19 Nov Raise the Red Lampshade!

In our endless quest to discover the most interesting, unsung attractions of our favorite city for our personally hosted Hong Kong walks, we often find ourselves pausing to admire the vast landscape of consumable commodities which surrounds, indeed threatens to devour us, with its variety and plentitude.

Yeah, we like to go shopping.

Not just any shopping, though. I am always on the alert for things to buy that have local flavor, that are Made in Hong Kong. Things that have some connection to this place, and this culture.

Even though Hong Kong is a much touted “Shoppers Paradise”, that’s not always easy. Hong Kong is awash in designer brands and luxury items, but the everyday local treasures aren’t always visible at first glance.

That’s why I’ve compiled my own lists of shops and stores that “think locally.”

Some you may already have heard of, like the terrific hip housewares and lifestyle store G.O.D.

These guys have a terrific eye for Hong Kong design, and a great sense of humor too (their store name is even a Cantonese pun–jyu ho di means “Live a little better”). I love their notebooks and stationery decorated with photos of Hong Kong building facades.

I also like to introduce our Little Adventures in Hong Kong clients to the stores and shops where Hong Kong folks buy their life’s necessities. Everyday household items like a handmade toilet brush, or a woven straw carrying basket ring with authentic beauty. In hardware stores, you will also find classics like the famous Hong Kong red plastic lampshade.

Yes, it’s the same one you see hanging over the fruits and veggies in all the open air markets. It makes a great souvenir of the Hong Kong streets, and it only costs about $3.50 USD in any hardware store.

(The lamps are 100% made and designed in Hong Kong by the Red-A Star Industrial Company).

This is the kind of Hong Kong item that really appeals to my inner shopper. (I also love the cheap and cheerful “rice grain” china, the beautifully labelled sauces by local purveyor Pat Chun, and the wonderous range of Chinese and Japanese cookware sold in the basement of the marvellous Wing On department store.)

These are the things we love to put in our shopping bags here at Little Adventures in Hong Kong (and of course we are carrying our own cloth bags now that the government has levied an environmental tax on those nasty plastic ones!)

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