Way to Russia Talk Lounge

darthvader · WayToRussified Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 378

"Locations" of the best discount winter clothing store/market in Moscow? Warm, fashionable, inexpensive jackets + winter shoes?

Any ideas?

Thanks

greg222 · VIP Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 522

I don't know that it's the best but this one's definitely worth a visit. I assume you'll be going to the Izmailovsky Park souvenir market. Head around the back of that and you'll find a truly massive clothing market - rows and rows of clothes and shoes.

Otherwise, there are plenty of shopping centers in the suburbs where they sell cheap clothes. I can't remember exact locations, but you can pretty much take your pick out of any metro station outside the center - there will always be some ugly shopping mall nearby.

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Moscow

Yeah, there are still a few clothing vendors beside Ismolova. A few, not many.

But so far as discount clothing stores--forget it. No stores are discount anything.

When the Russians passed that law last year outlawing foreigners to vend things, that was it. And now they've made it nearly impossible for foreigners to get visas+they can't sell anything either.....mistake heaped upon mistake.

Do the Russians actually think they can produce and selll good that anybody wants to buy? Since when? Russian made good of all kinds have always been, and continue to be, overpriced inferior goods sold with a grimace and a scowl.

The Azeris and Uzbeks etc. were not only the vendors of a fantasmagoria of imported goods, they were the supply line as well. Gone. All gone.

Most of the remaining rynoks are 70% to 80% vacant. Cherkizovsky rynok, reportedly the biggest rynok in the world and about 40 acres of every kind of imaginable thing--was razed to the ground last spring. It's vendors all run out of the country. Nothing left but a vacant lot.

The shopping malls are all crazy expensive. Fancy French and Italian stuff, I have no idea who they're selling that stuff to. Certainly the average Russian can't afford it. I know I can't.

Last year at this time I could have given you a dozen locations. Today I can't think of but one or 2 and they don't qualify as cheap.

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Moscow

greg222 · VIP Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 522

I meant the place behind Izmailovsky Market, not the stalls on the side. The clothing market there was truly massive - bigger than anything I've seen even in China. Even without the southern vendors, there must still be some stalls open there. I bought my things there off Russians anyway. Anyone been to this place recently? There's probably a quicker way to get there - it's a fair walk from Partizanskaya.

I don't know that shopping malls are all that expensive, unless things have changed dramatically in the past year. Even in the Okhotny Ryad center, some of the shops were selling things 10-20% cheaper than they are in Australia. Stay away from big-name brands and it's not all that pricey.

Actually, though, Darth, throughout the Moscow winter I didn't wear anything that you can't buy at Myer. I bought gloves in Russia but that was it.

darthvader · WayToRussified Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 378

Thanks for the details so far, Expat and Greg.

I had a good look in David Jones, central Sydney over a week ago. And, a large variety of other shops. Not a lot of seriously warm winter clothes' options at present here (being Summer).....

Hopefully, I'll pick something up eventually.......

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Moscow

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

Good info Expat...and definitely good to know...so where do the Russians shop then...seeing how most cannot afford the higher priced department store goods? Darth...what about ordering things on line? I know here in the USA we have lots of stores on line that we order from. And...perhaps does your friend know of any places to shop there in Russia. I am leaving for the Ukraine and of December...not as cold as Moscow...but I definitely will not be wearing my flip flops and boardies. It snowed yesterday where I am so trying to get acclimated early LOL

darthvader · WayToRussified Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 378

danbrew · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 4:34 am Post subject:

Uncle Pasha

I bought a few good fall and winter coats at Freak-Frak (Shabolovka 25, korpus 1, behind the church, M. Shabolovskaya). The stor specializes in clothes from 70s and 80s. The staff is always happy to help/advise. Their strong side is British canvas jackets and Swiss long coats. The prices last year were around 2000-3000 for a superb trench coat.

NB. FREAK-FRAK IS OPEN 2PM TO 8PM!!!

The last place I'd go to is these huge markets. Despite the size the choice is limited, quality sucks, and sellers are either indifferent or aggressive.

Pasha

gomer · WayToRussified Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 437

In the summer of '07, I went with Tina to an outdoor market located to the right of the Metro Petrovsko-Razumovskya exit. She said it was one of the largest outdoor markets in Moscow. Whether the market is still there and whether it sells winter clothing, I don't know.

Paul Holmes · VIP Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 970

Here an excellent Canadian store that has high quality stuff
http://www.mec.ca/Main/home.jsp;jsessionid=HGxn0j1LSXjGbzvCRbCfXbp1QShjg9N1h6fLyJ6dKqpfhchWG205!-843445254?bmForm=splash&bmFormID=1204171239305&bmSubmit=english&bmUID=1204171239305