One of the best things about Shanghai is that you can discover something new and exciting every day. A new street, a new restaurant, a new shop. As the city changes constantly, these finds never seem to end.

However, you often have to search long and hard to find some of the city's real gems.

"Jim Dandies" is one of them, tucked away inside Shanghai Liangzhuang Raiment and Gift Market opposite IKEA in Xuhui District. Only the most curious of shoppers stumble across it.

"It has been described as Shanghai's best-kept shopping secret," says Dan Tinianow, an American expat who is one of the shop's owners.

An art gallery-cum-clothes shop, Jim Dandies offers "young casual and missy contemporary garments and also original paintings and prints."

With a light wood interior and bright, airy feel, the cozy boutique supplies an individualized collection of carefully selected clothes, accessories, pearl jewelry, art and knick-knacks.

However, most of the stock are knit items, including T-shirts, sweaters, jackets and skirts. The difference from other shops being their unique designs, specialty styles, material and quality. The target age of customers is 17 to 45, prices range from 200 yuan (US$26) to 5,000 yuan.

"Our selection appeals to both Asian people and Westerners and with the price range, there is something affordable for most," says Tinianow.

Most of the stock comes from Suzhou, in neighboring Jiangsu Province, but some comes from the United States, Japan and Italy. Tinianow started the business last December with his artist wife, Yurika (Eureka) Nakae, who was born in Fujian Province. Her birth name was Jiang Lieqin. She studied in Japan and the United States.

It is the place to find more unusual brands and items. "We carry the US Skinny Minnie line and are the only place in Shanghai where you can find this," says Tinianow. "What really sets us apart from other shops, however, are the paintings. So because of this, we try to have clothes in stock that would appeal to a creative, artistic mind."

With Nakae's art and her clothing well known in Japan, the US and the UK, the couple decided to set up their new business in her native country, China, to help out with her family business and get back to her roots.

"My wife's family business is in Suzhou, it is a factory that produces knitwear that works well with our new shop here."

The name, Jim Dandies, derives from the three original business partners, "my wife, myself and our friend Jim. It combines elements of all our individual names and is also a popular expression that means best of its kind."

Although the location to an expat may seem obscure, Tinianow continues, "we chose the location because it is between IKEA and the Caoxi Road metro station so we thought we could attract the trade that passed through these two points."

They haven't been disappointed. "So far we have been a success, people keep coming back and we have not taken a loss since we opened."

In a typical day the shop gets mostly Chinese trade but "there is the occasional Western face that passes through. The problem is customers don't really know we are here."

The area is up and coming and many new shops open up every day in the complex, a former cosmetics market. The advantages of the shopping center are numerous. "The rent is cheap so you can find some great bargains. You can find things that are obscure for the rest of Shanghai, like South Korean or Japanese cosmetic lines. Many beauty shops are still here."

Tinianow concludes that "the best part of this complex is that if you get tired after a long day's shopping you can go upstairs to the place that sells foot massages and have a free trial to soothe your aching feet and wallet."

Jim Dandies
Address: No. 165 and 167, 113 Caoxilu
Opening hours: 9am-8pm
Website: www.jimdandies.com