Originally Posted by
trueblu
Useful and good to know. Not familiar with the stores you mention, but I've almost stopped looking for signs in English, so perhaps don't even notice if they are there. My wife is looking forward to a visit to the US, and I think she's going there with an empty suitcase to fill up...
However, for myself: I like well-crafted/made goods. My (perhaps incorrect) reasoning, is that since labour is cheaper here, things that are expensive in the west (i.e. handmade) should be less expensive here, other things (e.g. raw materials) being equal. A good example is truly bespoke suits. But even here, I've heard one really needs to look out for fake quality/brand cloth etc, and that quality isn't that great in the craftsmanship (not tried it out yet myself). But having said that, if one finds a tailor one likes, should get a decent suit for well under half the price of UK. But that is still no Yaxiou bargain.
tb
For all my time in China, my primary shopping for personal items such as shoes, clothes, nice towels, etc. has always been back in the USA. Better quality items (even the ones made in China), better fit, better prices...and a better shopping experience. I rarely shop in China for these sorts of things except for an occasional filler or necessity (lose a coat or scarf, need a hurried replacement, etc.). I loathe shopping anywhere, but in China it's a particularly painful experience for a variety of reasons.
As for tailors, the best custom tailors in Beijing tend to not be in markets. Some of them don't even have storefronts but do house calls for fittings. Their cards tend to be passed around by expats so their business is word of mouth...and most of them don't speak English. And yes, their pricing is above Yaxiu market and 3.3 and they are accustomed to using customer's fabric from elsewhere. For a shop-based location where English is spoken and which I think has some nice fabrics, have you consulted Senli & Frye (appointment only, no walk-ins)? Last I knew, they were still in the general Lufthansa Center area. Try googling and see if a phone number comes up.