Shanghai Tailors: Midrange

Having read through all the articles on SF about Shanghai tailors (suits) I'm still not really sure what to do.
Here is the issue:

I'll be in Shanghai for 2 weeks and am looking for 2-3 suits (2pcs, 2 button).
As I'm about to finish my phd I'm looking for something that will last, but is affordable to me (200-300$)

any recommendations where to go?

all the best, great forum, first time poster, but long time reader.

For that price, I'd say it's doubtful you'd find anything decent. At best, you might get some fused/half-canvassed suit from the Lujiabang Fabric Markets that is made in a factory and rushed to you. However, TheWraith and myself recently had some good experiences with C&G Fashion who are based in Shanghai and you can probably get something if you extended your budget a little to around $600-700. They also do CMT orders so if you manage to source your own fabric, they can do it for a fair bit cheaper.

Stebbin said:

For that price, I'd say it's doubtful you'd find anything decent. At best, you might get some fused/half-canvassed suit from the Lujiabang Fabric Markets that is made in a factory and rushed to you. However, TheWraith and myself recently had some good experiences with C&G Fashion who are based in Shanghai and you can probably get something if you extended your budget a little to around $600-700. They also do CMT orders so if you manage to source your own fabric, they can do it for a fair bit cheaper.

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hi, could you provide some more information on C&G Fashion? I live in Shanghai and am looking to move up from lujiabang. if they are good $600-700 is within my budget. Suit Supply recently opened a store here, any experience with them to do a comparison? Back to C&G, what kind of fabric choices do they have? do they imported fabrics, i asked some places at lujiabang and they arent able to source imported fabrics. is it fully canvassed? hows the fit and craftsmanship? thanks.

I am afraid Shanghai is not a cheap place as you expected.

yoose said:

hi, could you provide some more information on C&G Fashion? I live in Shanghai and am looking to move up from lujiabang. if they are good $600-700 is within my budget. Suit Supply recently opened a store here, any experience with them to do a comparison? Back to C&G, what kind of fabric choices do they have? do they imported fabrics, i asked some places at lujiabang and they arent able to source imported fabrics. is it fully canvassed? hows the fit and craftsmanship? thanks.

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I'd be careful about any of the fabrics they offer at Lujiabang. Alot of the fabric books have a high super wool-cashmere selvedge but are in fact, polyester blends or generic wool at best. Personally, I ordered some of my own fabric from the Huddersfield specials and had C&G do a CMT order using measurements that I supplied. I find the workmanship quite exceptional; everything was hand stitched, they used a full canvas and horn buttons. I based my measurements off some existing suits I had and it looks quite good. I'll post some pictures up soon.

Stebbin said:

I'd be careful about any of the fabrics they offer at Lujiabang. Alot of the fabric books have a high super wool-cashmere selvedge but are in fact, polyester blends or generic wool at best. Personally, I ordered some of my own fabric from the Huddersfield specials and had C&G do a CMT order using measurements that I supplied. I find the workmanship quite exceptional; everything was hand stitched, they used a full canvas and horn buttons. I based my measurements off some existing suits I had and it looks quite good. I'll post some pictures up soon.

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oh i definitely do not trust any of the fabrics at lujiabang. they have told me that all the stickers are fake. do you happen to know of any places to source fabric in shanghai?

WR237 said:

Having read through all the articles on SF about Shanghai tailors (suits) I'm still not really sure what to do.
Here is the issue:

I'll be in Shanghai for 2 weeks and am looking for 2-3 suits (2pcs, 2 button).
As I'm about to finish my phd I'm looking for something that will last, but is affordable to me (200-300$)

any recommendations where to go?

all the best, great forum, first time poster, but long time reader.

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as stebbin said, you can check out lujiabang, but i think 2 weeks is cutting it short, they can finish it in about a week, but you will need to try it on and most likely have them make adjustments. you can push them on timing. also you need to know your fabrics, most will be a blend of poly. that said, you can get a suit for cheap. you can get a two-piece for 550-600RMB which is about $90-100USD. don’t trust any of the stickers in the fabric books, only trust how it feels. if you do decide to go that route, make sure you specify EVERYTHING. they wont ask or suggest, anything you don’t specify they will do what their default is. also when you go try it on, check everything about the fit. do NOT let them sweet talk you or give you excuses about why it should be that way or that it looks good. if you want it change, insist on it and don’t listen to them.

Why not order directly from some of the UK Mills? The problem is of course, you don't actually get to handle the wool yourself and feel it in person. However there are some examples of mills that sell directly to customers.

http://www.johnfosterdirect.com/fine-cloths/en/2
http://www.huddersfieldcloth.com/
http://www.harrisonsburley.com/online-shop/4573665048/_page/2

Stebbin said:

Why not order directly from some of the UK Mills? The problem is of course, you don't actually get to handle the wool yourself and feel it in person. However there are some examples of mills that sell directly to customers.

http://www.johnfosterdirect.com/fine-cloths/en/2
http://www.huddersfieldcloth.com/
http://www.harrisonsburley.com/online-shop/4573665048/_page/2

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The biggest concern I have with that are the customs that I might be charged, in China its quite a lot for luxury items and I don’t know if I would be charged or not and how much it would be.

I buy suit/jacket-length fabrics from some of the online stores listed above regularly and was never charged import duty. The threshold is 500RMB if I remember correctly, and I guess the custom regards fabrics as cheap stuff...

Again, as many members have suggested here and there, forget Lujiabang market or Science Musem market. Put all of your budget in one suit (ie 900ish for one suit) if you really want something that makes you look good.

This is a picture showing the suit Shanghai C&G made for me. 3 piece with horn buttons in a check fabric I picked up from the Huddersfield specials.



Stebbin said:

This is a picture showing the suit Shanghai C&G made for me. 3 piece with horn buttons in a check fabric I picked up from the Huddersfield specials.

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I'm not 100% certain but in my screen it appears the coat is slightly "heavy" at the navel area?

Maccimus said:

I buy suit/jacket-length fabrics from some of the online stores listed above regularly and was never charged import duty. The threshold is 500RMB if I remember correctly, and I guess the custom regards fabrics as cheap stuff...

Again, as many members have suggested here and there, forget Lujiabang market or Science Musem market. Put all of your budget in one suit (ie 900ish for one suit) if you really want something that makes you look good.

Click to expand...

thanks for the info! any other recommendations for places to get suits/shirts made?



Stebbin said:

This is a picture showing the suit Shanghai C&G made for me. 3 piece with horn buttons in a check fabric I picked up from the Huddersfield specials.

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Superb suit, Stebbin.

JTA said:

I'm not 100% certain but in my screen it appears the coat is slightly "heavy" at the navel area?

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No, I don't think so.

Interested in C&G based on Stebbin's suit. Where are they located? Also, any experience with shirts from C&G?