The Hong Kong BaoTou Tailors and Fabric Shops for CMT Thread

[ctrl_shift_calm]

Hi everyone, haven't seen a lot of posts / replies about having a tux made with Baotou/CMT tailors. Would love to get some feedback on Baotou tailor's experience with tux. Either thinking Wong SY sifu or Fung sifu - any thoughts on which one of them would be more experienced with tux (understand Wong SY's price point is at least HK$2k more than Fung's but irrespective of that, would be curious to hear your thoughts.

Cheers!
Stay calm -

 

[Ginuwine]

the best way is to ask your baotou to fix the jacket for you.
there are a few sifu for alteration in 16/F, you can ask them if they will do the job.

Curious if you could point me in the right direction for any good soft shoulder tailors in SH? or any baotao that can be contacted?
Much Appreciated!

 

[PekingRoadHK]

@ctrl_shift_calm

both can do tux. look at their workmanship and see which cutting you prefer.


@Ginuwine

I don't have contacts for baotou in Shanghai.
You need to talk to local fabric suppliers in Shanghai, I am sure they have direct contacts for baotou in Shanghai.

 

[Warrant_Buffet]

Hi everyone, haven't seen a lot of posts / replies about having a tux made with Baotou/CMT tailors. Would love to get some feedback on Baotou tailor's experience with tux. Either thinking Wong SY sifu or Fung sifu - any thoughts on which one of them would be more experienced with tux (understand Wong SY's price point is at least HK$2k more than Fung's but irrespective of that, would be curious to hear your thoughts.

Cheers!
Stay calm -

I'm confident that both sifus have had experience making tuxedos. I'd go to Wong though assuming budget isn't an issue.

My second commission with Fung turned out to be my last because my jacket got delayed for no good reason (we're talking nearly half a year) and didn't get it made until I confronted him in front of his workshop staff; the jacket was okay but without the French shoulders I was asking for.

He's a bit of a braggard too, always saying he can do different styles better than others while, if he messed up (e.g. made me pants without the continuous waistband I asked for), he would talk his way out of trouble (“that continuous waistband won't look good on ya” l that's what he said).

 

[Warrant_Buffet]

Folks beware: with covid restrictions in place, expect not to get your suits or have fitting sessions so soon. Some sifus only return to their workshops once / twice each week, such as Ng.

 

[dukenukem4ever]

I'm confident that both sifus have had experience making tuxedos. I'd go to Wong though assuming budget isn't an issue.

My second commission with Fung turned out to be my last because my jacket got delayed for no good reason (we're talking nearly half a year) and didn't get it made until I confronted him in front of his workshop staff; the jacket was okay but without the French shoulders I was asking for.

He's a bit of a braggard too, always saying he can do different styles better than others while, if he messed up (e.g. made me pants without the continuous waistband I asked for), he would talk his way out of trouble (“that continuous waistband won't look good on ya” l that's what he said).

IS Fung the guy people on this thread have complained about many times?

 

[PekingRoadHK]

IS Fung the guy people on this thread have complained about many times?

No, Lok is the worst. Fung is not.

 

[dukenukem4ever]

Lok is the worst

lol

 

[Warrant_Buffet]

IS Fung the guy people on this thread have complained about many times?

I'm probably the only guy here that has talked and complained about Fung lol
I wouldn't put Fung and Lok in the same ballpark though. At least Fung's work is *clean enough* given the price

 

[Petey]

No, Lok is the worst. Fung is not.

Who would you feel that should deserve the Top spot Sifu Wong?

 

[PekingRoadHK]

Who would you feel that should deserve the Top spot Sifu Wong?

What is top spot?
Everyone has different needs and definitions, all depends which one you prefer. They are all top grade:

1) cutting fitting & details, they all can make soft shoulders:

Italian cutting:
Wong SY sifu (was working for HK workshops for decades)

British cutting:
Ng sifu (X in house tailor for AMXX & WX Chxn)
Kevin Chan sifu (X in house tailor for Gordxn Yxo)
Keung sifu (X in house tailor for Bxromxn)

2) workmanship & details:

Wong SY sifu is outsourcing to a top grade Shenzhen workshop, this Shenzhen workshop is charging higher than average. The famous "Tailor Lai 16/F" who passed away a few years ago was using the same Shenzhen workshop.

Ng sifu is running his own Shenzhen workshop, he controls the workmanship and quality.

I am not sure about Kevin Chan sifu and Keung sifu, I guess both are not running workshop, they outsource to Shenzhen workshops.

3) services: delivery time, alterations, etc.

-------------------------------

1) I am a consumer only. There are too many BaoTou, I can never try all BaoTou, therefore, I cannot make a ranking for BaoTou. Look at their end products, see their cutting & workmanship, pick whoever you prefer.

2) Heard the labour in Shenzhen workshops are working fine. Due to the current situation of COVID-19 at this moment, do expect it takes about a month extra for logistics between HK and Shenzhen. It means it takes at least a month extra for delivery of end products. I guess the situation will go back to normal in about 1month, therefore, I have booked a fitting in early of May.

 

[ctrl_shift_calm]

@ctrl_shift_calm

both can do tux. look at their workmanship and see which cutting you prefer.

I'm confident that both sifus have had experience making tuxedos. I'd go to Wong though assuming budget isn't an issue.

Thank you Peking Road and WB for your thoughts. Some updates on my tux convo with Wong SY: he recommended just getting a dark suit (ie no silk facing) as more versatile / what most his other customers do for wedding (which makes me slightly wonder whether he has made a lot of Tux in recent years). In any case, I trust he can do the tux equally well. But note there is a surcharge for Tux given the extra labour involved.

Would love to hear some thoughts from you guys:
1) Am looking at a black Scabal super 150 / 270g barathea / 100% wool for the tux but am wonder whether it is "too light" and not "sharp" or drape enough (read somewhere that for Tux should look at at least 300g+)
2) Any thoughts on formal weal fabric between Scabal vs. Dormeuil vs. Smith Wollen (found a nice 325g 100% merino too)?
3) So surprisingly, Wong Sifu doesn't have an existing contact for sourcing silk facing and every fabric shop I called doesn't carry silk facing (apparently only 1 distributor). He said he would try, any ideas where I may be able to source them (grosgrain)?

Thanks and stay safe out there gents!

 

[Warrant_Buffet]

I'd rule K. Chan out of the race for so-called “top sifus”, cut-wise. His factory / tailoring crew does a much better job.

A couple more caveats:
1. Just because you *can* check out the quality of the suit doesn't mean that tailors will let you, especially in this pandemic season with everyone becoming so hygiene-conscious;
2. Poorly handmade stuff is inferior to anything machine-made well;
3. Be prepared to see sifus talk their way out of things they do wrong. Wrong waistband? It wouldn't have looked good on you anyway. Buttons replaced? Mine are better... I can go on and that's based on my experience;
4. To use an allegory, you don't need Ivy League education to be the best(est) worker at the office.

You don't pay a fraction of what ateliers would charge and expect sifus to work their butts off for odd orders I suppose. I cannot afford to get anything from a tailor shop but I think I understand human nature / business.

 

[PekingRoadHK]

@ctrl_shift_calm

experts told me:
1) daily wear: between 100s and 130s
2) comfort, luxury, good hand feel: 150s and up
3) formal wear / tux , fabric stands well for photo shooting: around 100s

e.g. https://www.dugdalebros.com/collections/formalwear/

 

[Fishball]

Thank you Peking Road and WB for your thoughts. Some updates on my tux convo with Wong SY: he recommended just getting a dark suit (ie no silk facing) as more versatile / what most his other customers do for wedding (which makes me slightly wonder whether he has made a lot of Tux in recent years). In any case, I trust he can do the tux equally well. But note there is a surcharge for Tux given the extra labour involved.

Would love to hear some thoughts from you guys:
1) Am looking at a black Scabal super 150 / 270g barathea / 100% wool for the tux but am wonder whether it is "too light" and not "sharp" or drape enough (read somewhere that for Tux should look at at least 300g+)
2) Any thoughts on formal weal fabric between Scabal vs. Dormeuil vs. Smith Wollen (found a nice 325g 100% merino too)?
3) So surprisingly, Wong Sifu doesn't have an existing contact for sourcing silk facing and every fabric shop I called doesn't carry silk facing (apparently only 1 distributor). He said he would try, any ideas where I may be able to source them (grosgrain)?

Thanks and stay safe out there gents!

I don't think you can find real silk grosgrain in HKG anymore. Most tailor shops used synthetics grosgrain nowaday.