All things old China - books, anecdotes, stories, podcasts, factoids & ramblings from the author Paul French

Tai’s for Linens – Old Frenchtown Shopping

Posted: September 12th, 2016 | No Comments »

Tai’s for Linens – Mr C.T. Tai’s store opened around 1910-1912 on Route Prosper Paris in Shanghai’s Frenchtown (Tianping Road now) on the far western side of the French Concession close to Siccawei (Xujiahui now). “One price” I take it refers not to everything being one price (the contemporary meaning) but that tourists and Shanghailanders were guaranteed the same prices as locals (though probably unlikely in the actualite, as the French say). Tai’s main competition was the linen shops (and underwwear sellers) over on Yates Road (Shimen No.1 Road these days), known locally as “Pantie Alley”. The shop was a retail outlet for C.T. Tai & Sons (Manufacturers and Exporters), Embroidered Linens, who produced monogrammed handkerchiefs etc.

 

tais-linens-rte-prosper-paris-1930



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