China bespoke - on par with W.W. Chan

[July]

I have a relationship with W.W. Chan in HK, and I'm very pleased with the results. I'm headed for a tour of China in January: 3.5 days in Beijing. 3 days in Shanghai and 3.5 days in Hong Kong (no Chinese New Year overlap).

Does anyone know of comparable tailors to Chan (in terms of quality and style) in Beijing or Shanghai that they can recommend to turn around a suit or odd jacket in the limited time I have there? Also, is 3-4 days too few to get something good out of a first go with A-Man Hing Cheong in HK? I don't plan to be back in HK until late in '09. Thanks!

 

[MikeF]

I believe WW Chan has a Shanghai location:

MAOMINNG LU, SHANGHAI
129-A02 MAOMING NAN LU, BY HUAI HAI ZHONG LU
200020, CHINA
PHONE: (86-21) 5404 1469

I doubt you'll find anything better.

 

[Sander]

Originally Posted by July

I have a relationship with W.W. Chan in HK, and I'm very pleased with the results. I'm headed for a tour of China in January: 3.5 days in Beijing. 3 days in Shanghai and 3.5 days in Hong Kong (no Chinese New Year overlap).

Does anyone know of comparable tailors to Chan (in terms of quality and style) in Beijing or Shanghai that they can recommend to turn around a suit or odd jacket in the limited time I have there? Also, is 3-4 days too few to get something good out of a first go with A-Man Hing Cheong in HK? I don't plan to be back in HK until late in '09. Thanks!

Quite OT, but: I like your choice of avatar

 

[yfyf]

You could just use WW Chan Shanghai. I use them pretty often, they make a nice product. 3 days might be a bit tight but you can always ask. Peter Chan is a superb chap.

 

[July]

Mike and YFYF, thanks for the info. I talked with Ferdinand over at Chan HK and he said that the Shanghai location won't have access to my pattern, so we'd be essentially starting from scratch. Perhaps one day they'll go digital for patterns and post in-progress garments to other offices ahead of the customers' arrival so that we can accomplish multiple fittings while we're on tour.

Sander, compliments are always on-topic

 

[Will]

Since Chan already has your pattern , why not tell them what you want by email ahead of your trip so they can fit you while you are in Hong Kong?

You leave and they mail you a suit in a week or two.

No need to go through all the first suit problems with a new tailor that way.

 

[July]

Originally Posted by Will

Since Chan already has your pattern , why not tell them what you want by email ahead of your trip so they can fit you while you are in Hong Kong?

You leave and they mail you a suit in a week or two.

No need to go through all the first suit problems with a new tailor that way.

Well, that would be too easy and far too brilliant. Way to kill the thread, Will.

I'll use A-Man, if I can, just for CMT purposes, but you make a very good point about trial and error; there's probably better use of my time and money than a 3-day stand with an unknown tailor.

What about trousers? Any recommendations in the aforementioned cities for similar workmanship at a much lower pricepoint (with the understanding that I could be someone's lawful prey)?

 

[countdemoney]

If you're in Shanghai, there is only one: Tailor Dave.

His shirts are average, but his trousers were the best I've gotten in China.

 

[yfyf]

I used to use Dave, I had a sportcoat and a couple of shirts made there. Their shirts are ok, the sportcoat was mediocre but I've never tried the trousers. Buyer beware, some of the fabrics they offer there are pretty crap.

 

[countdemoney]

Originally Posted by yfyf

I used to use Dave, I had a sportcoat and a couple of shirts made there. Their shirts are ok, the sportcoat was mediocre but I've never tried the trousers. Buyer beware, some of the fabrics they offer there are pretty crap.

If you stick with the namebrands, you should be ok. I brought my own wool.

 

[yfyf]

Now that I think about it, I used them for alterations once as well ... they did a bloody good job.

 

[acidboy]

I say play it safe and pass by Chan in HKG, or check out the other tailors in HKG (Ah Man, etc..)

 

[July]

Originally Posted by countdemoney

If you're in Shanghai, there is only one: Tailor Dave.

Great name. I'll give them a try for some odd trousers.

Originally Posted by yfyf

Now that I think about it, I used them for alterations once as well ... they did a bloody good job.

I do have an unfinished RTW dinner suit that needs reconstructive surgery to look and fit just right. If Dave can nail this, I'll finally get this project off the runway. It's the last time I buy a RTW suit...

 

[yfyf]

Regarding the "Dave" name, there are actually two tailors using that name. There was some internal tiff with that company, apparently it got a bit ugly. I believe the real deal is the one on Wu Kang Lu.

My modifications happened to be on a very cheap polyester tux that I had to wear to a friend's wedding. Luckily they did a good job of it and I could wear my polyester heatstroke wrapper to my friend's July wedding in an unairconditioned church in Hong Kong. Thumbs up.

 

[benjamin831]

Originally Posted by yfyf

I used to use Dave, I had a sportcoat and a couple of shirts made there. Their shirts are ok, the sportcoat was mediocre but I've never tried the trousers. Buyer beware, some of the fabrics they offer there are pretty crap.


I've been using tailors at World Wide House (old Jantzen) to do my alterations and their results are mixed at best.

Have you tried Chan HK for alterations? If so, how was the experience? I have a jacket that's a little tight around the chest, hopefully Chan would be able to correct the silhouette.