Kuala Lumpur is reputable for its vibrant shopping scene. Tourism is a big industry in Malaysia, raking in billions in tourist revenue annually, hence many malls have sprouted over the years.
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Central Market is a shopping area dedicated to local arts and crafts. It sells a multitude of colourful batiks, the traditional dressing of ethnic Malay Malaysians and other souvenirs. Besides that, Central Market also sells sarees and cheongsams among other cultural legacies of Malaysia's diverse ethnic minorities. One can also find religious-motivated arts and other trinkets inspired by Buddhism and Hinduism. Traditional Malay craft in the form of local daggers (keris), beautifully embellished woodcarvings, traditional kites, songkets among other items. There are plans to evolve this place into an art colony.[1]
Petaling Street (Simplified Chinese: 茨厂街) The name is called ‘Chee Cheong Kai’ (Cantonese) which means starch factory street is reminiscent of the days where tapioca would be grounded here. This is the Chinatown of Malaysia, there are plenty of counterfeit luxury goods, clothes and shoes sold here. Asian fashion are sold here at cheap prices. Traditional Chinese medicines and China-imported books are aplenty in the Chinese bookstores the surrounding Petaling Steet. There are plenty of delicious Chinese food and delicacies and local fruits sold here. Haggling is necessary to obtain the best bargains. It is opened into the wee hours of the morning.
It is only opened once a week on Saturdays from 5 – 10pm. An interesting place to trawl for some casual attire, local products, and some local delicacies. The fashion featured here is more conservative as the products are targeted at the local Muslim Malay population. Nonetheless, this is the ideal place to buy silks and other quality materials. Many Malay fashion houses are located here. Prices here are cheap if one knows how to bargain. Colourful baju kurung and baju kebaya- the traditional clothing of ethnic Malays- can be found here. The headscarf are also sold here. Luxury fakes, T-shirts, jeans, crafts made of ceramics and pewter are ubiquitous at designated sections of this night market. There are a couple of shopping complexes located nearby.
This is the Little India of Malaysia.Traditionally the focal point of the Indian colony of Kuala Lumpur, there are plenty to see and buy here.
Bukit Bintang is the main designated retail artery of Kuala Lumpur. It has the highest concentration of malls in Kuala Lumpur. Besides modern upmarket retailers, this area also features night markets retailing arts and crafts, counterfeit goods among other souvenirs.
Malls that are categorized into classes are highlights more mainstream and patronized.
The Garden (upper) and Mid Valley Megamall (middle) are located in bustling Greater KL, along the fringes of the city proper. They are both connected by skybridges each catering to different segments of shoppers. The Gardens is an upscale mall hosting designer labels the likes of Louis Vuitton and Hugo Boss, it is anchored by Singapore-based Robinsons and Japanese retailer Isetan while Mid Valley Megamall caters to the mainly middle-class segment with high-street labels coexisting side-by-side with local retailers. The malls are well-patronised by locals. There are flea markets on weekends in Mid Valley Megamall, where arts and crafts, food, trinkets and souvenirs are sold.
Sunway Pyramid (middle) is a humongous Egyptian-themed retail mall nestled in a mixed integrated resort which features a wet/dry Wild West-inspired theme park. The retail podium can be reached through the Federal Highway and is located in Bandar Sunway. The mall has distinct Egyptian aesthetics including pyramids, sphinx, its walls in-scripted with hieroglyphics. The clothes sold here are more towards the young and trendy. The mall is zoned into various themed sections including Asian Avenue and Marrakesh. The brands sold here are a mix of high street brands like Dorothy Perkins and Coach with lesser-known local and regional brands. Malaysia's first ice-skating rink located here.
Bangsar Village (middle-upper) is located in Bangsar and positioned as a small upmarket neighborhood mall catering to the large expatriate population of Kuala Lumpur. Prices here are a notch higher by local standards.
Empire Gallery Subang (middle-upper) is an upmarket neighbourhood mall located at the outskirts of KL, in Subang Jaya. It can be reached by the Federal Highway from Kuala Lumpur. It is small in size, and features several international brands alongside upmarket local batik and clothings. It is anchored by a relatively small Tangs departmental store.
1 Utama is a (middle-upper) mall borders Kuala Lumpur in Petaling Jaya. It is defined as a large-scale neighbourhood mall largely occupied with locally grown and regional retail startups and establishments. This behemoth however also features American staples the likes of DKNY, Coach, Brooks Brothers, Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.