| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
roadwork
Joined: 24 Nov 2008
Location: Goin' up the country
|
 Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:51 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| victorology wrote: |
| cwflaneur wrote: |
| turkishlover25 wrote: |
I want to start out with some custom shirts, to ease into the process. I'm willing to spend up to 50000 per shirt, if they are of good make and quality. Shouldn't I bring in a shirt I already own that I like the fit of? I'm short, but very broad shouldered and stocky, so finding good dress shirts has always been a chore.
I know with suits fabric and cut are important, but what about with shirts. I'm not sure I need a dozen silk shirts (though one or two might be nice), so what are some other light, breathable fabrics? Heavier ones make me sweat too easily. |
No, you don't bring in a ready-made shirt for them to copy. The tailor takes the measurements of your body, and they make a pattern based on those measurements. That's the whole point of a custom shirt, it's made to fit you. You can also pick the sort of collar and cuff you want. Even if you have a department-store shirt that you think fits nicely, your first custom shirt should be a lot better in fit. |
This isn't true. Most of the tailors do MTM (made to measure) shirts, not bespoke. They won't make a custom pattern for you. Fact is, a MTM shirt should fit better than a RTW shirt... but it's still not bespoke.
If you have a shirt that fits you perfectly, I'd bring it in. The thing is, they can take measurements off your body but that doesn't mean the shirt will fit to your liking. You might like a tighter or looser fit than they cut. You might want sleeve width to be different from how the tailor usually does it.
When you start, just get one shirt made off the bat. See how you like the fit and go from there. They usually don't get it perfect the first time. Be really specific about what you want.
You're going to want 100% cotton. It's also good to get a few linen shirts for the summer but I fine good linen hard to find in Seoul.
I've had shirts made at numerous places (Itaewon, Sogong-dong, Apgujeong) but the best shirts I've had made in Korea are from Savile Row (http://www.savilerow.co.kr/). Decent fabric with real (thick) mother of pearl buttons run you about 60-70,000 won. They're not the best shirts in the world but the best I've found in Korea and more than worth the price. |
I'm kind of curious about this place. Were you getting western style pearl button snap up shirts? I can imagine that the best shirts in the world would probably run 10x what you paid here, but as far as fit, how were they and what fabric did you choose? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
cwflaneur
Joined: 04 Aug 2009
|
| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| roadwork wrote: |
I'm kind of curious about this place. Were you getting western style pearl button snap up shirts? I can imagine that the best shirts in the world would probably run 10x what you paid here, but as far as fit, how were they and what fabric did you choose? |
Speaking for myself, I got a shirt there and didn't notice any difference in quality from the ones I had from a few different tailors in Itaewon. They all have a range of prices and qualities in fabrics. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
victorology
Joined: 10 Sep 2007
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 3:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| cwflaneur wrote: |
| roadwork wrote: |
I'm kind of curious about this place. Were you getting western style pearl button snap up shirts? I can imagine that the best shirts in the world would probably run 10x what you paid here, but as far as fit, how were they and what fabric did you choose? |
Speaking for myself, I got a shirt there and didn't notice any difference in quality from the ones I had from a few different tailors in Itaewon. They all have a range of prices and qualities in fabrics. |
I'm not sure what you mean by "western style pearl button snap up shirts." You can request mother of pearl buttons and they're real and thick. Like I said, they're not the best MTM shirts out there but it's the best I've been able to find in Seoul. I've had shirts made at about 8 different places.
Most people probably won't be able to tell the difference between a shirt made there and one made in Itaewon. Really, the differences are in the details. If you can't tell, you might as well go with what's cheaper.
Next time you're in one of those Itaewon tailors, ask if they have MOP buttons for their shirt. Chances are, they won't. What they will probably have are plastic buttons. Some may even have plastic buttons with the name of their store stamped on them. The vast majority of people don't care. If they do have MOP buttons, compare them to the ones you get at Savile Row. You'll see a difference when you compare them but if you don't know what to look for, you'll never notice.
In addition to Savile Row (Gwanghwamun), there's a shop called Goshe in Apgujeong that comes pretty well recommended. I've gotten a shirt made there but liked Savile Row better. Goshe does have a variety of imported Italian fabrics but those will run you at least 120,000 won. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
turkishlover25
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
Location: Illinois; USA
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
So far Hahn's or Savile Row sound like the best bet. I'm going to get one shirt made from each and check from there. What specifically should I already know about before I walk into the shop i.e. tailor jargon?
Also, are any of you familiar with Dainty's, a Korean brand? If so, is there a branch in Bundang? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vincentmiser
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Location: Everywhere
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| BUMP |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jsk
Joined: 31 Oct 2008
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I had some suits and shirts made in Itaewon a couple years ago (suits at Hahn's and another place called Savile Row, and shirts at a place called Hamilton). They were decent but as mentioned above they are made-to-measure (following a pre-made pattern) and not true bespoke. Some of my clothes I bought off the rack for around the same price actually fit better than the tailored clothes. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
corvidae333
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
|
| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| will these tailors also make alterations on clothing? I have a nice jacket that fits almost perfectly except that the sleeves are too long and such. Will they do things like that? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| corvidae333 wrote: |
| will these tailors also make alterations on clothing? I have a nice jacket that fits almost perfectly except that the sleeves are too long and such. Will they do things like that? |
Yes, I've had two jackets altered at Hahn's Tailor in Itaewon, but I've also bought stuff from them before, too. It cost 20,000 won per jacket to have it adjusted to my body.
As for Thailand, well, not all tailors are made the same. If you can afford up to 800,000 won for a complete suit, try the tailors near the Westin Chosun Hotel near City Hall. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
|
| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Personally, I don't rate Korean tailors very highly. They certainly aren't regarded in the tailoring world the way Hong Kong or Singaporean tailors are............I don't think they use good material. And very few of them keep up with trends.......so you could end up getting a 'grandad' suit.
In Korea, I'd say the best option is to wait for sales at the department stores then pick up a good brand name suit when it's discounted. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| eamo wrote: |
Personally, I don't rate Korean tailors very highly. They certainly aren't regarded in the tailoring world the way Hong Kong or Singaporean tailors are............I don't think they use good material. And very few of them keep up with trends.......so you could end up getting a 'grandad' suit.
In Korea, I'd say the best option is to wait for sales at the department stores then pick up a good brand name suit when it's discounted. |
And then have it altered by the staff for free. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
y.dan
Joined: 10 Jul 2007
|
| Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 3:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
i think i can help out..
i got two tailored suits from Othello Theater Tailor shop in Apgujeong (near cine city)..
and i bought a bunch of tailored shirts from there as well..
they look very professional yet trendy.. i totally recommend them..
http://www.othello.co.kr/
i also tailored a coat from this place..
http://www.kahoshi.com/contents/main.php
it's in apgu as well
also very nice..
both offers u a range of materials.. and u can choose the style u want..
hope this helps.. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
vincentmiser
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Location: Everywhere
|
| Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 3:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
SWEET!
Can you give me an idea of the prices you paid at Othello?
They look like my kind of place....
Thanks! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tardisrider
Joined: 13 Mar 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 4:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
I've had many suits and shirts made at different places in Itaewon, but Hahn's is the only place I will go nowadays.
Hahn's is more expensive than many other places, but their suits are of much higher quality than you'll find at other places. They are one of the only places in Itaewon where the tailoring is done on the premises and not farmed out to a subcontractor in Dongdaemun.
Most of the tailors in Itaewon are just trying to push fabric. At Hahn's, they actually know about fabrics and construction of suits.
Even though they have all my measurements on file and know my specific requirements (I'm left handed, so they install the inner pockets in the on the right instead of the left, etc) I still go in for three fittings before I take the suit home.
I always take my suits back after a few months if there are any minor alterations that need to be made, and they never charge. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
atwood
Joined: 26 Dec 2009
|
| Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 2:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
Take a shirt to show them exactly how you want it made or they'll cut corners. Same thing with a suit. If you have one you like the cut of, take it and show them. Otherwise, you won't know exactly what you're getting until after they've made it.
If you've got a car the place to go is the Yeo Ju premium outlet mall. They've got some truly nice stuff out there. If you like pi&^ing money away, go to any of the Brooks Bros. in Seoul.
Regarding department stores, if you are buying an imported brand, check and make sure it's actually made by the designer and not just licensed to a Korean company. More often than not, you're buying something manufactured by LG Fashions or Samsung's textile firm. That's one reason why they all tend to look the same. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bish
Joined: 09 Jun 2007
|
| Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 4:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
| atwood wrote: |
Regarding department stores, if you are buying an imported brand, check and make sure it's actually made by the designer and not just licensed to a Korean company. More often than not, you're buying something manufactured by LG Fashions or Samsung's textile firm. That's one reason why they all tend to look the same. |
Stupid question time: How would you know this? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
