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Altering Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Shirts

post #1 of 30
5/7/10 at 4:01pm
Thread Starter 
I was in Brooks Brothers today (albeit the Toronto location) and the SAs told me that it was a bad idea to have their non-iron shirts altered because the fabric that they use creates problems when altered.

Has anyone had a non-iron shirt altered? Results?

Giant facepalm for Toronto when 85% of their shirts are non-iron and you can't alter them. I guess most men are content to walk around with tents on their backs.
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post #2 of 30
5/7/10 at 4:19pm
Non-iron shirts are gross. Toronto Brooks Brothers sucks because they never have shirts in my size (15-35).
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post #3 of 30
5/7/10 at 4:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GucciKid View Post
I was in Brooks Brothers today (albeit the Toronto location) and the SAs told me that it was a bad idea to have their non-iron shirts altered because the fabric that they use creates problems when altered.

Has anyone had a non-iron shirt altered? Results?

Giant facepalm for Toronto when 85% of their shirts are non-iron and you can't alter them. I guess most men are content to walk around with tents on their backs.

Don't listen to the salesman. Get the shirts altered.
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post #4 of 30
5/7/10 at 4:38pm
I heard it's something to do with the way they're pressed together or something. I really don't see why it would be a problem to undo the side seam, take it in and restitch. I believe the extra slim ones aren't non-iron, just saying.
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post #5 of 30
5/7/10 at 4:58pm
You can have the sleeves shortened with no problems, but if you have the side seams taken in, they will pucker when laundered. It is related to the non-iron coating on the fabric.
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post #6 of 30
5/7/10 at 5:31pm
Thread Starter 
Wow, if that is the case Toronto Brooks Brothers does indeed suck.

85% of their shirts are non-iron, and all of their button-downs are non-iron.

What's more I couldn't even try on any of the shirts. Instead, they had me try on some ridiculous test shirt with a club collar and short sleeves. The test shirt they gave me didn't even have a top button so I couldn't get a good grasp on collar size.

I guess they don't want to refold and pin the shirts but geez, what they gave me to try on looked like it had come right out of a thrift store.

Furthermore I was told they only carry the traditional and the slim fit. The slim fit is a bit too slim for me and the traditional fit is a freaking tent.

Will never go back there, If I want anything from BB I'll just order online.
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post #7 of 30
5/7/10 at 5:36pm
Would also like to hear others opinions on this...
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post #8 of 30
5/7/10 at 5:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GucciKid View Post
Wow, if that is the case Toronto Brooks Brothers does indeed suck.

85% of their shirts are non-iron, and all of their button-downs are non-iron.

What's more I couldn't even try on any of the shirts. Instead, they had me try on some ridiculous test shirt with a club collar and short sleeves. The test shirt they gave me didn't even have a top button so I couldn't get a good grasp on collar size.

I guess they don't want to refold and pin the shirts but geez, what they gave me to try on looked like it had come right out of a thrift store.

Furthermore I was told they only carry the traditional and the slim fit. The slim fit is a bit too slim for me and the traditional fit is a freaking tent.

Will never go back there, If I want anything from BB I'll just order online.
Wow, that does suck. Most BB stores are liberal in allowing you to open up shirts and try them on. The ones that get opened up end up in a discount bin, I think. From what I hear, the non-iron shirts cannot have the side seams altered, because of the tape they use at the sides. You should be able to have darts put into the shirt, though.
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post #9 of 30
5/7/10 at 5:57pm
i have taken in many no press shirts with no problems. cant remember if any were from BB.
but i always flex [stretch slightly] the seam as i sew it. thats on both rows of stitching.
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post #10 of 30
5/7/10 at 6:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GucciKid View Post
I was in Brooks Brothers today (albeit the Toronto location) and the SAs told me that it was a bad idea to have their non-iron shirts altered because the fabric that they use creates problems when altered.

Has anyone had a non-iron shirt altered? Results?

The problem, as mentioned, is with the seams. They're treated and taped to resist puckering. BB's store tailors don't have the ability to redo that, so they decline to alter the shirts. If you don't mind the chance of the seams puckering like a regular-finish shirt, your tailor can alter them.

Quote:
Originally Posted by intent View Post
Wow, that does suck. Most BB stores are liberal in allowing you to open up shirts and try them on. The ones that get opened up end up in a discount bin, I think.

Sounds like this store is particularly anal. When I worked for BB we let customers try on shirts all the time, even though they're a pain to refold. But they got refolded and put right back on the shelf--not in a discount bin.
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post #11 of 30
5/7/10 at 6:22pm
complete bullshit.

I've had some BB non-iron shirts altered and then washed and machine dried them myself.

No ill effects.
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post #12 of 30
5/7/10 at 8:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orgetorix View Post
The problem, as mentioned, is with the seams. They're treated and taped to resist puckering. BB's store tailors don't have the ability to redo that, so they decline to alter the shirts. If you don't mind the chance of the seams puckering like a regular-finish shirt, your tailor can alter them.



Sounds like this store is particularly anal. When I worked for BB we let customers try on shirts all the time, even though they're a pain to refold. But they got refolded and put right back on the shelf--not in a discount bin.

This was always a PITA.

Quote:
Originally Posted by lee_44106 View Post
complete bullshit.

I've had some BB non-iron shirts altered and then washed and machine dried them myself.

No ill effects.

The BB tailors and SAs were always told never to take in the sides of NI shirts. Good to hear that the problem doesn't pan out in the real world.
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post #13 of 30
5/7/10 at 9:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GucciKid View Post
I was in Brooks Brothers today (albeit the Toronto location) and the SAs told me that it was a bad idea to have their non-iron shirts altered because the fabric that they use creates problems when altered.

Has anyone had a non-iron shirt altered? Results?

Giant facepalm for Toronto when 85% of their shirts are non-iron and you can't alter them. I guess most men are content to walk around with tents on their backs.

I have had four BB non-iron shirts altered without any problems. The only caveat is to go to a competent tailor. So far no issues after laundering.
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post #14 of 30
5/8/10 at 12:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GucciKid View Post

What's more I couldn't even try on any of the shirts. Instead, they had me try on some ridiculous test shirt with a club collar and short sleeves. The test shirt they gave me didn't even have a top button so I couldn't get a good grasp on collar size.

I guess they don't want to refold and pin the shirts but geez, what they gave me to try on looked like it had come right out of a thrift store.

I was at the Vancouver store the other day and was allowed to try on 4 shirts at the request of my sales rep. A couple of them was even out of the plastic packaging. Maybe it depends if your sales rep wants to fold the shirt back up or not.
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post #15 of 30
5/8/10 at 12:34am
I've had several JAB non-iron shirts taken in on the side and the seam does look pretty bad now, but I always assumed it was from a lazy alterations lady instead of the fabric or anything like that.
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