Beijing Tailors

[AAA]

Greetings from Beijing!

I am suddenly in the need for a couple of suits, some dress shirts, and some slacks...which is what I deserve for being stupid enough to actually check my bags...

Any recommendations? I know there have been a couple of short threads on this previously, but there wasn't much in them. I am looking for the highest quality tailor/fabric I can find in Beijing. Of course as is tradition at Style Forum I also want it to be inexpensive!

I have had people recommend Tailor Dave over in the Kerry Center, but not from anyone who has actually bought anything from him.

Thanks!

 

[maomao1980]

If you read Chinese, take a look at this:

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4991772101000cem.html

 

[ACACRefugee]

Good luck. There are no doubt exceptions that I'm unaware, unfortunately I found the local offerings of poor quality as dress standards are so low. At the opposite end, the major labels were well represented at the World Center, however prices were 10% to 25% above London. It was explained to me that a large premium is placed merely for the assurance that an item is not a knock off.

 

[Shamatt]

I live in Beijing and have bought a couple of suits from Dave. Decent quality, fully canvassed, good fabric selection, working button holes etc. You are looking at about RMB 6k for a fully canvassed VBC Super 110. Takes about a week and you might need multiple fittings, especially if you want them to do something different from their house style. Shirts at Dave's start at RMB 400 or but it is RMB 500-600 for better cloth.

Senli and Frye (Nels Frye posts here) are another option for fully canvassed work. A little cheaper than Dave's but not much. I have never had a suit made there but have gone down to the shop to check it out and quality looks pretty good. More versatile styling than Dave's

I have never had much luck with the cheap and quick glue jobs freely available in Beijing at places like the Silk Market and Yashow. But if you really need something quick they will be able to turn something around in 24 hours for about RMB 1k. Won't be agreat suit though

 

[Shamatt]

One other option. There is an Outlet Mall on the South Fourth Ring Road (Yansha Outlets) and you can get some good deals on (real) international brand suits. Canali for example are reduced to anywhere between RMB 3,000 - 8,000. Zegna and Dunhill are also there but don't seem to discount as much as Canali. A 4-5k Canali would be a better and faster deal than most MTM in Beijing, if you are a pretty standard size. If you do this I can recommend a good alterations tailor

 

[maomao1980]

Originally Posted by ACACRefugee

Good luck. There are no doubt exceptions that I'm unaware, unfortunately I found the local offerings of poor quality as dress standards are so low. At the opposite end, the major labels were well represented at the World Center, however prices were 10% to 25% above London. It was explained to me that a large premium is placed merely for the assurance that an item is not a knock off.

No, the reason they are more expensive is due to high import tax on luxury goods and because they can get away with charging a premium.