Job Discussion Forums

[JLockeCU]

Hey guys,

This is super specific, and may be silly. I was wondering if there were many tailors in Taipei and Taiwan in general. I know this sounds inane, but that is something I love about Thailand and Hong Kong. If I could find a good place to get fitted shirts I would minimize I bring the clothing I was bringing and get more when I get there.

Thanks, Matt

[DirtGuy]

Not a silly question at all. I am extremely hard to fit and most of my clothes are custom made.

I was there in January and looked at some of the clothing stores. Depending on your size, I would think seriously about bringing your own clothes. The stuff I saw in the stores was not really sized for Westerners and didn't look like it was well made. I saw lots of clothing stores. All the big brands, fashionable/trendy stuff, etc. I'm sure lots of the stuff I saw was fake and accordingly poorly made.

Another thing to consider is, again depending on your size and build, you may be at the very outer limits of what retailers carry. Look at the size and build of the people on the street and compare them to you. Selection may be a problem.

One more thing: Some of the new "miracle" fabrics that feel like cotton yet wick away sweat (Coolmax by DuPont) may be unheard of. These fabrics really work but are a bit hard to find. Try a company called "Travelsmith" for some really good stuff. Wore this material all over Taiwan plus in Texas and Arizona in the summer. It really works and is worth the money.

[JLockeCU]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I am not especially hard to fit, I am large compared to most in Taiwan, but not especially so (I am almost exactly medium by US standards). I just like to select my own fabrics (and get French Cuffs), and have a nice fit.

I will check out travelsmith, I have heard good things about them throughout the boards.

Thanks, Matt

[Aristotle]

If you are looking for tailor made suits and clothing go to Bangkok for the weekend. The money you save by buying your suits there will more than pay for your trip.
Good luck!
A.

[daily chai]

There are tailors all over, and they aren't expensive. Thailand is cheaper, as it's a less wealthy economy; and the country is so well equipped for custom-making clothing.

Taiwan for some silly reason doesn't have good matching thread. They don't import the rainbow of matching thread that most countries have. You'll see this in tailor shops where topstitching or hemming in special colors (not gray, blue, etc.) are in a slightly contrasting thread. If you want *custom-made* shirts in interesting colors you should import them. The thread here isn't available, and the topstitching will show on the collar & cuffs.

I sew avidly, and so have kept a sharp eye on thread supplies and fabric in Taiwan. I'm in Taipei so I figure the supply here at the capital is the best. Actually, performance fabrics are available in Taipei. I sew with them frequently. They're in the Di-Hua indoor fabric market from a specialized knit dealer. There's one 3 stalls with only knits, and two of them are nearby (and owned by this dealer). The business is family-owned, and one daughter went to school in Oz. She speaks lovely English. But you're not looking for raw materials, eh?

Yesterday in class one student was wearing a performance fabric tee. I see such stuff regularly in the Tien Mu shops on Chung Shan N. Rd section 7 which specialize in factory overruns. The tees there are something like NT$300 (less than USD10). There is a BIG selection of upmarket button down shirts in those shops too. I buy there for my husband. (Mens' shirt making is too time-consuming!) They are RTW and not custom-made, but in a rainbow of colors; sizes S-XXL. If you can wear RTW then you won't be disappointed.

HTH!

[cupcake]

Hello all...


I have stumbled upon this fountain of information whilst searching for a tailor who can make me a suit (or three) and a handfull of shirts in a day while I stopover in Taipei....I am moving to Australia and wanted to re-gear my closet before I hit the red dirt of Oz...

So I guess what I would like to know (if you can) is:


I will be staying about 45 minutes from the Airport, the exact hotel is TBD but it will most likely be near the financial district (255 Nanking East Road sound familiar?)...anyway, I can and will change my accomodations to better suit (no pun intended!) my shopping needs....so where would I find a fast (most important), good (well, O.K...good may actually be the most important), cheap (cheap may...no...no, cheap is further down the list, maybe 4th or so) and honest (honest may very well be in a three-way first place tie here...) Tailor?

I would also like to shop for a few watches while there...


Any suggestions would be appreciated.


...and if it matters (it very well may) I am a 6 foot 2, 225 pound bald man who only speaks english and a smattering of french...is there a tour-guide option in Taipei?...and no one is going to go running at the sight of me are they? (I got that day-pass look going on...)


Thanks for any help you can give me!



JJ