Top 12 Places to Buy or Tailor Make a Qipao in Shanghai
Qipao or Cheongsam is a kind of traditional Chinese dress, that shows the beauty of oriental females. Nowadays, Qipao evolved into an iconic piece of fashion that's part of Chinese culture.
Many tourists traveling to China would like to custom-made a Qipao dress either for themselves or for their friends as gifts. In Shanghai, there are many dress shops where customers can get tailor-made Qipao.
1. Changle Road (长乐路)- For Traditional Style Qipao
For very traditional-style Qipao, Changle Road, which is between Shaanxi North Road and Maoming South Road, is the ideal place. It is ranked as “a street of cheongsams”, and the cheongsams, which are made by experienced tailors of Old Shanghai, boast good workmanship. However, they were a little bit expensive.
2. Maoming Road （茂名路）- For a Qipao of Fashionable Style
For that fashionable and fancy Qipao, Maoming Road, which is between Huaihai Road and Nanchang Road, serves fashionable cheongsams, especially for young girls. Though they are also very expensive, the workmanship is worth it.
3. Jinzhiyule Qipao Shop (金枝玉叶旗袍店)
It makes both traditional and improved Qipao. Its owner is a stylist, who tends to borrow ideas from international fashion designers and put fashionable elements into making Qipao. Its patterns and sequins are all embroidered by hand.
- Price: 988 Yuan to 4800 Yuan
- Address: No. 72, Maoming South Road (茂名南路72号)
- Telephone: 021-64314398, 021-54651768
4.2002 on the Sea Cheongsam Shop (“2002海上”旗袍店)
The stylist aims to create fashionable cheongsams and put trendy elements into the design. It’s more suitable for young girls.
- Price: about 1000 Yuan
- Address: No. 5,Tianzi Fang, Taikang Road (泰康路田子坊5号)
- Telephone: 021-54651580
5. Old Shanghai Cheongsam Shop (老上海旗袍店)
The shop can be ranked as the most fashionable shop among the cheongsam Shops. The colors of its cheongsams are mainly simple but elegant, such as white, cream-colored, and navy blue.
- Price: ranging from 1,800 to 5,000 Yuan
- Address： No. 201, Changle Road(长乐路201号)
- Telephone: 021-54049576
6. Ligulong Shanghai (丽古龙)
Ligulong Cheongsam store has a long history and specializes in making old Shanghai-style cheongsams. The special handmade embroidery they use is from a local workshop. The Cheongsam they made has almost no zippers, using hand-made Chinese frogs for fastening the front of a Cheongsam.
- Price: ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 Yuan
- Address： No. 205, Changle Road (长乐路205号)
- Telephone: 021-54031515
7. LONG FENG(龙凤旗袍）
Its cheongsam is improved conforming to the times, such as the change of length and collar. Among them are the modified modern cheongsam, Tang suit, and lab coat, which mix Chinese traditions and patterns, satirical humor, and fashion sense. The tailors are good at making traditional knotted buttons or frog buttons used on qipaos, they come in various animal and floral designs.
- Price: ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 Yuan
- Address: No. 207-209, North of Shanxi Road, Jingan District (静安区陕西北路207-209号)
- Telephone: 021-62790017
8. Feng He Xiang Cheongsam Shop(凤和祥旗袍)
The styles of cheongsam in the store are more than 50. If you don't know how to start on the dazzling cheongsam, you might as well start from the product catalog to find your favorite style, and then try it on. If you think the price is over budget in the high-end cheongsam shops, this tailor shop would be a good choice.
- Price: ranging from 800 to 3,000 Yuan
- Address: No. 192, 1st Floor, 399 Lujiabang Road, Huangpu District(黄浦区陆家浜路399号1楼192号)
- Telephone: 021-62790017
9. Man Lou Lan (蔓楼兰)
As one of the most famous cheongsam brands in Shanghai, this cheongsam shop features a wide range of styles, and exquisite Suzhou-style embroidery silk fabrics. Refined improved cheongsam has high requirements for design, cutting, and sewing.
- Price: ranging from 800 to 3,000 Yuan
- Address: No.70 South Maoming Road, Huangpu District (茂名南路70号). Many branch shops of Man Lou Lan open in the big shopping mall.
- Telephone: 021-64674659
10. HANART (瀚艺旗袍店)
Besides traditional cheongsams, the shop boasts handmade embroidered cheongsams which are made by experienced stylists with ages of over 60 years. The cheongsams are embroidered delicately by hand.
- Price: ranging from 800 Yuan to 1500 Yuan for traditional cheongsams; from 2800 Yuan to 10,000 Yuan for embroidered cheongsams
- Address: No. 217 and 221, Changle Road (长乐路217、221号)
- Telephone: 021-54044727
11. Shanghai South Bund Fabric Market （上海南外滩轻纺面料市场）
The overwhelming three-floor fabric market gathering with hundreds of tailor shops. Mainly sells silk, cotton, wool, hemp, and chemical fiber. The market brings together a group of designers and skilled tailors, for customizing any kinds of suits, coats, gowns, Tang suits, cheongsam, and shirts with great quality and service. Some salespeople can speak simple English, so don’t worry about the communication.
- Price: range from hundreds to thousands
- Location: 399 Lujiabang Road, Huangpu District
- Business hours: 9:00-18:00
12. ROYAL GOLDTHREAD (庄容旗袍)
The Royal Goldthread makes custom Qipao that integrates modern fashion and traditional Shanghai style. The special cheongsam was made of plate gold embroidery which was used for emperor robes in ancient times.
- Price: ranging from 2,000 Yuan to 10,000 Yuan
- Address: No. 241, Changle Road, Huangpu District (长乐路241号)
- Telephone: 021-54043496
How Much Does a Qipao Cost and How Long to Be Made
The tailor shops' prices generally range from 800 Yuan to more than 10,000 Yuan, depending on fabric, design patterns, and time for handwork.
Bespoke a cheongsam needs to take more than 20 detailed measurements, cutting, pattern design, hand sewing, custom-made frog buttons, and some involving handmade embroidery. It properly takes 1-3 months to complete including time for fitting to get your custom goods to fit “just right”.