MEASURE FOR MEASURE: A tailor measures a piece of fabric at a stall in Mayestik traditional market, South Jakarta, last week. This scene may soon be history, as the company that owns the market plans to modernize it. (JP/Triwik Kurniasari)

When you're talking about Mayestik market in South Jakarta, the first thing to mention is fabric.

All types of fabrics can be found here, from those at the low end of the quality scale right through to luxurious silks.

Shoppers are free to choose among various colors and patterns to create that perfect dress for a wedding or party. Prices are low for great quality and a range of options.

Brocade, for example, costs from Rp 10,000 (US$1.06) per meter, while French lace is priced from Rp 250,000 per meter. You can also find various silks with prices starting from Rp 30,000 per meter.

Already found the perfect fabric for your dress? You can take it to one of the dressmakers or tailors who occupy Block C of Mayestik market.

Pipit, 34, often goes to the market to have her Muslim dresses or kebaya embroidered.

"I started coming to the market to have my dresses embroidered about four years ago. The quality of the embroidery is good and the dressmaker offers reasonable prices," said Pipit, who lives in Kebayoran Lama, also in South Jakarta.

The cost of embroidering dresses ranges from Rp 125,000 to up to Rp 200,000, depending on the motifs.

Maryam, a dressmaker, said she had customers from all social groups.

"My customers, mostly women, usually ask to have their kebaya sewed or embroidered. Charges for a kebaya start from Rp 80,000 to Rp 150,000, while I only charge Rp 40,000 per piece for school uniform," said Maryam, who has been running her business for more than 12 years.

"I can make a length of fabric into a kebaya or dress in a week. If my customer wants an express service, I will charge more," she said.

Famous for its fabrics and tailors, Mayestik market, which was established in 1956, was previously known for its medicine shops, according to Oman Suganda, an employee of market operator PD Pasar Jaya.

When the updated Mayestik market was opened in 1981, garment vendors began to dominate the 6,500-square-meter market.

Today, the market has become not only a place for fabric fans, but also for cooking lovers.

In Blocks A and B of the market, you can find a wide range of cooking utensils.

One popular shop is Toko Edi, which is on the first floor of the Block A building and owned by Edi.

Although Edi has been running his business for only three years, many customers, especially women, come to his shop to buy kitchenware such as cake and pudding molds, cake pans, ovens and cookie jars.

"Many of my customers promote my shop through a cooking mailing list. I receive many orders from cake shops and caterers in the capital," said Edi, adding he can earn more than Rp 5 million on weekends.

Retailers and wholesalers also often come to Block A to buy goods such as tissues, styrofoam, transparent or black plastic bags and paper plates. The more you buy, the cheaper the prices you can get.

You'll only be able to experience the traditional market ambiance, though, until the end of the year because PD Pasar Jaya plans to renovate it into a modern shopping center.

So you'd better hurry if you want to experience an adventurous shopping spree in Mayestik.

To get there, take a bus to Blok M bus station and take a bajaj to the market. Don't forget to dress casually and wear comfortable sandals or shoes, as most of the buildings are not air conditioned.

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