Sam's Tailor in Shanghai?

[DoctorC]

Hello,
I will be travelling to Shanghai in Mid-August for about 1-2 weeks on business and was planning to get one or two new suits and a couple of shirts. I've read a lot about w.w.chans and also about that right next to him is Sams. However (maybe I am too stupid), I've only found very few comments about his work and quality. So I was wondering if someone could shed a llittle light on that.
thx a lot!

 

[Colnago]

If the Sam's in Shanghai is linked to Sam's in HK, then it is a lower level of quality and the items do not last like the WW Chan items. I would suggest you go to WW Chans if you can afford them -- they produce great products. I just placed another order with Chan when they were in London a few weeks ago and I have been very happy with everything they have made for me.

 

[Maccimus]

Seriously, I rarely hear positive comment on them. Chan locates right next to the Sam's so you can judge by yourself when you arrive.

 

[MikeDT]

Some information about Sam's and Chan in Shanghai over at AAAC.
http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/forum/showthread.php?86112-Sam-s-and-WW-Chan-share-tailors


"Just got this from W.W.Chan:

Following are some facts about W.W. Chan & Sons Tailor Ltd. and Sam’s Tailor, Shanghai which may be of interest to you:

1. For most items, the prices of W.W. Chan & Sons in Shanghai are still little (about 5%) cheaper than our Hong Kong shop because of the fact that the exchange rate between RMB and Hong Kong dollar has increased, prices are getting closer.

2. W.W. Chan & Sons operate and manage Sam’s Tailor, Shanghai. Our shops in Shanghai are next to each other therefore we are able to share some of our resources available. However, for your information, each shop has its own team of in-house tailors to take measurements and perform fittings. But in some cases when one shop is too busy and the tailors are unavailable, if the client prefers not to wait, we can arrange tailor from next door to perform the work.

3. In Shanghai, both W.W. Chan & Sons and Sam’s Tailor have the work done in our own workshop. Our tailoring team has been trained since 1986 in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. We found that our work is so unique that we are not able to recruit new tailors from the market. All our tailors have been trained intensively by our master tailors for at least four to six years before they can start working independently.

4. The suits that W.W. Chan & Sons, Shanghai offer to clients are different to those offer by Sam’s Shanghai. W.W. Chan suits are made with floating canvas and hand canvas. The suits that Sam’s Shanghai offer are with fused canvas. People know that once the fuse canvas is glued with the front part of the jacket, it can then be mass produced by production line in the factory or by workers with less tailoring skills Obviously, this is not what Sam’s Shanghai does. Our fused suits are done by experienced tailors of our own workshop. Although they are different team of tailors that work on floating canvas, Sam’s suits are cut and trimmed by the same tailors that do W.W. Chan’s suits and so do all other details like roll lapel, sleeves with real button holes, etc..

We hope that answers your questions,

Best Regards,


W. W. CHAN & SONS TAILOR LTD."

 

[MikeDT]

Added as new post as there is NO EDIT with SF2.0

BTW I do have a blazer from Sam's HK. Made last year, still looks and feels ok, and it hasn't fallen apart yet.

 

[DoctorC]

Thank you Mike for the Info. I will obviously look at Chan as well as Sam an then decide. Either way I go, I will post the results and my experiences here.

 

[GBR]



Hello,
I will be travelling to Shanghai in Mid-August for about 1-2 weeks on business and was planning to get one or two new suits and a couple of shirts. I've read a lot about w.w.chans and also about that right next to him is Sams. However (maybe I am too stupid), I've only found very few comments about his work and quality. So I was wondering if someone could shed a llittle light on that.
thx a lot!

I am surprised that you have not found more. The Sams in HK is merely a tourist trap which supplies low standard goods to the unwary. He is good at marketing and getting his name known as the photographs in his windows of so -called worthies receiving his products shows. Don't be fooled and simply avoid. That Chan has some interest in the Shanghai operation which the letter above suggests (and assuming that it is genuine, which is not proven) is very surprising and should not confuse.

 

[DoctorC]

Well, as I said, I will be travelling to Shanghai not Hong Kong. So the Sam in Hong Kong is not the one I care about. As I read and search around...the Sam in HK and the one in Shanghai have nothing to do with eachother.

 

[MikeDT]



I am surprised that you have not found more. The Sams in HK is merely a tourist trap which supplies low standard goods to the unwary. He is good at marketing and getting his name known as the photographs in his windows of so -called worthies receiving his products shows. Don't be fooled and simply avoid.

That Chan has some interest in the Shanghai operation which the letter above suggests (and assuming that it is genuine, which is not proven) is very surprising and should not confuse.

I would have said it was proven, after all that W.W. Chan email was obtained and posted on AAAC by Andy Gilchrist the owner of that forum.

Another thing, how do we know Sam's and W.W Chan in HK are not doing the same sharing of resources as they evidently do in Shanghai?
"3. In Shanghai, both W.W. Chan & Sons and Sam’s Tailor have the work done in our own workshop". Has anyone actually seen Sam's or Chan's workshop(s) in HK or Shenzhen? In HK both Chan and Sam's are in the same place, that is Burlington Arcade, TST. Small Chinese business' with similar interests will often share the same resources and facilities. "Sam’s suits are cut and trimmed by the same tailors that do W.W. Chan’s suits and so do all other details like roll lapel, sleeves with real button holes, etc.."

AFAICT the main difference, Sam's suits, sport jackets and blazers are glued/fused, and Chan's are not. With an appropriate difference in prices.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if both W.W. Chan and Manu Melwani(Sam's) play golf together.

 

[dragon8]



It wouldn't surprise me in the least if both W.W. Chan and Manu Melwani(Sam's) play golf together.

I doubt it. WW Chan must be well in his eighties at the least.

 

[JLibourel]

^Yeah, as I recall, W.W. Chan graduated from tailoring school in 1942, which would mean that he's probably pushing 90 if he's not there already.