New Pasar Mayestik, fabrics marketplace at Jakarta

If you have been at Jakarta around the 70’s, you should know this famous Pasar Mayestik. It is located at Kebayoran Baru neighborhood in South Jakarta , the new suburb of Jakarta at that time that housed for a upper class citizens. This market catered good quality fabrics with reasonable price and also there were professional tailors ready to fashion your fabrics into a suit, dresses, Kebaya, office suits, bed cover, etc. However, like others traditional market in Jakarta, this place was slum, dirty and unorganized.

Pasar Mayestik Jakarta

But now, you will be surprised with its appearance. The original  building was demolished and replaced by a big modern looking mall full with stalls, nice bathrooms and even a food court. The new place is 10 floors high covering 6.905 M2 with air conditioning, escalators, lifts, security with CCTV, mosque, fire extinguisher, and one floor dedicated for car park. It houses 2.279 shops that sell variety of products range from anything related to fabric, vast array of batik, sewing supplies to costume making.  The prices seemed quite decent and you can find a good quality of fabrics too.

However, this new market building is not supported with its environments. There are still street vendors occupied the pedestrian, unorganized car park at the road side and potholes.

This place is a paradise for most anything related to fabric, costume making, crafting and sewing supplies. There are huge variety of buttons and zippers,  all things ribbon,  appliques, buttons with many colors and textures, buckles. You name it, you can find it all here! Almost everything is organized by color and material and it’s like a candy shop for sewers.

food court at  Pasar Mayestik lobby

It is a best alternate place where people go for fabric shopping in Jakarta other than Tanah Abang. The prices are similar but the place is less crowded and less traffic jam than Tanah Abang. Tanah Abang is sometimes cheaper but the quality of some materials is better in Pasar Mayestik.

Dress makers at Pasar Mayestik

Tips:

• There is a flea market called Taman Puring near Pasar Mayestik.  You can find second hand goods, antiques, new fake brand stuffs, tools, and many things.  Be sure to check the goods before your purchase and remember that price is always negotiable.
• The basement is filled with grocery stores, semi basement is for tableware, utensils and shoes,  ground floor for fashion, first floor for jewelry, second floor for taylors and fabrics, third floor for parking lot and fourth floor is a mosque.

surrounding Pasar Mayestk

• You can also find some ethnic-Indian shops for making a Sari including a nice Indian seamstress. 
• Be ready to bargain. It is expected and you can usually get discounts, especially if you buy several pieces of fabric from the same store and actively ask the owner to discount your purchases.
• It is wise to be aware of your surroundings and make sure all your bags are closed. 
• Get there early. The shopkeepers are willing to help you and the crowds and the heat are still bearable. 

street vendor at Pasar Mayetik

• To avoid the biggest crowds, avoid the weeks preceding Moslem Eid Al-Fitr celebration and Christmas. It was  the worst times to visit as you would get overwhelmed by the crowds.
• Be willing to browse and browse until you find what you are looking for and sometime you will find the treasure you have been seeking if you look past the apparent chaos.

Happy Traveling...