Home & Interior
485 Fenglin Lu, near Zhongshan Nan Er Lu.
This multi-brand store in the new ‘green Tianzifang’ is a reboot of our original entry Nest. Featuring a roll-call of local eco-friendly lifestyle, clothing and kids brands get your hands on Eco&More (personal and home cleaning products), EcoBibi, Paper Tiger (stationery and wrapping paper), Wobabybasics, MRKT and FINCH, plus newcomers Miyim (adorable organic cotton toys) and Somos Design (funky, recycled-fabric bags made in Cambodia). See full address details
Secondhand & Home & InteoriorsMulan Huage Jiajuli, Lane 1788 A Jiyang Lu, near Shangpu Xi Lu
Commonly referred to as an antiques market or a curio shop, Mulan Huage Furniture is more akin to a junkyard, with teetering towers of wooden chairs and tables looming over piles of Buddhas, often lying separately from their heads. Depending on what’s there when you visit, old-school tea leaf and biscuit tins (of the sort that Jonas Design turn into lamps and clocks) can be found from around 40RMB, small jewellery boxes hand-painted with the characters for double happiness are around 60RMB and classic wooden bird cages start at 100RMB. More expensive items are available too – a large teak chest of drawers has an asking price of 800RMB and a double-headed gramophone is available for 2,300RMB. Bargaining is advised, but bear in mind that you can ask Mr Sun, who runs Mulan Huage Furniture, for repairs, fresh licks of paint and even home delivery for your purchases. Be warned though, that while for some this is an Aladdin’s cave of goods; to others it really is just a heap of old junk. See full address details
Footwear101 Gaoan Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu
Milanese designer Charles Philip first got the idea for a 'Made in China' footwear brand when he asked a local cobbler to turn a favourite blue-and-white striped shirt into a shoe. Since then, CP's babouche-Prince Albert slipper hybrid have become the dandy's kicks of choice, stocked in luxe boutiques and department stores around the world and spotted on the likes of Rihanna. Mens' and womens' slippers are available in a rainbow of colours, prints and fabrics, with or without tassles, and they've also recently branched out into pointy-toed pumps, skater-style slip-ons and metallic plimsolls. Salivate over the ready-to-wear collection (from 1,000RMB) at their stylish Maison CP showroom, or consult with the in-house team for a custom creation.
See full address details
Footwear
208 Nanchang Lu, near Sinan Lu.
There’s a surfeit of shoemakers in Shanghai, but this small family-run enterprise – now in new Tianzifang digs – gets our vote; the owner’s family has been in the cobbling business for four generations. As well getting copies made of the extensive range of styles on display – from ballet flats to stilettos, smart brogues to chunky boots – you can bring in your own design (680RMB for a pair of Chloe-inspired gladiator sandals). Turnaround is a month or less despite excellent attention to detail. See full address details
Specialty foodUptown Records is undoubtedly the city’s finest vinyl store, but unless you’re a dedicated crate digger, it can be hard to summon up the enthusiasm to head into the Pingwu Lu basement and while away an afternoon there. That’s a much more attractive proposition at Uptown’s new Yongfu Lu outlet however, which is not only above ground but also features a range of imported beers to sup while you flick through potential additions to your record collection. Bottled beer offerings include Brooklyn East IPA (24RMB) and Young’s Double Chocolate Stout (22RMB), and there’s a handful of seating to sit on and enjoy while you listen.
See full address details
FashionL214, L’Avenue, 99 Xianxia Lu, near Zunyi Lu
With two stores in Shanghai, at the L’Avenue or Global Harbor malls, the grown-up sister brand to fashion giant H&M is a breath of fresh air in the city’s fast fashion scene. The shops’ main fare is stylish, clean-cut mens and womenswear that’s particularly good for the office and, as you’d expect from the H&M group, easily affordable. See full address details
Bikes & Outdoor gears 667 Changhua Lu, near Anyuan LuFactory Five is an absolute must-visit for fixed gear obsessives. Devotees flock to this bike-lover’s haven to drool over vintage frames, tinker with tools for free or just kick back and enjoy a beer with fellow cyclists. You can peruse recycled old China brands (3,500RMB/bike plus service), including timeless Forever (Yongjiu) and Phoenix (Fenghuang) frames, turning them into single or fixed gear customisable cruisers with the help of the friendly Factory Five team. They also sell a huge range of both locally produced and imported high quality goods and accessories, including their trademark light lattice-chain for 550RMB and waterproof Mission Workshop bags made in the USA (1,160RMB), plus organise regular events and parties.
See full address details
Home & Interior
232 Anfu Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu
The perfect antidote to IKEA, Nicole Teng’s sunny little showroom houses rough-round-the-edges, quirky and characterful homeware from colourful vintage cloth pieces (oven gloves, napkins, hats) to ceramics (lamps, plant-pots, crockery) daubed with childlike faces which hew closely to the raw and original aesthetic of the 1950s ‘Art Brut’ movement after which the brand is named. We particularly adore the reclaimed furniture (from 6,000RMB), re-upholstered to resemble distinct personalities from a grumpy general to a haughty queen. See full address details.
Designer
L116, First Floor, Xintiandi Style, 245 Madang Lu, near Zizhong Lu.
This achingly cool multi-brand concept shop makes up a huge dramatic corner of chic mall Xintiandi Style. The shop carries a range of best-selling designers from Europe, the US and Asia (many appearing in China for the first time), and last year introduced new Korean brands KYE, from Central St Martins graduate Kathleen Kye, and pushBUTTON, among others. The store features a dramatic interior, well-crafted window displays, impressive art adorning the walls and statement pieces of jewellery and fashion. As a result, Alter has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of Shanghai’s vibrant fashion scene. See full address details
