Japan’s oldest sneaker brand is jumping toe-first into the continuing revival of vintage shoes. For all its street cred, though, Onitsuka Tiger’s first Chinese flagship store looks more like the pristine atrium of a trendy astronaut.

Most of us grew up thinking of cobblers as just funny figures from folk tales.  Here in China, though, having footwear made to order is a feasible and affordable option.  If you've ever longed to own a pair of shoes that fit you perfectly, consider the following shoemakers.

Remember when you went to school? Your sneakers could be the cause of much upset if you didn’t have the “right” pair. Thing is, things don’t really change. People are still going to notice and comment on your choice of footwear. On the upside, Beijing is not gangland, so there’s no risk that those shoes your mum picked out could get you shot.

By now you’ve likely heard that Plastered T-shirts has opened a second Beijing branch in 798 Art District. (If not, catch up on all the details here.) Now we have even more photos of the store interior which, according to their blog, was designed by founder Dominic Johnson-Hill himself.

Expats who rely on the material comforts of home may be disheartened to hear that ShopWeShip.com, previously known as Dong-Xi.com, has just announced that it will soon be discontinuing its services.

ShopWeShip.com was first established to give Chinese residents access to e-commerce sites that only shipped to US billing addresses. Back then, our options were few – we could hardly find quality Western food around town, let alone chic clothes from mid- to high-end retailers.