Buying Fabrics in Denpasar

[grover]

I need some help from someone who is familiar with Denpasar. I know there is one street there that has loads of shops selling all kinds of fabrics. I'm especially interested in shops with batiks and other indonesian patterns. Can anyone give me the name of the street and some directions?

Thanks

 

[matsaleh]

I need some help from someone who is familiar with Denpasar. I know there is one street there that has loads of shops selling all kinds of fabrics. I'm especially interested in shops with batiks and other indonesian patterns. Can anyone give me the name of the street and some directions?

Thanks

It's called jalan Sulawesi. Go towards Denpasar on jalan Teuku Umar until you can't go any further. All traffic then turns left into jalan Diponegoro. Follow that for about 1 km until you come to an intersection where you can only go left or right - not straight through. Turn left into jalan Gunung Batur then take the first street on the right. This is jalan Sulawesi (before you cross the river).

You can check here: Google Maps
In the search bar, type "bali jalan sulawesi denpasar". When the map displays, click on the "+" to enlarge the map, so the street names are displayed. You can also see which way he one-way streets run.

 

[grover]

Thanks, Mat

Thanks for the detailed directions, Mat. Just what I needed.

 

[CanonMan]

Word of warning:
Unless you want to get fleeced don't take the option of 'help' from some of the old ladies in the region. They will accompany you through the shops apparently getting you 'deals' on the fabrics you are after. They are basically inflating the prices and have commissions with the shopkeepers. They will also ask for a handout at the end saying they don't get commission from the shopkeepers. We noted very quickly their ploy and cut loose from one particular ladies service. We then found 100m further down the street the very same fabric we had bought through her at 30% cheaper.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[matsaleh]

Cam,

Oh, you're absolutely right... I completely forgot about the ladies who offer to escort you to the best/cheapest shops. I also got caught the first time and ended up paying more than twice the going rate for a sarong and kebaya. :icon_rolleyes:

Now, I just firmly say "no thank you" and continue on my way.

 

[grover]

Word of warning:
Unless you want to get fleeced don't take the option of 'help' from some of the old ladies in the region. They will accompany you through the shops apparently getting you 'deals' on the fabrics you are after. They are basically inflating the prices and have commissions with the shopkeepers. They will also ask for a handout at the end saying they don't get commission from the shopkeepers. We noted very quickly their ploy and cut loose from one particular ladies service. We then found 100m further down the street the very same fabric we had bought through her at 30% cheaper.

Cheers,
Cam

Thanks for the warning; I'll pass it along.

 

[2easyapparel]

Hi just wondering if you are able to purchase all types of fabric on this street. Or is it mainly just batik??

 

[alex margou]

Hi just wondering if you are able to purchase all types of fabric on this street. Or is it mainly just batik??

They sell all kinds of cloth there - it's not at all "mainly just batik".

At the top of Jalan Sulawesi turn left into Jalan Gajah Mada and look for BHINEKA DJAJA - it's a few shops along on the left hand side. Go in and have a cup of real coffee while escaping from the "old ladies". Read about it here:

Kopi Bali -- the Denpasar original | Travelfish on Indonesia

After your coffee turn left out of the coffee shop and carry on to the traffic lights. You'll see Bank BNI on the left and next to it are 2 or 3 big fabric shops, mercifully free of the old ladies, somewhat calmer in atmosphere.

 

[alex margou]

It's called jalan Sulawesi. Go towards Denpasar on jalan Teuku Umar until you can't go any further. All traffic then turns left into jalan Diponegoro. Follow that for about 1 km until you come to an intersection where you can only go left or right - not straight through. Turn left into jalan Gunung Batur then take the first street on the right. This is jalan Sulawesi (before you cross the river).

Hi matsaleh,

Can I guess that you haven't been there for a while? You can't "take the first street on the right" any more because they've changed the direction of the one-way traffic in Jalan Sulawesi. What you say used to be true. But now, when you get there, it's NO ENTRY and you have to carry straight on and cross over the river and then drive around and around to find somewhere to park!

 

[2easyapparel]

Thanks for your help Alex!!!!

 

[matsaleh]

Hi matsaleh,

Can I guess that you haven't been there for a while? You can't "take the first street on the right" any more because they've changed the direction of the one-way traffic in Jalan Sulawesi. What you say used to be true. But now, when you get there, it's NO ENTRY and you have to carry straight on and cross over the river and then drive around and around to find somewhere to park!

Alex, the original post was from two and a half years ago, so yes the directions no longer apply.

 

[alex margou]

Alex, the original post was from two and a half years ago, so yes the directions no longer apply.

Sorry! My apologies! I didn't notice that! I must look more carefully at the dates in future.

:icon_redface: