Changle Road

Starting at Ruijinyi Road and stretching all the way down to Chongqing Road S., Changle Road is dotted with small boutiques that have become a hot spot for Shanghai's young and hip fashionistas.

In the past it was the road where export items could be bought at good prices. But with Shanghai's homegrown designers emerging on the scene, a few have set up shops along this road. They offer sophisticated fashion gear and accessories as well as funky underground street wear.

There are several shops worth exploring. They include Jenny Ji's exquisite La Vie and a small boutique called "The Thing" that sells street wear with provocative graphic designs. Another is Eno, a concept store offering products through collaboration with emerging artists from all over the country.

With rents here skyrocketing, Changle Road is considered upscale and hip in contrast to nearby shopping precincts.

1. La Vie

Address: 306 Changle Rd., near Ruijinyi Rd.

Opening Hour: 10:30am-9:30pm

Tel: 021-6384 7378

Jenny Ji, a native Shanghainese designer, started her career by opening a shop at Tian Zi Fang, the city's famed art hub on Taikang Road, back in 2002. Now her brand La Vie is renowned as a leading local fashion brand distinguished by its adherence to a fusion of Eastern design and Western lines and cuts. It appeals to Chinese shoppers seeking cosmopolitan innovation and expat customers looking for Chinese elements with a touch of chic. Each of Jenny's collection is based on personal taste and she coordinates colors, patterns and details accordingly. Chinese chess elements inspire Ji's new fall/winter collection with a more masculine and unisex theme in deep blues, greys, browns and blacks. The clothing and accessories cost from 1,700 to 4,000 yuan (US$248.9-585.7).

2. Eno

Address: 139-23 Changle Rd., between Ruijinyi Rd. and Chengdu Rd.

Opening Hour: 10am-10pm

Tel: 021-5306 6433

Eno is a fast-growing original lifestyle brand that supports a rapidly developing creative movement. It showcases and promotes local designers and a unique T-shirt culture among young people. With a 250-square-meter concept store on Changle Road, Eno designs, manufactures and retails limited-edition apparel, footwear and accessories in collaboration with emerging artists and creative talents from all over China. The new collection "Culture Clash" mixes American preppy with a Chinese touch. The T-shirts are reasonably priced between 188 yuan and 208 yuan, and heavy winter outfits are around 1,200 yuan.

3. Market street

Address: 190 Changle Road, near Chengdu Rd

Opening Hour: Depends on the shops

There is a special underground market on Changle Road which is very popular with teenagers who are keen to spend less money but also catch the new trends. Here you can discover stores with items to suit your whims and needs, including fashionable clothing and accessories, shoe stores, tattooists and nail and beauty salons. There are toys and model car shops as well as others that sell comics and associated animation products. Most shops are small with an area of 5 to 10 square meters, stacked with goods and decorated to appeal to a niche customer base. They sell stylish and fashionable goods at prices that match the quality.

4. Corade

Address: 59 Changle Rd., near Chongqing Rd.

Opening Hour: 11am-9:30pm

Tel: 13061753442

Stephen Xuan, 30, opened his Corade design business two years ago after deciding to concentrate on sporty and street fashion. The front of the shop is distinctive with a white door covered with icon stickers, and inside is a multi-colored floor. Buyers looking to be trendy and active will find many cutting-edge fashion items here, especially skating related products such as T-shirts, sweaters, caps, pants, accessories, jackets, knits and woven at reasonable prices that range from 1 yuan (icon stickers) to 699 yuan (winter jackets). You can also log onto www.coradeclothing.com to find more information, and other products that might take your fancy. Xuan also has four other branches, on No. 10, Lane 632 Yanan Road M., 680 Weihai Road, 50 Tianaizhi Road and 928 Wenhui Road.