Fashion Trends in Guangzhou China

When I visited Guangzhou recently I was surprised to find how westernized and casual the fashion trends were. 

The locals who frequented the market place in the centre of Guangzhou were casually dressed in dresses, trousers, hot pants, shorts and simple blouses and tee shirts. The people in Guangzhou could have been air lifted from China Town in Sydney Australia where I come from.

Chinese citizens from out side of Guangzhou city are of the opinion that this city is lacking in historical and cultural depth and that the fashion trends are somewhat lacking as well. This view is held despite Guangzhou’s  rich cultural  inheritance of over 2000 years which has recently being unearthed in the old tomb of the Nanyue King of the western Han Dynasty, and other ancient sites, such as the Chen Temple.

 Geographically Guangzhou is isolated from the rest of China by mountainous peaks and is located not too far from the westernized Hong Kong.  Its early contact to the outside western world has resulted in its unique way of life leading to a more westernized lifestyle, fashion trends, liberal ideas, distinctive cuisine, commerce, trade and tremendous wealth.

The temperature when I visited in July was in the mid to high 30’s (^OC), very humid, and there were sudden heavy tropical showers in the afternoon.  The climate was hot and sticky and the local people dressed for comfort more than for fashion trends. The best months to holiday in Guangzhou are October and November or April and May. The typhoon season is summer which is from June to September Guangzhou and this is when this sub-tropical climate’s humidity levels are at their highest.

The favourite fashion trends with the young women and girls appeared to be shorts or hot pants and light tops to keep them cool. Older women wore loose fitting trousers and tops, or simple dresses. Men wore shorts and tee shirts.  It was quite rare to see men in suits in the streets. The only ones I saw were in the hotels and were probably business men visiting Guangzhou.

Children like children everywhere wore simple clothes to keep them cool, and enjoy tasty treats.

What puzzled me most about the fashion trends I saw was that most of the fabrics worn by the locals were man-made synthetic materials. Also the majority of the clothes I saw for sale at the markets were made in synthetic fabrics. I personally find these synthetic fabrics hot and sweaty to wear because they do not breathe. I was unable to wear any of my own clothes made of synthetic fabric in Guangzhou and I really cannot understand how a whole city of people living in such a hot sticky climate managed to keep cool in all those synthetic materials. 

The shoes also seemed to be made out of synthetic materials which sweat and do not stretch when your feet become hot and swollen. The men seemed to wear sneakers and the women synthetic sandals. High platform shoes seemed to be the favourite fashion trends with the girls and young women. 

English is only spoken by a small percentage of people in Guangzhou so it is a good idea to carry your hotel's business card with you when you go out. Have the names of your destinations clearly written down in Chinese by the hotel staff so that you can   ask for directions if necessary. Also have a few phrases written down for shopping, such as how much does this cost? Or where is the toilet? However a lot of educated younger people do have some basic English language and most staff at hotels, bars and restaurants do speak satisfactory English, so the best thing to do  if you are  lost is to call into a hotel to ask directions.

I experienced three levels of shopping in Guangzhou. The upmarket brands such as New Balance, Nike and Versace where I found the prices to be about the same as in Sydney; the bargain stores which offer cheap Chinese made products; and the counterfeit stores which sell fake imitations of leading fashion trends and brands.

 
Tourists typically come to Guangzhou to shop and eat. Guangzhou is renowned for its   huge markets specializing in nearly any sort product made in China, such as Chinese tea, herbs, garments, watches, electronics and toys. Guangzhou is known for being up with the fashion trends and offering cheaper versions of products and brands available on the international markets. Guangzhou is a shoppers' paradise with loads of good quality products at affordable prices. You will be surprised to discover how low the real cost is for most products made in China. If you are looking for up to date fashion trends, the Baima Clothes Market, World Trade Mall and Teemall are the best places to shop.

But buyer beware!  There appears to be two price rules – one rule for the locals and another rule for the tourists. The prices on the majority of items are not clearly labelled and if you ask about the price the calculator is produced to calculate a “special” price. However I found that the price is higher than those found in Sydney and who is to know if the product is real or faux.

If you are approached by a hawker on the streets, beware because they will probably take you to a counterfeit store. Sometimes you may be really happy with your purchase and the price you pay, but don’t forget it is not under guarantee and there is warranty provided if something goes wrong with it.