Way back in the midsts or 2008 I bought a pair of shoes from a street vendor outside the fabric market.

They looked good and were kind of, almost my size if I didn’t wear laces and curled up my toes a bit. For 20RMB I wasn’t too fussy.

 

Fei Yue

Fei Yue

Now I realise that what I’d bought was a fake pair of a great and glorious part of Shanghai’s past: Fei Yue shoes. 

FeiYue is what you would have worn to play out in the street if you were born in Shanghai in the 70s, and at least amongst kitschy type westerners and the odd cool Chinese they’re making a comeback.

When my workmate saw the photo of these shoes he said that he heard they were big amongst the type of people who wear Che Guevera t-shirts. Not something I would do, but it’s definitely in the right ballpark.

At the shop on 585 Zun Yi Lu they’ve got your Fei Yue, they’ve got your Warriors (another old Chinese brand) and they’ve got some Converse and miscellaneous tat too.

Other tat in the bargain bin

I was almost tempted by what seemed to be an officially endorsed Beatles. 

Branded up Beatles shoes

I asked the lady if she had any colour other than fricking horrible, but sadly she did not. 

Dingle has already written about this store at great length- with maps and the full 9 yards. More information and more of the shoes on offer can be seen there.

Dingle and lady friend

 

It was he and his lady friend (wearing matching red Warriors I might add) that gave me the directions to the shop.

Fei Yue factory shop, 585 Zun Yi Lu (near Tian Shan Lu)
Fei Yue classics- around 30RMB per pair 

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