The Hong Kong Tailors Thread

[bamboo]

TCNY. My final product will be ready in a week time. I will report when it is done.

 

[jiggy6]

Hi guys,

I'll be in HK over Chinese New Year for a couple of weeks. Last time I was in the city, I stopped in at Jantzen on the recommendation of this forum and picked up a handful of brilliant shirts.

Unfortunately, Jantzen have told me that they will be closed for two weeks starting on the 10th of Feb (Chinese New Year day). And so, again, I turn to Style Forum for guidance.

Does anyone have any recommendations for shirt tailors about the standard and price as Jantzen in Hong Kong who might be open over (or, at least, not closed for too long after) Chinese New Year.

I'll be contacting WW Chan and Ascot Chan in the next couple of days to find out their opening times over CYN.

 

[dragon8]



Hi guys,

I'll be in HK over Chinese New Year for a couple of weeks. Last time I was in the city, I stopped in at Jantzen on the recommendation of this forum and picked up a handful of brilliant shirts.

Unfortunately, Jantzen have told me that they will be closed for two weeks starting on the 10th of Feb (Chinese New Year day). And so, again, I turn to Style Forum for guidance.

Does anyone have any recommendations for shirt tailors about the standard and price as Jantzen in Hong Kong who might be open over (or, at least, not closed for too long after) Chinese New Year.

I'll be contacting WW Chan and Ascot Chan in the next couple of days to find out their opening times over CYN.

I think going to HK during CNY is going to be bad in terms of shopping. Tons of places are closed. Even if the storefront is open the tailors maybe be off for a few weeks.

 

[WellyFung]

Hey Bamboo,

Thanks! Let me know how it is.
Think the place looks decent with good pedigree so definitely on my radar.

 

[wuday]

Hey, do you have a recommendation for a tailor to make custom blousons for me?

I've read half the thread and know that it's mostly suits&shirts, but I will be close to HK soon and have specific designs I always wanted to have made (Vuitton satin varsity jacket style).

From what I understand there are very seasoned tailors and newer ones, so even if you haven't seen your tailor make something like this maybe you find him flexible and capable of making something like this.

Thanks

 

[cynicallysilly]

A quick update on my first bespoke suit. Went to Simpson Sin, Peter Lee, and Banz. Simpson Sin starting price was 4,200. There was a very impressive selection of fabrics. However, they were very reluctant to make a beltless trouser with side tabs as most of their clients wore beltloops. Moreover, buttons were bone and not horn. Peter Lee was cheaper at a starting price of 3,800, but I was extremely disappointed at the fabric selection. I wanted a navy/dark blue worsted wool that could withstand a UK winter. The fabric that was available was thin and coarse. There was no higher end fabric like Zegna or H&S. I was surprised at the poor fabric selection, but I had a Canto speaker with me so it definitely wasn't miscommunication. Perhaps they sized me up and didn't feel I was willing to pay for a higher-end product.

Banz was more costly with a starting price at around 4,600. However, he ticked all the required boxes. There was a great range of fabrics from generic UK/Italian mills to your Zegnas, H&S, Loro Piana. Moreover, Banz was experienced with no belt loops on trousers and even had a selection of metal and button side tabs. And the buttons were horned. I eventually went with a UK Super 150 worsted wool dark blue 2-piece suit with a white satin spread collar French cuff shirt.

What impressed me most was the amount of time Banz took in discussing the entire process with me. I am completely foreign to the bespoke process so it was relieving to have a tailor explain the specifics in detail with me. We took over an hour to decide and measure the suit but it left me much more confident in the experience. Fitting of the basic canvas structure was 2 days later and I am due for my finished fitting in 1 week. I will post pictures once everything is settled. Very excited to see how it all turns out!

 

[cynicallysilly]

As promised, pictures of my tailored suit: Dark blue William Halstead Super 150 Worsted Wool suit from Banz Custom Tailors. First fitting was 2 days after the measurement. Second fitting 1 week after. I had to have the trousers loosened but that was the only change. It took 14 days from start to finish. Comments on fitting and style welcome!







Functional horn buttons



Hand stitched inner lining




Metal side tabs on trouser




Suit & white satin spread collar shirt Banz Custom Tailors. Tie, tie clip, & pocket square TheTieBar.com.

 

[Classic Car]

Never heard of Banz even I live in Hong Kong. I do not like thick shoulder pads and there is some pulling on the button stance.

 

[chobochobo]

The side view looks a bit odd. The back looks seriously tight.

 

[MGLL]

Upon my recent trip to Hong Kong I decided I would invest in a couple of bespoke suits. I am a student completing my MSc and wanted to make sure I had suitable suits for interviews and jobs etc. I had been browsing SF for a while doing as much research as possible to make sure I made the right decision.

From what I understood W.W.Chan were generally considered to be the best but were unfortunately out of my price range.
Closely second were Gordon Yao and Y.William Yu. Both of whom were also out of my price range. (It seems that HK tailors have upped their prices recently??)

Upon the general consensus of most SF'ers I went with Peter Lee of Lee Baron. I emailed him prior to my arrival informing him of my time in HK as well as my requirements and asking about price. He replied very quickly (much faster than a couple of other tailors I contacted which certainly helped him to get my business) and was very helpful in letting me know that I had suitable time for all the fittings required.

I did as much research as possible before going as I understood that Peter Lee was good at fitting but required a firm hand with regards to specifying exactly what it was I wanted.

I went to see Peter on the second day I was in Hong Kong and as this was my first bespoke experience I was a little unsure of exactly what to do! Luckily Peter Lee proved to be most accommodating. First I selected the fabrics, now, I am no expert on fabric but I know I did not choose anything spectacular like a Zegna or H&S, rather I went with his house materials - which for my age (24) and experience (very little) were perfectly suitable. I opted for a medium grey in super 120's and a navy in super 150's. I also opted for 4 shirts. I paid HKD 5,500 for each suit. I was quoted HKD 3,500 for the standard suit when I emailed, however he told me that it was an extra HKD 2,000 for fully canvassed and as I was going for my first bespoke - naturally I opted for fully canvassed

.

Once I was aware of the price and was happy with the material I had selected, he measured me up and then brought out a selection of pictures with models wearing a variety of different suits. He must have a lot of western clients who had specified pretty much what I had wanted as he pretty much detailed all of this before I even had a chance to inform him myself! I was very pleased as I was nervous about this part due to inexperience. He then told me to come back in 3 days for my first fitting.

I was unsure of what to expect and was amused to find the first fitting involved what was essentially 2/3 of a suit, no sleeve, no structure and no waist band on the trousers! He made a few adjustments, called in 'Sifu' (the master tailor) which was nice to see, who made a few touch ups of his own! I learnt that my shoulder's were different heights and one of my legs was larger. (both were no surprise as I've had an age old shoulder injury and also had recently had knee surgery!!)

I was asked to come back a couple days later for my second fitting. Unfortunately the suits weren't ready yet so I had to come back a few hours later, a little frustrating but no big deal, I guess I should have called... This time the suit looked and felt pretty damn good. I was very happy with almost everything but Peter Lee still made a few very small chalk marks of a 1/4 inch here and there and I also asked him to shorten the sleeves a tiny tiny bit so I could have more cuff showing. I also tried on the shirts he made. They were excellent. I am again by no means an expert on top quality bespoke shirts but I can compare them to shirts I have bought OTR from Hawes and Curtis, Gucci, D&G, Armani, Kenzo, Paul Smith etc and they fit better then any shirt I have ever purchased before (perhaps to be expected considering they were bespoke but I was delighted nonetheless!) In fact I decided I would get 4 more shirts whilst I was there

I came back for the final fitting (although it was actually to collect the suits, it would have been a fitting had I required more alterations which I did not.) and I was very pleased with the end product. I brought my dad, uncle and brother with me who were all very impressed.

So, in conclusion, I found my experience with Peter Lee to be utterly professional. I found his manner excellent along with his English. Any request I had was accepted and carried out in exactly the manner I wanted. I never felt rushed when choosing material or features and I even asked him to tailor a pair of jeans I had that were too big, to resemble another pair I have that are perfect, and of course, they came out perfectly... I have owned OTR Ted Baker (as a child), Hugo Boss and Armani suits. These fit and sit on my frame in a way that the others simply could not. In particular the trousers are exceptional, I have heard Peter Lee be complimented on his trousers once before and I must agree, they really are great. To say that I am delighted with my first two bespoke suits is an understatement. I would happily recommend Peter Lee to anyone who wanted an affordable high quality service and product.

Here I include pictures from my first fitting as well as a picture of the lining (I chose gold as my lining color for personal reasons, I understand it might not be to everyone's taste!) I unfortunately do not have any pictures of me wearing the finished suits as they are currently in the dry cleaners being steam pressed after my 15 hour journey back to London! I will however provide such pictures once I get them back

I apologise for the picture quality! My uncle took them with his mobile!! It's a shame the last picture is a little blurry as you can really see the difference in the tiny alterations Peter made between pics 3 and 4.












I will update with the new pictures when I have them. I understand that I have written a bit of an essay for my first post but when I was looking through SF for advice on my first bespoke suit and reviews of a tailor in HK this is exactly what I wanted to find but instead managed to piece together from several different posts. I hope this post helps someone in the way that many of yours helped me!

Regards

Marco

 

[RogerC]

The back needs to be cleaned up. I'm dubious about the sleeve as well. The biggest problem, however, may be the RoboPose (TM).

EDIT: Should've hit the quote button. This comment refers to the Banz suit, not the (very nice) Peter Lee one just above.

 

[dragon8]

I agree that the way you are standing could be throwing off the fit of your suit.

 

[MGLL]

The back needs to be cleaned up. I'm dubious about the sleeve as well. The biggest problem, however, may be the RoboPose (TM).
EDIT: Should've hit the quote button. This comment refers to the Banz suit, not the (very nice) Peter Lee one just above.

Had me worried there Thanks, I will share pictures of both completed suits once I get them back from the cleaners!

regards

Marco

 

[cynicallysilly]

I appreciate the comments. I've had no problems with regards to fit and movement so far. Looking back at the photos, I agree that my posture doesn't flatter the fit. I had a second suit tailored from Banz just before leaving HK. Will post soon!

On another note, had shirts tailored from Jantzen and was very impressed. Swift service with an incredible selection of fabrics. $350 is a great price.

 

[Satorialist]



This is a problem. I think the problem is the measurement drop from your shoulders to your waist, am I correct to assume it's more than a 4 inch drop? Or more? I have this same problem. Tiny waist, broad shoulders. And it causes all kinds of problems for getting a proper fit. I really don't know how to adress it with a tailor. So if anyone has any ideas...