Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › Visiting Chan and Gordon Yao in Hong Kong - what to expect?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Visiting Chan and Gordon Yao in Hong Kong - what to expect?

post #1 of 15
10/4/11 at 6:17pm
Thread Starter 
I am planning to visit Chan and Gordon Yao for suits and possibly Ascot Chang for shirts. I have ordered from Chan and Gordon Yao during their US tour, but with no fittings. I want to see if I can get a few fittings in during my HK visit.

What can I expect from my first visit and the following visits at their HK store locations? Will they re-measure me or just use my previous measurements? If I choose a fabric from one of their books, how quickly can they get the fabric? Can they get the fabric same day from their distributor and start working on it so I can get my first ftting within a day or two? I will probably choose from H&S, Minnis, Harrison or Lesser books.

I have only worked with Patrick Chu during his US tours. However he will not be at their HK store the first 3 days of my 1 week trip. Should I wait to see him on day 4 or should I meet with one of their other tailors on day 1? Has anyone worked with a different Chan tailor in HK?

For Ascot Chang, I am still trying to figure out which store to visit. From my readings here, Nelson at the Peninsula location seems to get the most positive reviews. I am fairly happy with my Chan shirts, but want to see if AC can make a better shirt since shirts are their specialty.
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 15
10/4/11 at 7:41pm
How long will you be in Hong Kong? If time is limited, I would suggest for you to order the fabric before your arrival. Since Chan has your pattern I would also have them cut your suit ready for a basted fitting when you arrive. I don't believed re-measure is necessary if your weight haven't fluctuate too much. Doing it this way you'll be sure to get 2-3 fitting in. There are people beside Patrick at Chan who are more than capable to fit you.

I have had Gordon Yao made me a suit in a week with 3 fitting. He also does cmt you could mail your fabric to him before your arrival.

Nelson at the Peninsula is probably your best bet regarding Ascot Chang shirts. Have him look at your existing shirts to see you they can improve the fit.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 15
10/4/11 at 8:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tchoy View Post

How long will you be in Hong Kong? If time is limited, I would suggest for you to order the fabric before your arrival. Since Chan has your pattern I would also have them cut your suit ready for a basted fitting when you arrive. I don't believed re-measure is necessary if your weight haven't fluctuate too much. Doing it this way you'll be sure to get 2-3 fitting in. There are people beside Patrick at Chan who are more than capable to fit you.
I have had Gordon Yao made me a suit in a week with 3 fitting. He also does cmt you could mail your fabric to him before your arrival.
Nelson at the Peninsula is probably your best bet regarding Ascot Chang shirts. Have him look at your existing shirts to see you they can improve the fit.

Agree. If you know what you're looking for order your fabric beforehand and have the basted fitting ready for you when you arrive. Patrick is pretty detailed so I'd pick up the suit when he is there to make sure things are right. Same goes for Yao. They usually do not remeasure but ask for it anyways to be safe.

Nelson is the guy to see at Ascot Chang.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 15
10/4/11 at 9:40pm
Re fabrics, you will have to email them about 2 or 3 weeks before leaving for HK what fabrics they have in stock and the corresponding prices. If you have a fabric in mind not in stock, they can order for you but you'll have to place a deposit. They'll need a lead time of 5-7 days for the order to reach them, GY typically stocks Scabal and Loro Piano. You will have to order HS, Lesser or Harrison. Chan stocks Scabal, VBC, Zegna. Most British fabrics will have to be ordered as well.

Best to ask for at least two fittings..Both tailors schedule a basted and then at least one secondary fitting, It will be possible to bring the finished garments home as per my experience if you stay for a week in HK.

Gordon will be in the US for most of November. His son, Eric, will be minding the store in Gordon's absence.When I was in GY's shop last week, Eric was wearing a smartly cut Minni's fresco which he claims to have cut himself.

I dont know about the tour, but in the Chan shop, measurement-taking is a 2 part process. First specific measurements are taken through a tape measure. Second part is where you wear you wear a mock coat/vest where pins are stuck and contours and proportions are noted. I'd prefer for Patrick to be around for the fittings. IME he makes necessary adjustments which the assistant and I don't readily see.

Hope the above helps.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 15
10/5/11 at 5:37pm
Thread Starter 
I appreciate all the excellent comments.

Gordon Yao has been quite responsive with my emails. Unfortunately the person answering emails for Chan (no longer Ferdinand Kok) does not seem as responsive to my email questions.

It is good to know that Gordon Yao has his son working with him. Hopefully he is as good as his father and will carry on the business when Gordon retires. I hope to get a chance to meet Eric Yao during my visit.

I am hoping to order a tuxedo during my visit and am trying to decide between the two tailors. I will probably go with black barathea, preferably in a lighter weight 9-10 oz. I have read here that H&S has a good formal book. Does anyone know if their formal fabrics come in the 9-10 oz weight and if they wear well without excessive creasing? Are there other british fabrics available in that weight? The fact that Patrick will be away during the first 3 days of my stay makes me lean toward going with Gordon Yao on this order.

I plan to order a regular suit from Gordon Yao with fabric I will take with me.

I will definitely try to connect with Nelson from Ascot Chang. How far is the Peninsula Hotel (Ascot Chang) from Gordon Yao's store - is it walking distance or a short cab ride?

I will be staying on the HK Island side near the Admirality MTR stop. Is the MTR convenient to use to get to some of the tailors or would it be better to take a taxi?

Are there any other clothing stores I should check out while visiting HK?
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 15
10/5/11 at 6:27pm
You will be fine with MTR to visit AC and GY. Since you are staying at HK island side, cabs will cost quite a bit more.

Other shops to visit include Armoury (at Pedder Building). Zee leather (a short detour from Peninsular) is also good for shoes and leather goods.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 15
10/5/11 at 6:55pm
I think it is about 10mins walk from AC to GY shop. Better walk underground within the TST MTR station. Admirality to TST is just one stop, less than 5 mins, and cost less than USD2. By taxi, it normally take more than 15mins, in rush hour may be 30mins, and cost about USD10 or up. I personally would never take a taxi from Admirality to GY or Peninsula.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 15
10/5/11 at 9:15pm
Thread Starter 
I appreciate the helpful tips on getting around HK.

Just got some pricing from Gordon Yao. 3 piece tuxedo prices start at $2250 for VBC and $2800 for British fabric (H&S, Minnis, Lesser). Prices seem a little steep to me. Is this a reasonable price for a tuxedo? Chan has not replied back with a price quote.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 15
10/5/11 at 11:17pm
You can also send an email to Armoury to ask for Chan price.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 15
10/6/11 at 2:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timeless Fashion View Post

I appreciate the helpful tips on getting around HK.
Just got some pricing from Gordon Yao. 3 piece tuxedo prices start at $2250 for VBC and $2800 for British fabric (H&S, Minnis, Lesser). Prices seem a little steep to me. Is this a reasonable price for a tuxedo? Chan has not replied back with a price quote.

Not an unreasonable price these days
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 15
10/6/11 at 8:42am
You should be able to get 2 fittings in with Chan if you let them know in advance. I ordered a navy suit on tour in July and let them know I would be in HK for a week in mid-Sept. I had a basted fitting on Monday and a forward fitting on Wednesday. I had to leave on Thursday, otherwise the suit would have been ready on Friday morning. This is my first suit with Chan, so if you are comfortable with your pattern then maybe you can do one less fitting.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 15
10/7/11 at 6:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fishball View Post

You can also send an email to Armoury to ask for Chan price.

Is the Armoury affiliated with Chan?
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 15
10/7/11 at 6:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by hangthree View Post

You should be able to get 2 fittings in with Chan if you let them know in advance. I ordered a navy suit on tour in July and let them know I would be in HK for a week in mid-Sept. I had a basted fitting on Monday and a forward fitting on Wednesday. I had to leave on Thursday, otherwise the suit would have been ready on Friday morning. This is my first suit with Chan, so if you are comfortable with your pattern then maybe you can do one less fitting.

If I stopped by Chan's store on Day 1 and looked through some books and chose a fabric, how long will it take to get the the first and second fittings? One major factor is if they have the fabric in stock and if they can get it from a local HK distributor within a day. If they have to order fabric from England, then you certainly couldn't get fittings in during a 1 week visit.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 15
10/9/11 at 7:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timeless Fashion View Post

Is the Armoury affiliated with Chan?

Yes.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 15
10/9/11 at 1:12pm
Good point. If they had the fabric in stock, my guess is that you could easily do at least one fitting, maybe two if the stars aligned and they weren't too busy. They were able to do my fittings 48 hrs apart, but that seemed like the minimum amount of time needed on their end.

Even if you can get a first fitting done it would be worth it (assuming you can do a 2nd fitting on tour)
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Men's Clothing
Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › Visiting Chan and Gordon Yao in Hong Kong - what to expect?