Shopping in Fiji

Souvenirs and Clothing

The Fiji Islands are home to many cultures and have an interesting history. These factors also contribute to the numerous unique souvenirs and stylish international boutique clothing that you can buy in Fiji’s various shops.
Woven products, such as baskets, purses, fans and mats are popular items to buy in Fiji. Some other common items sold in stores include Fijian designer shirts and “bula” shirts (bula means “hello” in Fijian), carved tanoa bowls, from which Fiji’s national drink, “yaqona” (or kava), is mixed and served, masi (tapa cloth), pottery items, animal wood carvings, “cannibal” forks and bowls, Fijian replica war clubs and Fijian combs.

The unisex one-size-fits-all sulu, which is a kilt worn by Fijian men and women, is an international fashion item that you can also buy. Besides stores, some of Fiji’s hand-crafted products can be purchased in local villages near the Sigatoka River as well.

Fiji sells some of the most beautiful black pearl jewelry. These lovely pearls are found in the waters of the Savusavu Bay. Black pearl jewelry normally ranges in price from $400 to $4000. Fijian stores also sell a wide variety of spices, the main ones being cinnamon, pepper, ginger and cardamom.

Where to Shop

Shops in Fiji can be found in the islands’ hotels, resorts, towns and cities. The town of Nadi is home to numerous shops and boutiques, as well as Internet cafés. Popular boutique shops, including Nads, Sogo’s and Jacks, sell a wide variety of good quality clothing, along with many fabrics, which you can purchase and have them sewn by the local tailors. An outlet for each of these boutique shops can be found in Suva, Nadi and Sigatoka, plus many of the larger resorts have at least one of these as well.
Taka’s Gift Shop, which is found at Copra Shed Marina, sells Kuta-made products. Kuta is a locally-grown reed that originates from Vanua Levu. It has a very glossy appearance, which makes it popular to use in the manufacturing of Fijian purses.

There are also several supermarket chains on the islands, including New World, RB Patel and Morris Hedstrom, which sell imported foods and fresh fruit. These are located in all town centers.

Many of Fiji’s stores are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 6 p.m., though sometimes they are open later at resorts and hotels. Stores are closed on Sundays, except for small local shops. Major credit cards are also accepted at most of these.

Duty Free Shops

Duty free shops sell many cameras and other electrical goods at reasonable prices. The two many importers of these shops are Prouds and Tappo, which are very sophisticated outlets and have slightly higher prices, though they offer sales support and export handling.