The Fabric Market
2014-10-09
Last week my roommate, her friend, and I took a taxi down to Beijing's fabric market on the southwest side of the city. It was the first time I'd ever been there, and let me just say that Muxuyuan is not the prettiest part of town by any standards. Outside, roads become improvised flea markets as vendors sell seafood next to mounds of trash. Small men weave through the traffic squeezing over-sized bundles of bulk items back and forth. The day I went, rain clouds sporadically showered five-minute showers, so things appeared especially dingy.
But once inside, the colors and materials all carried a light of their own. It was one of those moments that felt like seeing for the very first time. You know that feeling when a color, like red, sits next to another color, like blue, and the combination is profound in a way that's childish. But also amazing.
And I got to meet my roommate's favorite shopkeeper, who could tell you anything about any fabric, and he gave such decent prices and knew exactly how much fabric one should get for a skirt or shirt or dress. He was just a brilliant craftsman and obviously so dedicated to his work.
Even in a city I've known for so long, surprises are waiting just within reach. I always forget that.
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