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Best Hong Kong shirt tailor needed

post #1 of 22
3/15/13 at 11:45pm
Thread Starter 
Hi guys,

Both of my parents are turning 50 this year. My sister and I decided to take mum for a surprise trip to Hong Kong to meet us (we both live in Asia), so now I'm trying to work out what can we get for my dad while there.

I know Hong Kong has a couple of good tailors, so I was thinking of getting dad a couple of nicely crafted shirts with monograms for his 50th birthday.

I'm particularly choosing between WW. Chan and Jantzen. Matt has accumulated a small collection of Jantzen shirts over the years and seem to quite like them.

How do these two tailors compare? And is there any other tailor I should consider?
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post #2 of 22
3/16/13 at 1:57am
WW Chan and Jantzen are both competent shirt makers. Chan would be a better 50th birthday "experience" for your father. More impressive old school premises, etc. (Although as I read your post, your father will not be there. I don't know how that will work for taking his measurements, etc.)

Remember, there might be a minimum order for shirts. I can't recall off the top of my head.

Ascot Chang is often touted as the shirt specialist in HK. I have never used them, but the feedback seems generally positive.
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post #3 of 22
3/16/13 at 6:04am

Hi.

 

Consensus name here is Ascot Chang.  I just have two and am still trying to improve the pattern.  Thomas Mason 120 fabric HKD 1,750.  It takes one week normally. 

 

I do not have WW Chan shirts.  WW Chan is probably the same kind  price as Ascot Chang.   I made many shirts at Jantzen and still think they offer a good value for money. 

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post #4 of 22
3/16/13 at 5:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stiva View Post

WW Chan and Jantzen are both competent shirt makers. Chan would be a better 50th birthday "experience" for your father. More impressive old school premises, etc. (Although as I read your post, your father will not be there. I don't know how that will work for taking his measurements, etc.)

Remember, there might be a minimum order for shirts. I can't recall off the top of my head.

Ascot Chang is often touted as the shirt specialist in HK. I have never used them, but the feedback seems generally positive.
thanks guys, I mentioned Chang to her as well (but don't own any myself). Noted.

Re measurements, the best she will be able to do is kidnap a well fitting shirt from his closet and use that as a measurement guide and then make the stylistic choices from there.
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post #5 of 22
3/16/13 at 8:12pm

IMHO, If he cannot attend the fitting, value of WW Chan or A Chang class shirt will diminish substantially.  So my vote goes to Jantzen but I do not know fabric on offer from them at this moment, because all I ordered in the pasts are from their standard offer.  A Chang has RTW shirts too on their shops too.

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post #6 of 22
3/16/13 at 8:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bamboo View Post

IMHO, If he cannot attend the fitting, value of WW Chan or A Chang class shirt will diminish substantially.  So my vote goes to Jantzen but I do not know fabric on offer from them at this moment, because all I ordered in the pasts are from their standard offer.  A Chang has RTW shirts too on their shops too.

If you can provide Jantzen with a good fitting shirt - they can make a good copy. Not sure they carry really high quality fabrics though - seems just ok.
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post #7 of 22
3/16/13 at 8:56pm
congrats to your dad, its very nice of you.


not to be at all disrespectful, but I think that your dad will probably get as much enjoyment out of a jantzen shirt than a "better" one, espectially if you go for one of their nicer fabrics, a monogram and the nice mother of pearl buttons, at half or a third of the price. we all get a little spoiled and want things a little better, a little fancier. i'd like chan shirts, but I am very happy with jantzen shirts. espectially if you take out the fitting part - there is a huge diffence in experience between the fitting rooms.


by the way - dim sum at Maxim's in City hall is an excellent experience, probably not the best dim sum in town, but that is an experience.


and, once again let me thank you for making me feel very old
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post #8 of 22
3/16/13 at 10:27pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for your advice guys! You actually make a fair point... My dad will be in Moscow, so no proper fitting possible this time - then why pay for a more expensive option? As much as I would like to buy the best for him, I agree, that the difference without fitting would probably be minor. Will check out Jantzen and just go for the better fabric then...

Also my dad always dressed very simple (his wardrobe is mostly managed by mum and guided by the moto "hey, they have 5 shirts for the price of 3 here!" smile.gif)) I mean he has a couple of nice shirts, but he never had anything tailored for him, so I think he'll appreciate the story behind the shirts we'll make for him.

Quote:
Originally Posted by globetrotter View Post

by the way - dim sum at Maxim's in City hall is an excellent experience, probably not the best dim sum in town, but that is an experience.

and, once again let me thank you for making me feel very old

Oh, thanks for a dimsum hint! Will definitely check it out wink.gif And yes, my parents got me when they were 23... hehe smile.gif
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post #9 of 22
3/16/13 at 10:42pm
Thread Starter 
Hmm... I checked out Jantzen web-site... they have "european cotton" and "italian cotton", no Thomas Mason fabrics, Acorn or other recognizable mills. Again, I don't know if it matters.

Btw, random question - where is it better to place monogram on a shirt? I feel lost smile.gif
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post #10 of 22
3/17/13 at 1:49am
spb

This is a topic on which opinions are divided and feelings run high.

See:

http://www.styleforum.net/t/133056/whats-the-consensus-on-shirt-cuff-monograms-tacky-or-not
http://www.styleforum.net/t/235305/poll-do-you-get-your-shirts-monogrammed

I don't do it, for various of the reasons expressed in those posts. But I think as a special birthday present for your dad - who is living in Moscow, where I suspect monogrammes do not carry the same negative associations - it would be quite okay, subject to one qualification. It should still be discreet. So, placement on the inside collar, left front shirt tail, or bottom of the placket would be unobjectionable. I would steer clear of the cuff and pocket (if the shirts are to have pockets - which opens up another area of debate).

But hey, your dad, your present, your call.

Stiva
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post #11 of 22
3/17/13 at 7:02am
Ascot Chang without any doubt whatever.
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post #12 of 22
3/17/13 at 7:11am
I like the monogram inside the collar, where the label ordinarily would be. This way you will have a monogram instead of a label. I put the initials of my wife and kids as my monogram.
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post #13 of 22
3/17/13 at 9:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by spb_lady View Post

Hmm... I checked out Jantzen web-site... they have "european cotton" and "italian cotton", no Thomas Mason fabrics, Acorn or other recognizable mills. Again, I don't know if it matters.

Btw, random question - where is it better to place monogram on a shirt? I feel lost smile.gif

That is what I meant about their cloth - it is very hard to get a feel for the fabric from their web site. It would be much easier to go to their shop and pick out fabrics. I have ordered a dozen shirts from them and it has been hit and miss. I have learned, for example that Italian and French oxfords have a large, almost gaudy pattern relative to traditional oxfords. On the other hand their shirts are $45. $45 (quoted for effect).

As to monograms, conventional wisdom is not to have a visible monogram. I like the idea mentioned above about putting in place of a label but presume it would show through the back of the shirt? My preference is at the hem line in the back. This makes it invisible when I tuck my shirts in.
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post #14 of 22
3/17/13 at 7:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GBR View Post

Ascot Chang without any doubt whatever.

I agree.
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post #15 of 22
3/17/13 at 8:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stiva View Post

spb

This is a topic on which opinions are divided and feelings run high.

See:

http://www.styleforum.net/t/133056/whats-the-consensus-on-shirt-cuff-monograms-tacky-or-not
http://www.styleforum.net/t/235305/poll-do-you-get-your-shirts-monogrammed

Stiva

Daaaamn... I have already forgotten Style Forum members' ability to have zillion pages debates about something as small as a shirt monogram smile.gif))

Quote:
Originally Posted by bertie View Post

That is what I meant about their cloth - it is very hard to get a feel for the fabric from their web site. It would be much easier to go to their shop and pick out fabrics. I have ordered a dozen shirts from them and it has been hit and miss. I have learned, for example that Italian and French oxfords have a large, almost gaudy pattern relative to traditional oxfords. On the other hand their shirts are $45. $45 (quoted for effect).

I actually e-mailed Jantzen yesterday and they said they have some Thomas Mason and other more expensive fabrics on offer, so will just drop in and see what they have at a time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnynorman3 View Post

I put the initials of my wife and kids as my monogram.

That's a really cool idea, btw! I might be stealing it wink.gif
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