tailors in seoul korea?

I just wanted to post a semi-retraction.

Earlier believe I had posted that I had a somewhat negative experience at Hamilton Shirts. I got one shirt from them as a test case, and it just didn't come out the way I wanted. They did change the sleeves for me at no additional cost, but still it didn't fit the way I wanted originally. However, as I wore it a bit more it grew on me. So, I went back and ordered three more, and this time I have to say that I am very pleased with all of them. I generally order a collar that is slightly larger, modeled off one of the Paul Smith shirts I have, and this batch came out just perfect. I am hoping that I found a good alternative to my previous tailor whose costs had started to rise inexplicably.

picked up my suit from savile row in itaewon
must say i am very pleased
sorry no pics yet ... i am still traveling
i will try to get my camera hooked up to this computer

2-piece 2 button single breast suit, charcoal in color
500,000 won ... approx. $446
full canvas, 4 working buttons on each jacket sleeve
high arm holes, 3" lapels, high notch, slimmed jacket sleeves
light shoulder padding
flat front pants, no cuffs

also got a shirt made
60,000 won ~ $54
white cotton, small herringbone pattern, midspread collar, slim fitting
the shirt material feels great
shirt came out very nice as well although it could have been a little slimmer

got measured on thurs afternoon, first and only fitting on friday afternoon
i had the jacket length altered (came out an inch too long)
i went in today (tuesday) expecting to have to make some adjustments ...
but to my pleasant surprise i think the suit came out just right

thanks to all those who posted information in this thread

my only wish is that savile row would make an actual dressing room ...
but probably difficult because their space is so small and limited
or at least position the mirror better so you can check your reflection from farther away

Hahn's and Savile Row
you can see that Savile Row is just 3 doors down from Hahn's in the first picture

if you are taking the subway there, it's much closer to go to the NokSaPyung Station instead of the Itaewon station
because itaewon station puts you smack in the middle of itaewon by hamilton hotel (which sucks btw... a rip off at 140,000won)
whereas the NokSaPyung station takes you to the one end of itaewon by the "welcome to itaewon" arch
which is where Hahn's and Savile Row are located


i still don't have any decent pictures of my own suit
but i will try to post some soon
i wore the suit 2 weeks ago and got several compliments on how good it looked and how well it fit me

Originally Posted by XKxRome0ox

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(which sucks btw... a rip off at 140,000won)
140,000 won!?!? I could take a taxi all the way from Incheon airport to Itaewon, then stop and have a steak and a dozen beers when I arrived for that kinda dough.

Originally Posted by pvrhye

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140,000 won!?!? I could take a taxi all the way from Incheon airport to Itaewon, then stop and have a steak and a dozen beers when I arrived for that kinda dough.

but where you going to spend the night after your feast?

Originally Posted by XKxRome0ox

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but where you going to spend the night after your feast?

Party til 5:30 and ride the subway home.

Originally Posted by pvrhye

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Party til 5:30 and ride the subway home.

well i didn't want to exactly spell it out.. but i wouldn't grab a hotel room for 140,000 won in the middle of the night by myself
although a 40,000-50,000 won motel would have sufficed ..

Just commissioned a suit from Sevile Row in Itaewon to be made this month.

3 piece charcoal suit with extra pants for 900,000. Will be finished in the end of the month. Includes 1 shirt.

I threw out all of my 2 year old shirts for the spring and summer season and had a bunch made at 4 different shops throughout Seoul.

Just had shirts made by
D.Peri in Mapo, a M2M suit shop. (bought 1 but there is a special at 4 for 150,000)
2 more made by Goshe in Apgujung. One imported fabric and one Korean both MOP (2 for 203,000)
And 3 over at Hamilton (3 for 135,000)
1 from Sevile (don't know the price)

Will post the pics and details of everything when finished.

I am really curious to see how Hamilton's shirts stand up against Goshe. D.Peri shirt fit is great, but material's really crappy. Goshe's work was pretty awesome. Just waiting on Hamilton...

Got my shirts in from Hamilton in Itaewon and (using only my 1 set of measurements) they managed to make one shirt too small in the arms (length and girth) and one shirt is far too big (in the waist). ----Therefore I am sending them back.

Goshe in Apgujeong made a pair of shirts that both fit perfectly. From the fall of the shoulders to the length of the sleeves to the tightness at my waist- they're exactly what I asked for. Also, the MOP buttons they use are thick and beautiful.

D. Peri is second with a pretty good fit and (in the Mapo store) beautiful sizing girls.... only drawback is the cotton is woven really coarse and stiff. In my opinion, they are only good as casual shirts.

From now on I will be getting all my shirts from Goshe, with nice Korean fabrics starting at 69,000won and Italian material starting at 129,000won it's totally worth it. The MOP buttons Goshe uses are MUCH better than Hamilton's.

My advice, don't try to save a few bucks by using Hamilton. Goshe is worth the extra $$$. If I ever want some cheapo shirts I will just go to D. Peri. Cheaper than Hamilton and better fit.

Hey folks, this is my first post. Just stumbled across this great forum today.

I thought I'd contribute as some people are still unsure where to get reasonable suits made in Seoul.

I've had about 7 suits made in Korea and loads of shirts. They have all varied in quality and fit. I have just had a 3 piece suit made at London Tailor in Itaewon. Really impressed with their work. It is a small shop run by a father and son. What I really like is that they make their out suits/shirts in-house. There is a side room where everything is made.

I had a herringbone pattern black suit made in Goldentex fabric which actually looks very good. I had the standard fitting and left them a suit from England to copy the design. When the suit was finished, I wanted some changes made. They altered the suit 2-3 times to make sure I was happy with the fit of jacket, trousers and waistcoat.

They are really friendly and I've just ordered another suit and 2 shirts. Again I have left examples of the shirts I want copied.

I would highly recommend them for a reasonably priced suit (550,000 Won) that actually looks more expensive then it is.

Location: From the Hamilton hotel (KFC on your right, facing the subway station), turn left and head towards the Hard Rock Cafe and keep walking up the hill. They are above the Bodyshop on the left.

I've found few tailors here in Daegu. Planning to get some shirts there and perhaps a suit (though I'd prefer to go to Seoul to Hahn's or some other place that you guys recommend). Can you give me any advice on what to bring to a tailor when getting a suit? I suppose some photos of what I want would be useful. And a friend who could translate into Korean and back to English

I'd recommend looking at pictures of suits you like and taking one with you. If you already have a suit you like, take that. I also make a list of things I want in a suit (numbers of buttons on sleeve, jacket length, vented or not. etc) as when you are talking with the tailor, you can forget things. I wear a dress shirt and trousers so that measurements will be exact. Check they take notice of whether you wear a watch. You can have one cuff on a shirt made bigger to go over a beefy watch. Some may frown upon that, but it stops the cuff riding up your arm. They should do the rest. It should be a great experience. I love getting a suit made.

Originally Posted by Bigbear98

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I'd recommend looking at pictures of suits you like and taking one with you. If you already have a suit you like, take that.

I also make a list of things I want in a suit (numbers of buttons on sleeve, jacket length, vented or not. etc) as when you are talking with the tailor, you can forget things.

I wear a dress shirt and trousers so that measurements will be exact.

Check they take notice of whether you wear a watch. You can have one cuff on a shirt made bigger to go over a beefy watch. Some may frown upon that, but it stops the cuff riding up your arm.

They should do the rest. It should be a great experience. I love getting a suit made.

good advice
i was a bit scared when i got my suit made in itaewon since i wasn't so well versed in suits to begin with
but my suit turned out great, thanks to all the things i read on this forum
also, mr.choi at savile row pretty much knew what most people asked for so there weren't too many things i had to change

Thanks for your help!

Any good websites or blogs (besides SF) you'd recommend for the inspiration?