The Hong Kong Tailors Thread

[Fishball]



Lai sifu is a Hong Kong staple when it comes to the art of tailorship. I found this out after bumping into him today along with a few other of his tailor cohorts. I guess it makes a man proud when he see's his work on his customers. (Fresco trousers).

I never really understand why pals are fond of Lai's workmanship, it is ok, but not superior, and his price now is not justified. My trousers maker make me a pair CMT at $750 now and has better work I think.

 

[hippotamus]

I never really understand why pals are fond of Lai's workmanship, it is ok, but not superior, and his price now is not justified. My trousers maker make me a pair CMT at $750 now and has better work I think.

These pants looks neat and clean to my untrained eyes.

Can you elaborate more and maybe show us your pants

 

[Fishball]



These pants looks neat and clean to my untrained eyes.

Can you elaborate more and maybe show us your pants 

I had shown it in this thread before http://www.styleforum.net/t/33568/the-hong-kong-tailors-thread/210#post_5000143

 

[ebayhtl]

Not relevant!

 

[bamboo]

Nice stuff!

But the quarter open is a bit weird not natural ?

More Lai sifu x Schofield & Smith tweed, hard three button and single vent hacking jacket, with a Graly shirt made from Acorn fabrics Kendal turf blue tattersall check wool-cotton blend shirting. Tie, jeans and shoes are all I have to hand.

If you look very closely you'll spot that I'm not actually in Hong Kong. The clues are: peaceful green countryside, 225 year old crumbling stone pillars and the fact that I'm wearing a 17 oz tweed jacket and wool-cotton blend shirt outside in June and not soaked in sweat. Also, the dog is free to run where he likes without a Filipino pouring water on his pee.







The jacket in Lai's Sham Shui Po workshop

Lai sifu did the same cutting to one of my jacket too when I asked for more open quarter. After that I am careful enough to instruct him to make a curveture.
He is quite good to judge horizontal and vertical balance but I need to be more careful about curve and diagonal lines.

BTW, The jacket looks comfortable and color is nice.

 

[hippotamus]

I had shown it in this thread before http://www.styleforum.net/t/33568/the-hong-kong-tailors-thread/210#post_5000143

Thanks Mr. Fishball. (<-- is your name something to do with the Street food snack btw ?)

The pant looks very nice, just one question : those inner buttons are for brace ? If yes why is the right side missing some ?

Wow price raised 50% in 4 years.....

 

[add911_11]



I never really understand why pals are fond of Lai's workmanship, it is ok, but not superior, and his price now is not justified. My trousers maker make me a pair CMT at $750 now and has better work I think.

Lai only cut the pattern for those trouser but does not make them. I am aware that Lai has a few contractors where one can apparently do trouser in quasi-Ambrosi workmanship with extra cost.

I suspect and agree that people are keen on Lai because of his consistency. Various big tailors can go very wrong even if minor communication problems.

 

[baromatic]

Lai only cut the pattern for those trouser but does not make them. I am aware that Lai has a few contractors where one can apparently do trouser in quasi-Ambrosi workmanship with extra cost.

I suspect and agree that people are keen on Lai because of his consistency. Various big tailors can go very wrong even if minor communication problems.

Between $750 and what Lai takes for commission is quite a substantial amount. It's probably not good to ask on public forum about your trousermaker but as you know my option before and Lai is big difference as well. Very nice trouser btw.

I never really understand why pals are fond of Lai's workmanship, it is ok, but not superior, and his price now is not justified. My trousers maker make me a pair CMT at $750 now and has better work I think.

 

[Fishball]



Thanks Mr. Fishball. (<-- is your name something to do with the Street food snack btw ?)

The pant looks very nice, just one question : those inner buttons are for brace ? If yes why is the right side missing some ?

Wow price raised 50% in 4 years.....

Yes, the famous HK snack

The missing button is inside the "belt" pocket (actually I don't know what it called).

 

[Fishball]



Lai only cut the pattern for those trouser but does not make them. I am aware that Lai has a few contractors where one can apparently do trouser in quasi-Ambrosi workmanship with extra cost.

I suspect and agree that people are keen on Lai because of his consistency. Various big tailors can go very wrong even if minor communication problems.

Add, you know that I know Lai is cutter not maker.
Actually I don't know who make my pants, I order it thru a "tailor". My point is for that amount of money, you can still find a better option/value in the market.

 

[add911_11]



Add, you know that I know Lai is cutter not maker.
Actually I don't know who make my pants, I order it thru a "tailor". My point is for that amount of money, you can still find a better option/value in the market.

Lol only for you... no one knows who works for you.

 

[Fishball]



Lol only for you... no one knows who works for you.

Haha, not really, he is not my personal tailor.
If I can find it, you can find it, it is a game of trial and error, no secret at all.

 

[IsABellyDad]

The missing button is inside the "belt" pocket (actually I don't know what it called).

I call it "watch pocket" in Chinese.

 

[IsABellyDad]

Lai only cut the pattern for those trouser but does not make them. I am aware that Lai has a few contractors where one can apparently do trouser in quasi-Ambrosi workmanship with extra cost.

I suspect and agree that people are keen on Lai because of his consistency. Various big tailors can go very wrong even if minor communication problems.

Always curious when people are saying "quasi-certain-famous-tailor" workmanship. Any photos to share?

I've so far made my pants from Baromon, Loa Hai Shing and WW Chan... and I'm still wondering what would be a better pair of pants...

Don't have other photos with me now... Just sharing a small detail I asked Chan to do for the cuffs of the pants: buttons to unfold the cuffs.

 

[Fishball]



Always curious when people are saying "quasi-certain-famous-tailor" workmanship. Any photos to share? I've so far made my pants from Baromon, Loa Hai Shing and WW Chan... and I'm still wondering what would be a better pair of pants... Don't have other photos with me now... Just sharing a small detail I asked Chan to do for the cuffs of the pants: buttons to unfold the cuffs.

I think Lai just copy some of the Ambrosi pants feature, but in terms of workmanship, it is far far beyond Ambrosi level IMHO.