services for men. Other high-end labels in the mall include Valentino, Vivienne Tam, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, BOSS Hugo Boss, Cerruti 1881 and A/X Armani Exchange. Spanish high-street chain Mango is the place to go for great bargains. The chain makes funky pieces designed for the young, street-savvy woman which at normal retail prices are not expensive and, during sales, terrific value. Spanish competitor Zara opened its first Hong Kong store in IFC Mall earlier this year. In true Hong Kong spirit, crowds flocked in, items flew off the shelves and chaos reigneded. Zara has a regular turnover of new stock, so you could visit twice in a week and see completely different merchandise. The Landmark and Alexandra House are home to some of the biggest names in luxury fashion catering to the high-end shopper with unlimited credit. The collective list of tenants reads like a who?s who in fashion: Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Burberry, Swank Women?s and Swank Men?s, Gucci, Chanel (the label has a policy of no sales, so do not expect to find chic cut-price suits), Christian Dior, Celine, Fendi, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Manolo Blahnik, Marc Jacobs, Missoni, Miu Miu, Moschino, Versace and Polo Jeans. Next door in Chater House is Giorgio Armani?s first concept store outside of Milan, housing the Armani Emporio, Armani Casa, Armani Fiori and cosmetics lines. If it?s Asian artefacts or homewares you want, Banyan Tree and Artfield Interiors in the Prince?s Building are good places to start. There are a few art galleries here too, including Alisan Fine Arts, which specialises in contemporary Chinese art. Opposite the Landmark on Pedder Street is the Pedder Building. On street level is local entrepreneur David Tang's distinguishable Shanghai Tang. The interior is all wooden banisters and floorboards, and many of the items are bright green, pink or purple. Products are given a contemporary Chinese twist and, as well as off the rack, you can have cheongsams and mandarin jackets tailored here ? for a price. The gifts section rarely fails to provide the fatigued shopper with inspiration. There are cuff-links, pens, mugs, address books, photograph albums, tea sets, silk pyjamas and more. On the floors above Shanghai Tang in Pedder Building you will find clearance stocks of designer goods up for grabs. Admiralty Walk east from Central for 10 minutes and you will find Admiralty or, specifically, Pacific Place. Like any mall in Hong Kong worthy of the foundations on which it stands, Pacific Place has its share of luxury brands. Around 30 per cent are expected to take part in this year?s winter sales, including A/X Armani Exchange, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Marks & Spencer. Many shops cater to a broader (and younger) audience than the Central malls, and there are gift, accessory and sports shops. Seibu is a large department store where you will find more European and Japanese designer labels. The Great Food Hall, Hong Kong?s most exclusive food store, stocks a large number of imported goods not to be found elsewhere in the city. Causeway Bay Causeway Bay is one of the city's busiest shopping districts. Shops here tend to stay open later, usually until 9pm or 10pm. The streets are always busy, especially on Friday evenings and at weekends. If you are strong-willed and have sturdy feet, go forth and navigate your way through the crowds. More international designer goods can be found in Times Square and Lee Gardens but, if it is local styles you want, Causeway Bay has plenty. The mini-boutiques stocking these wares (Fashion Walk and Island Beverly Centre) and concentration of Japanese department stores is what gives Causeway Bay its spirited atmosphere, and youngsters make the area a buzzing meeting place. Windsor House is the place to go for a large selection of computer software and hardware. Ap Lei Chau As an industrial area on the south side of Hong Kong Island close to Aberdeen, there is little reason to visit Ap Lei Chau ? except that several city stores have warehouses here and this is a great place to find a bargain or two during sale season. Banyan Tree and Tequila Kola offer furniture at knock-down prices ? provided of course expensive shipping costs don?t negate the discounts. They also stock soft furnishings from napkins and candles to bedding and lamp shades, so there is always a chance you will come away with something. Many of the soft furnishings are sourced from India. Locally grown fashion boutique Joyce, which stocks a fairly eclectic mix of western and Asian designer brands, also has a warehouse here (its main branches are in Central and on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui). Out-of-season stock is discounted year round and can be reduced up to 60 per cent. The Peak With The Peak one of the city's main tourist attractions, most of the shops here are geared towards tourists. If it?s souvenirs you want, you will find them here. You can pick up almost anything, from postcards, key rings and mugs to T-shirts. The Peak Galleria is the larger of the two shopping complexes, with almost 30 shops selling arts, crafts, clothes, accessories and jewellery. Try MCI for embroidery, silk or linen, and Dragon 200 Hong Kong for handicrafts. You will also find a number of outlets selling Chinese crafts in the Peak Tower opposite. Tsim Sha Tsui Stand at the Star Ferry pier in Tsim Sha Tsui and you will see a giant complex ? Harbour City, Hong Kong?s largest shopping mall. Finding your way around the hundreds of shops and millions of square footage requires certain navigational skills. Combined, they cater to pretty much all tastes and ages. There are stores selling luxury fashion brands, more than 30 outlets selling clothes and toys for children, and plenty of outlets from Birkenstock and Caterpillar to Fila and GigaSports catering to sports enthusiasts and casual clothing fans. More upmarket casual brands, such as menswear label Mondi, cater to the travelling businessman with a penchant for outdoor adventures. Clothes are designed to deal with fluctuations in climate and harsher conditions such as cold or rough surroundings. Mondi?s winter sale usually starts mid-November. With more than 20 cosmetics counters, fans of potions and lotions can spend hours wandering from one counter to another. Check out Faces, a mini cosmetic store stocking international brands such as NARS, Jurlique and MAC, among many others. Lane Crawford is Hong Kong's most established department store, and has its largest branch on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. As well as luxury fashion and accessories, it includes a men?s grooming bar that stocks some cosmetic brands that are exclusive to Hong Kong. Factory seconds, label knock-offs and shop fronts selling souvenirs can be found along Granville Road and, just around the corner, the Beverly Centre has floors of funky clothes by local designers. Festival Walk This shopping mall is next to the City University of Hong Kong and many of the shops, such as agnes b. and i.t (a chain housing designer brands), target a younger crowd than malls like those in Central. Other shops include a large Page One bookstore with a cafe so book lovers can take their time and browse. There is also a substantial section dedicated to beauty, particularly European and Japanese brands. Around 60 per cent of the major fashion tenants hold winter sales. During Christmas promotions, a bottle of red wine can be redeemed for purchases of more than $3,000, and a gift hamper for any purchase of more than $4,000. Shoppers will receive one lucky draw ticket to win a grand prize of a four-door sedan for purchases of more than $3,000. Street savvy As much as the city has a love affair with high-end fashion, it is not to everyone?s taste or budget. And, in reality, it is only a minority of locals who buy these expensive brands. Markets can be fun and a good place to find cheap goods, and stall holders are open to bargaining. The Ladies? Market on Tung Choi Street in Mongkok has a good selection of clothes and accessories for women, and Temple Street in Yau Ma Tei is an Aladdin?s cave of gadgets, clothes, watches, CDs and more. Stalls usually set up in the early afternoon, but it is in the evening that these markets are at their liveliest. Everything from trinkets to large carvings can be found at the Jade Market (on the junction between Kansu and Battery streets in Yau Ma Tei). But unless you have trustworthy advice, avoid buying expensive pieces. Li Yuen East and Li Yuen West streets in Central (between Queen?s Road and Des Voeux Road) are a good spot for Chinese embroidered clothes as well as cheap, casual clothes, jewellery and bags. Tailors Sam?s Tailor is as much a Hong Kong institution as The Peak or the Star Ferry, and visiting celebrities and politicians make time to pay him a visit when they are in town (Giorgio Armani was one of his most recent clients). You can find him on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui (2367 9423). Prince?s Building in Central also has a number of reputable tailors. Local goods For local handicrafts, Chinese embroidery, fabric, ceramics, tea and other gifts, try one of the city?s Chinese department stores. CRC, Yue Hwa or Chinese Arts and Crafts are the major ones and at least one of these can be found in most major shopping areas and tourist hot spots. Specialty tea shops in the Prince?s Building and The Best Tea House in Cheung Shun Street, Cheung Sha Wan are good spots for exotic blends. Jewellery and watches Yellow gold is favoured by many Hong Kong people, and it is easy to find gold shops in the busy shopping districts. Chow Sang Sang, King Fook and Tse Sui Luen are good places to start looking. All have several outlets, but first try Yee Wo Street and Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay, or Nathan Road between Mongkok and Tsim Sha Tsui. (When buying gold make sure it is stamped with a hallmark and you are given a certificate stating the metal?s specifications.) The number and variety of watches available is enough to sate the appetite of the most avid watch collector. Try department stores such as Seibu for dress and sports watches. If you are looking for luxury, head for Vacheron Constantin (Carda Watch, Melbourne Plaza, 33 Queen?s Road, Central). The Royal Eagle Chronograph in pink gold and Malte Dual Time Regulator watches are both new items for men. Alternatively, try Ball Watch (Chow Tai Fook Jewellery at 44-46 Queen?s Road Central), or Omega (12 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui).