Sham Shui Po Themed Streets Guide
Beyond Cheung Sha Wan Road Fashion Street, the Sham Shui Po district features a unique collection of themed streets, each specializing in specific trades and crafts. These authentic commercial streets create a comprehensive shopping ecosystem where fashion, electronics, crafts, and traditional trades intersect, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into Hong Kong's working commercial culture.
Button Street (Ki Lung Street) - 鈕釦街
Specialty and Character
Primary Focus: Buttons, zippers, lace, and haberdashery supplies
Number of Shops: 50+ specialized suppliers
Operating Hours: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Monday-Saturday)
Walking Distance from Fashion Street: 3-5 minutes
Ki Lung Street, known as "Button Street," represents Hong Kong's garment industry heritage through its concentration of haberdashery suppliers. These shops serve fashion designers, tailors, craft enthusiasts, and garment manufacturers seeking everything from basic plastic buttons to premium horn and shell buttons, industrial zippers, decorative trims, and specialty fasteners.
What You'll Find
Button Varieties: Plastic, metal, wood, shell, horn, fabric-covered, and specialty buttons in thousands of styles, colors, and sizes. Many shops offer custom button creation and bulk ordering for commercial buyers.
Zippers and Fasteners: Standard and specialty zippers including waterproof, heavy-duty, and decorative options. Industrial fasteners, snaps, hooks, and specialty closures for professional garment construction.
Lace and Trims: Extensive selection of lace, ribbons, binding tape, elastic, and decorative trims. Both machine-made and handcrafted options available in traditional and contemporary styles.
Shopping Tips
Minimum Orders: Most shops accommodate small retail purchases, though bulk pricing available for larger quantities (typically 100+ pieces).
Custom Services: Many suppliers offer custom color matching, special sizing, and bespoke button creation for unique projects.
Professional Advice: Shop owners possess extensive knowledge about garment construction and can recommend appropriate fasteners and trims for specific projects.
Fabric Street (Tung Chau Street Temporary Market) - 布料街
Market Overview
Current Location: Tung Chau Street Temporary Market (relocated 2023)
Number of Stalls: 50+ fabric specialists
Operating Hours: Morning to afternoon (varies by vendor)
Specialty: Deadstock textiles, custom fabrics, sewing supplies
The Sham Shui Po Fabric Market, relocated to Tung Chau Street in 2023, continues Hong Kong's textile trading tradition. This market features deadstock fabrics from local factories, imported textiles, and specialty materials serving designers, tailors, craft makers, and fashion students seeking quality fabrics at wholesale prices.
Fabric Categories
Deadstock Textiles: Factory surplus and end-of-line fabrics offering premium materials at significant discounts. These deadstock fabrics often include high-quality cottons, silks, and specialty blends originally destined for expensive garments.
Traditional Chinese Fabrics: Silk brocades, cheongsam materials, and traditional patterns serving both local customers and international buyers seeking authentic Chinese textiles for cultural garments and decorative projects.
Modern Synthetic Materials: Performance fabrics, waterproof materials, stretch textiles, and contemporary blends suitable for activewear, outdoor gear, and modern fashion applications.
Market Culture
Bargaining Expected: Unlike fixed-price Fashion Street shops, fabric market vendors expect negotiation, particularly for larger purchases or multiple fabric selections.
Cash Transactions: Market operates primarily on cash basis with prices quoted per yard or meter depending on fabric type and vendor preference.
Seasonal Availability: Inventory changes frequently based on factory production cycles, with winter fabrics appearing in autumn and summer materials available in spring.
Electronics Street (Apliu Street) - 鴨寮街
Market Characteristics
Operating Hours: Noon - Midnight daily
Specialty: Electronics, gadgets, vintage items
Market Style: Outdoor stalls and indoor shops
Connection: 5-minute walk from Fashion Street
Apliu Street, Hong Kong's famous electronics market, complements the Fashion Street shopping experience with its extensive selection of gadgets, electronics, vintage items, and technological accessories. This market attracts both locals seeking electronic bargains and tourists interested in unique finds.
Product Categories
Mobile Accessories: Phone cases, chargers, cables, and specialty electronics accessories often at significantly lower prices than retail electronics stores.
Vintage Electronics: Retro gadgets, vintage cameras, old mobile phones, and electronic collectibles appealing to technology enthusiasts and collectors.
Computer Components: Cables, adapters, small electronic components, and computer accessories serving both professional and hobbyist needs.
Additional Themed Areas
Toy Street (Fuk Wing Street)
Specialty: Wholesale toys, games, and children's items
Target Market: Small retailers, parents, toy collectors
Price Range: Significantly below retail toy store pricing
Nam Cheong Street
Specialty: Wholesale haberdashery, ribbons, and decorative supplies
Relationship: Complements Button Street with additional trim and decoration options
Professional Focus: Serves professional decorators, event planners, and craft businesses
Planning Your Themed Streets Tour
Suggested Walking Route
Start: Sham Shui Po MTR Station Exit C1
Route: Fashion Street → Button Street → Fabric Market → Electronics Street
Total Walking Time: 15-20 minutes between all areas
Recommended Duration: 3-4 hours for comprehensive exploration
Practical Tips
Language Considerations: Basic Cantonese phrases helpful, though many vendors speak functional English for commercial transactions.
Payment Methods: Cash preferred across all themed streets, though some larger Fashion Street shops accept credit cards.
Shopping Bags: Bring reusable bags for purchases, as environmental consciousness and practical transport become important with multiple shopping areas.
Peak Hours: Mid-morning to mid-afternoon busiest; early morning or late afternoon offer quieter browsing conditions.
Cultural and Economic Significance
These themed streets represent Hong Kong's unique commercial organization where traditional trades maintain distinct geographic concentrations. This clustering creates efficiency for professional buyers while preserving specialized knowledge and competitive pricing within each trade sector.
The proximity of Fashion Street to these specialized suppliers demonstrates Hong Kong's integrated approach to garment and textile industries, where manufacturers, designers, and retailers can access comprehensive resources within a compact geographic area.
For visitors, these themed streets offer authentic insight into Hong Kong's working commercial culture, far removed from typical tourist shopping experiences. The concentration of traditional trades alongside modern commercial practices creates a unique environment where historical continuity meets contemporary business efficiency.
Whether seeking professional supplies for garment construction, craft materials for creative projects, or simply experiencing Hong Kong's authentic commercial districts, the Sham Shui Po themed streets provide an unparalleled window into the city's industrial and commercial heritage.