Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gardimus]

I'm looking to get a couple suits made. I already have the fabric I want to use. I am assuimg it's best for me to go to an Itaewon tailor, correct?

What can I expect in terms of prices and quality?

Any recommendations for me?

[eamo]

I had a suit made in Itaewon. I had to go there about three times. I paid about 500,000. I still didn't like it much.

The problem is that the Itaewon tailors don't make young mens suits. Those suits are in the department stores. The Itaewon tailors make grandad suits.

If I was buying another suit I would go to a department store during a sale. You'll still need the pants altered of course. Unless you are exactly one certain leg-length.

[jjurabong]

I'm a woman, ( so that may be different ) but I've had a three-piece suit, a dress, and a shirt/jacket made by three different tailors in Itaewon, and have been disappointed every time. They looked amateurish and didn't flatter at all, but part of that was the type of material chosen. They should know when a certain material won't drape or hang well with the design, but in all cases, they insisted the material was apporpriate.

Since you have your own material, you may be better off. I would suggest instead going to Dongdaemun market. My husband had a shirt and suit made there and it was gorgeous. I also had a sheath/long jacket made and it was one of the most flattering things I've ever put on.

I wouldn't begin to know where to give you directions, but it's in the fabric "arcade" there. If you have a Korean friend, maybe they can direct you and translate?

[Juregen]

Yeah

Itaewon is disappointing, their cuts are outdated.

[Gardimus]

Thanks for the advice so far. I was under the impression Itaewon was a good place to go since my buddy swears by the trailor made dress shirts he gets there. But 500 000 for a bad tailor seems pretty crappy.

[animalbirdfish]

Dongdaemun is well-known as the textile district of Seoul and is thus a great place to go. Good choice of fabrics and tailors up there. Finding an English-speaking tailor is nigh impossible, though.

[maeil]

Maybe this is just my ignorance, but what about altering clothing? I ordered several women's button down shirts from the US, and dangit, either American sizes have gotten bigger or Kimchi really is the miracle diet food.

Can I just go to the local dry cleaners, where I've seen them hem a pant or two, or should I go somewhere else like Dongdaemun?

Thanks all.

[Fat Sam]

I bought a 'Korean style' suit off the rack which has served me well, but the pleats on the pants over here make them far too baggy -Vanilla Ice meets Wall Street.

I went to Itaewon and bought a suit at Sam's Tailors (no relation). Stay away from the shiny material and specify a 'European' cut (no pleats). It's not on the main street so you can get a decent suit for two hundred and fifty. Despite being fitted, it was still a couple of inches short, and so tight that I'm glad of the lack of eye-candy where I work -one erection could easily expose my shins. In hinesight, this probably isn't the best recommendation.

The only other suit I have fits perfectly. It cost forty quid (eighty thousand) at an outlet store back home. Bargain.

[Gardimus]

Wow, you think there would be one good suit story out there.

[Roch]

Mr. Han is a very good tailor and is a gentleman to boot.

Go to the sidewalk in front of McDonald's on I'taewon Street and stare down at it. Next, turn to your right and walk to where I'taewon Street begins. Next, turn to your left and walk about ten metres and then stop. Han's should be right about there on the left hand side of the street.

[Gardimus]

Cool, price range?

[lastat06513]

There was a place along the main drag in Namdaemun as if going to MyongDong. It was on the same side of the street as the sporting goods stores and the sock stands and the entrance gate to the main Namdaemun market.
The signs are in Korean, but you can easily see a big sign that will have the price on it; 80,000 won. The styles are very good and you can get tailoring done for 10,000 won more.

Can't beat that in Seoul!

[Roch]

[amanda114]

Hey
Go to Bruce Cha. His contact details are: [email protected], 011 1737 0362. He goes under the name of 'Diana Custom Tailor'. Bruce is based in Itaewon among all the other tailors, look for the Diana sign, often Bruce is standing outside. My bf and 5 of his friends have had suits and shirts made by him, he is honest and does a great job.

[seoulkitchen]

I got a suit and an overcoat made at Sam's tailor, no complaints at all. In fact, I must say that I look mighty fine in them threads.
Prices are in the 200 smackers range.