How many of us have found ourselves in the tradition of late night shopping on the eve of Hari Raya; jostling the midnight crowd at our local bazaar Ramadan in search of the perfect First Day Raya outfit?
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This year, why not save yourself the stress of last-minute shopping and score some unique purchases while on holiday? Between exploring the sights and cuisines of your travel destination, get more out of your trip by shopping for Hari Raya (it’s in two months, fam!) items as well! Whether it is buying fabric in bulk to be made into curtains or garments, stocking up on Raya cookies for your guests or maybe even get some houseware pieces to beautify your house, these Raya essentials can be found at these 10 affordable places ? Happy shopping!
Malaysia
Malaysia lights up with excitement in the weeks leading to Hari Raya. From megamalls getting lavish makeovers with festive adornments to numerous bazaar Ramadan popping up on the streets, there are lots to buy and from almost anywhere in the country. You’re in for a festive treat if Malaysia is on your agenda because this wonderland has everything you’d possibly need and want for Hari Raya ?
1. Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur
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In the capital of Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman is the epicentre for bargain Hari Raya shopping. Jalan TAR, as it is popularly known are lined with small shops to bigger department stores that sell silk, lace, cotton and other exquisite textiles for cheap. It has back streets and lanes leading to the area around Jalan Masjid India, an adjacent street that is also well-loved for its assortment of small clothing stores and textile retailers.
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There are plenty of shops selling ready-made Baju Melayu, shawls of various styles, colours, lengths as well as home furnishings like cushion covers and curtains. The festive atmosphere is not to be missed especially on days closer to Hari Raya itself where shoppers are sure to flood Jalan TAR to snag the best deals for everything they need. Look out for vendors selling adorable assortments of cookies, locally known as Kuih Raya, that you can bring home to share with your guests during Eid itself!
2. Wisma Jakel, various outlets
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Not to be missed is another Malaysian staple is Wisma Jakel. Jakel is a textile haven with rolls of fabric ranging from chiffon, cotton, linen to even silk and songket. Jakel also has in-house services that can transform your textile of choice into beautiful custom-made curtains or even your new Raya clothes ?
Credit: Jakel on Facebook
As an extension to their famous textile gallery, Jakel too has a ready-to-wear-collection with a wide selection of Baju Melayu and Baju Kurung Modern – endorsed by popular Malaysian celebrities like Aaron Aziz, Nabil Ahmad and Hanis Zalikha! - from various exclusive fabrics and stunning designs.
Address: Lot 159, Jakel Square, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For full outlet listing, click here.
Opening Hours: 10:15am to 8:30pm, daily.
[P.S. Planning to do last-minute shopping in Johor Bahru to find that perfect Raya outfit? Check out this list of must-visit JB shops!]
Vietnam
From the luscious rice fields in the north to the cascading bustle of the Mekong Delta in the south, Vietnam’s landscapes are fascinating sights to explore. Beyond the scenic views, Vietnam’s shopping appeals are not to be missed. Its high-quality silk and bespoke tailoring may just be on your agenda the next time you visit Vietnam and here are where to find the best deals!
3. Hang Gai Street, Hanoi
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Hang Gai Street is the best place in Hanoi to shop for stunning silk apparel and home furnishings. Also known as Silk Street, the street is lined with fashion boutiques and local tailor shops where you can custom-make your new Eid outfits. Do be discerning to the quality and price of the silk on display. You may be paying peanuts for a low-quality material that may not last more than two washes ?.
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Aside from boutiques and tailor shops, Hang Gai Street is also home to art galleries and souvenir shops where you can easily pick up lovely home ornaments.
4. Hoi An Silk Village, Hoi An
The enchanting and serene city of Hoi An is arguably a tailoring mecca. This old town has about 400 tailor shops dotting its alleyways with specialised galleries offering classes on top of retail premises for you to learn about the silk-making processes as well as purchase silks for sale.
Credit: Hoi An Silk Village on Facebook
Hoi An Silk Village is a great, albeit on the pricier end, option for shoppers looking for luxury Vietnamese textiles, high-end suits and dresses. A tranquil getaway, this traditional craft village display a wide variety of silk that are all priced and graded, so it is unlikely bargaining is allowed. Yet, you don’t have to worry about authenticity here. How luxurious would it be to have your new clothes for raya be made from this exquisite material!
Credit: Hoi An Silk Village on Facebook
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Indonesia
Indonesia is a sultry kaleidoscope of sights: volcanic summits, mouth-watering cuisines and a shopping paradise just to name some. From intricate kebaya, songket, to silk, Indonesia’s bevvy of textile shops has the fabric you are looking for at great quality and low price.
5. Malioboro Street, Yogyakarta
The ancient city of Yogyakarta is a tourist hotspot with temples to explore and shopping districts to encounter. In the centre of the largest tourist area is Malioboro Street, Yogyakarta’s one-stop shopping district.
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Malioboro Street is a single street that is crammed with kiosks, department stores and markets selling batiks, traditional Javanese sculpture, artwork, and food. Sidewalks on both sides of the road are crowded with small stalls that sell a variety of merchandise. Decorative houseware are aplenty: vases, plastic flowers, table runners and cushion covers. Everything you need to dress up your home for Hari Raya can be found along this street.
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Here is something special to wear on Hari Raya: authentic Indonesian-made kebaya and batik shirts! These gorgeous garments are sure to set you apart from everyone else back home and make for an awesome souvenir to remember your time in Yogyakarta with ?
6. Batik Komar, Bandung
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For a little more traditional flair to your Raya outfits this year, consider getting Indonesia’s gorgeous batik as the main material! And there is nowhere better than the capital of West Java, Bandung to get the best batik. There are two types of batik, batik cap (printed batik where motifs are stamped onto the cloth repeatedly) and batik tulis (hand-drawn batik where motifs are drawn onto the cloth by hand using the canting technique), with the latter being more expensive than the former.
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Get your batik haul over at Batik Komar! Geometric patterns and motifs of flowers, leaves, birds make up the elegant and delicate details of the prints, bringing a modern and contemporary element to the design. Batik Komar also has Batik-making workshops for the artsy travellers.
Credit: Rumah Batik Komar on Facebook
Not sure how to you want your batik outfit to turn out? Get some in-house inspirations with Batik Komar’s own designs that are fashionable, sophisticated and downright beautiful ?
Addresses:
Showroom: Jalan Sumbawa No.22 Bdg 022.423.7688
Workshop: Jalan Cigadung Raya Timur 1 No.5 Bandung 022.251.4788
[P.S. For other Bandung shopping hot spots, check out this long list!]
7. Mayestik Market, Jakarta
The capital of Indonesia never disappoints, and you’ll also be able to source out for Raya essentials without leaving too far from the city. Mayestik Market is one of the popular markets in Jakarta and known for all things crafty including a huge range of fabric and haberdashery. The market is set over multiple levels, but the real magic awaits on the top floor where you will find highly skilled tailors and seamstresses working their trade with grit. They create stunning bespoke garments that feature intricate detailing.
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After browsing and purchasing fabrics from the lower floors, you too can bring it to the tailors and have a custom-made outfit! It is best to take along a picture of a garment you would like copied for their reference.
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These lovely decorative plates make really lovely platters for when you’re serving delectable delights during Raya, wouldn’t you agree? They are colourful and have a variety of eye-catching designs that would match well to the festive vibes.
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The marketplace also sells candies for cheap so you can bring a haul back to feed the hungry kids that are sure to stop over your house during Syawal.
Address: Jl Tebah 3, 1 Kebayoran Baru Jakarta Selatan 12120
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm, daily.
8. Tanah Abang Market, Jakarta
Another popular area in Jakarta for all your textile and clothing shopping needs, Tanah Abang Market (or Pasar Tanah Abang, as it's known locally), is located in the subdistrict of Tanah Abang (if it wasn't obvious from the name ?) in Central Jakarta.
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This multistorey complex is massive and filled to the brim with stores selling cloth, lace, and other tailoring needs, but also ready-t0-wear clothes, shoes, caps, bedding, and so much more! The complex is made up a few blocks, so make sure to get your bearings and not get lost in the maze of shops! A lot of the items are sold at wholesale prices, but try your luck at bargaining to get an even cheaper price ?
#HHWT Tip: Traffic around the area can get pretty crazy around peak hours, so it's probably a good idea to come early (as early as 8.00am) and leave by around 3.30pm to avoid the evening jam.
Address: Jl. K.H. Mas Mansur, Kp. Bali, Tanahabah, Kota Jakarta Pusat, 10240 Indonesia
Opening hours: 8am - 4.30pm
9. Thamrin City, Jakarta
Less than half an hour drive away from Tanah Abang Market is Thamrin City, a mall that is also a hotspot for raya shopping.
Credit: Thamrin City, Jakarta on Facebook
This mall has plenty of shops selling clothes, garments, textiles and other raya clothing needs. It'll be easy to spend hours there as you peruse the stores and choose which cloth you want or which batik kebaya you like most ?
Credit: Elisa L. Laiman on Facebook
Address: Jalan K.H. Mas Mansur, Kb. Melati, Tanah Abang, Kota Jakarta Pusat, 10230 Indonesia
Opening hours: 9am - 10pm daily
Mumbai, India
10. Mangaldas Market
Home to the Bollywood movie industry, Mumbai twinkles with charm with all it has to offer and spoilt you with. Mumbai has sprawling wholesale markets where stalls are filled to the brim with a diverse assortment of fabrics. You know you can’t go wrong shopping where the locals frequent over at Mangaldas Market!
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Situated along the bustling Crawford market, Mangaldas Market is one of the most organized fabric markets in India with several shops lining various intersecting lanes. This vibrant market is where you can get bedazzled linens, raw cotton, ready-made intricate dupattas or simple fabrics to be made into whatever your heart fancy.
Address: 66, Kantilal M Sharma Street, Lohar Chawl, Kalbadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400002, India
Opening hours: 11am – 9pm, daily.
Seoul, South Korea
From one traditional market to another, there is nothing more special than to delve deep into the labyrinth of the local culture and seek out amazing experiences you couldn’t find anywhere else.
11. Kwangjang Market
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Located in Seoul, Kwangjang Market has been around for over 100 years with a prolific history of being one of the longest standing markets as well as one of the largest! Being a textile market, the market’s second floor is dedicated to selling bed sheets, Korean silk, satin, cotton, polyester and any type of fabric that you may need. The locals typically buy fabric to make their own traditional garment called Hanbok, so take a leaf out of their book and select some gorgeous ones for your own Hari Raya clothes.
Credit: Alex Barlow on Facebook
As South Korea experiences seasonal weathers, the fabrics too are seasonal so check if they are suitable for the climate back home! There are smaller alleys that go off from the main walkway and in there you will find shops that sell sewing accessories like buttons, lace, thread as well as little knick-knacks.
12. JAJU Store
Add a little Korean pizzazz to your home for Raya this year with household products from JAJU. This lifestyle-concept store boasts an impressive variety of tableware and cookware that are tastefully minimalistic at affordable prices. Here in JAJU, there are great housewarming gifts and treats for yourself from delicate lamps and clocks to pretty bowls and plates.
Credit: JAJU on Facebook
You could do an entire table makeover with these gorgeous kitchenwares with prettily-coloured bowls and plates or those elegant and smooth wooden bowls and platters for a chic finish.
Credit: JAJU on Facebook
JAJU is often referred to as Korea’s Muji so you can expect similar household goods and accessories. The best-sellers here are the long-handled Korean spoons (that comes in various lengths and sizes, by the way!) and the banchan dishes, small saucers to usually hold a single serving of side dish. These would be really cute to serve your Raya guests with!
Credit: JAJU on Facebook
Or get some bakeware just in time for you to whip out your very own Raya cookies! And don’t forget those cake tiers to serve your assortment of kek lapis, kek kukus and the likes on too!
Address: 536-16 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 9am to 10pm, daily.
Skip the typical souvenirs and consider getting fabric that can be made into your new clothes for Hari Raya for you and your family! This way you can preserve your holiday memories into something more tangible and practical ? Plus, shopping this early before Hari Raya is a great way to eliminate the stress of last-minute hustling and jostling with the crowds ✌