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Published on January 26, 2008

Fashion gurus may argue that chic doesn't come cheap, but I've received so many compliments for the lace-fringed blouse I picked up for a mere HK$60 (Bt260) at a stall in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay area, that I would argue that sometimes cheap can also be stylish.

A shopping haven for anyone with money, Hong Kong's streets are lined with flagship stores of such luxury brands as Dior, Louis Vuitton, Botegga Veneta and Maison Goyard, often in greater abundance than in major European capitals.

But there's much more to shopping than designer boutiques. The island is also a paradise for travellers without huge budgets, especially for the creative and stylish few who are prepared to spend time putting together chic outfits.

A few short decades ago, Hong Kong's garment industry was so good and affordable that people flew in just to shop. Today, with much of the manufacturing handled by mainland China, entrepreneurs have remodelled their businesses, upgrading cheap Chinese fashions so that they meet the standards expected by Hong Kong shoppers while keeping prices low.

At Causeway Bay, behind Kai Chiu walking street, which is lined with brand-name stores, there's a small alley where shoppers can find the latest fashions at a fraction of the retail price. The crowded space is best known for a stall selling lingerie. This is where I found that mauve blouse, as well as a black satin blouse and a small Chinese silk purse, all for less than $170. All kinds of accessories, from hairpins and ribbons to shoes and even T-shirts are available. English isn't spoken, so punch numbers into a calculator to get the message across.

Hong Kong's central area also has some great alleys to discover. Tucked away on Queen's Road near Wellington Street is Pottinger, a sloping alleyway with steps at either side, which is packed with small shops selling accessories, gifts and all kinds of clothes. This is where local seamstresses come to shop. During a recent trip over Halloween, many of the shops had stocked up on costumes, masks and some beautiful Chinese-style silk blouses.

Then walk along Des Voeux Street towards the Central MTR station, and look out for Li Yuan Street East and West, which run parallel to each other. These alleys are packed with the latest fashions at bargain prices and also feature some knockout bags and watches. It is a great place to pick up souvenirs, with good value Chinese-silk items such as tissue box covers, jewellery boxes, silk pyjamas, gold bangles, key chains and much more.

But the streets are not the only places to seek out cheap styles. Two nondescript stores - In&Out and In Fashion - are also packed with racks of clothes and sell knockoffs of the latest trends for around $64. On my last trip, I bought two dresses, one with a cardigan, as well as a simple green, plaid blouse and a pair of shorts for just $256.

Of course, the quality can't be compared to brands like U2, Giordano or even Bossini. So, if you're after things that last, head to the big stores during the sales period. Hong Kong offers the latest collections at hugely cut prices in summer, autumn, winter and spring to clear the stocks. If you hit the stores in the first few days of the sales period, you will get greater choices, however, if you hold off for a bit, you can experience the "very hot sales" where the stores bundle pieces together at even lower prices.

Some fashion stores also have factory outlets out in Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok. Esprit, for example, takes up the whole ground floor of a building on Sai Yeung Choi Street in Mong Kok. My friend snapped up a lovely pink sweater for $200 and I got a green silk, bias-cut, skirt for $90.

Even during the non-sales seasons, you'll find bargains at the Uniqlo and Muji stores on Causeway Bay's Matherson Street. Both stores are Japanese, but they offer affordable, simple fashions that always look good and are worth the money. Uniqlo's reversible two-toned fleece jacket is my latest purchase and it cost me $150, a fraction of what I would have paid for a similar garment at Marks and Spencer.

Sirin P Wongpanit

 Special to The Nation