iShop Paris Cotton Singlets Company

Amidst the many malls and retail shops in Causeway Bay, one shop at Pak Sha Road stands out. Paris Cotton Singlets Company, located on the second floor of a nondescript office building, is one of the few traditional craft shops left in the city, selling knitted woollen sweaters and scarves. The shop has been around for about sixty years, dating back to the days when knitting cold wear was a favourite family past time. “Handmade knitwear was very durable,” says Mr Cheng, the owner of Paris Cotton Singlets Co. “Old, ill-fitting knitwear could be easily taken apart and re-straighten into yarn after soaking in hot water. So, a ball of high-quality yarn could easily last a lifetime.” According to Mr Cheng, the 1970s and 80s were the heydays of woollen knitwear. Back then, yarn shops could be found on many street corners.

Today, Mr Cheng and his second daughter work hard to impart knitting skills to a new generation of knitting hobbyists. They come to the shop, gather around the large craft table in the shop to knit and chit-chat, just like in the old days.