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Rio de Janeiro is the capital and the
hub of Brazilian fashion, whose designers and models are becoming
more and more famous on the international circuit. Fashion
is without doubt the major attraction in the shopping malls
of the South Zone and Barra, where there is an infinite range
of clothing for men, women and children. Standard hours at
the malls are 10am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday, and 3pm
to 9pm on Sundays. All the national and international labels
are available, as well as export quality shoes, CDs, toys
and sports goods.
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In the South Zone the main
shopping malls are the
Rio
Sul and the Shopping da Gávea,
competing with the stores and smaller malls of Ipanema.
Garcia D'Ávila street is where international
names like Vuiton and Cartier can be found, plus some
of the largest jewelry and precious stone stores in
the world, such as H.
Stern, Amsterdam
Sauer and Ben Bros. Although
precious stones are not produced in Rio, this is where
the best designers and goldsmiths are established. Apart
from the stores, there are museums where the visitor
can see the whole process, from a model of a mine through
to the design and making of the jewelry.
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After Leblon and on the way to Barra,
one passes through São Conrado, home of the Fashion
Mall, which as its name suggests, offers an excellent range
of Brazilian fashion. Arriving in Barra, where there has been
a recent boom in new shopping malls, one should visit Downtown,
Cittá America, Barra Garden and Barra
Shopping, each of which covers
the whole range of products on your shopping list.
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For a total decorating experience,
visit the Rio Design Center in Leblon or Barra, where
Casa Shopping can also be found. The stores cover the
whole range of material for decorating the home, including
decorative handcraft from all over the country. Antique
collectors should reserve time at the weekend to visit
the fairs in the Praça 15, downtown, and in the
Praça Santos Dumont, in Gávea, as well
as the antique stores in the Rua do Lavradio, in Lapa,
where furniture, candelabras, crystal and metal pieces
can be found.
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There are also the open fairs, such as the Hippie
Fair in Praça General Osório,
in Ipanema, where all sorts of handcrafts, art and leather
goods can be found, and the Babilônia Feira Hype, in
the Jockey Club, in Gávea, where every fortnight the
booths are loaded with clothes, mainly for the young. A typically
Brazilian event is the open street market, selling fruit and
vegetables, which moves around from borough to borough, so
a little local knowledge is needed to know when one is operating
near to your hotel. The show of fruit and greens is spectacular,
and prices are reasonable.
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