Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cdninkorea]

I need some dress shirts. In the past I have bought designer shirts (Zegna is my favorite) on sale: this way I can get a shirt worth $300-$400 at $100-$150. Then I get them fitted (i.e. material cut out) for a more custom fit.

But there's no fit like a truly custom fit, in which the shirt is made according to the wearer's measurements instead of being trimmed down to size off the rack. I want custom made shirts but need help on where to go.
I went to Hamilton Shirts and was very disappointed. I guess for $50 I shouldn't be surprised, but the fabric felt like paper and the buttons were plastic.

I want something better. The Zegna boutique in Apgujeong can make custom fitted shirts, but they're $400 and I'm not willing to spend that much. I can justify $150-$200. The material won't be the same but the fit will more than make up for it. Can anyone recommend a tailor in Seoul?

[huck]

Thailand

[VanIslander]

Or Vietnam.

[Beej]

[HapKi]

go to Hamilton, and like it.

[Mr. Pink]

I can't justify 150-200 a shirt because they last at most a year or two.

You must be one of those want to be rich types.

Also I am curious, what do you want your buttons to be? Ivory? Wood? Normal dress shirts for business use plastic buttons.

[cdninkorea]

[Mr. Pink]

Ya know, reading your reply, two things came to my mind:

What do you do for pants and shoes?

If your shirts last more than 2 years, I am guessing that you hand wash them, as well, you don't sweat a lot in the arm pit region.

I like my shirts from Hamilton Shirts, but then they are for work. I wouldn't wear a $200 shirt working around kids, chalk, board markers, etc.

Since you are willing to pay some bucks for a shirt: have you looked into tailors that are located in the lobbies or basements of 5 star international hotels? There are a couple in the basement of the Intercontinental at Coex in Seoul.

[victorology]

I'm with you. I've been looking for a good shirt maker but haven't been able to find one. I tried Hamilton Shirts but yeah, like you said, they're pretty dismal. I agree, the buttons are terrible.

I bought a bunch of real mother of pearl buttons this past year at around $1.50 each because no Korean shirt maker offers mother of pearl buttons. Adds more than $15 to the cost of a shirt but it's the small details that make a difference.

I recommended Hahn's and Zenith for suits in this thread.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=33604&sid=7f0b9d40a9ba365fc1294a6475d4d6be

Haven't made shirts at Zenith but I'm going to check them out soon.

If you're looking for a 40,000 won shirt, don't go to Hamilton. Go to Hahn's. The shirts there aren't great but they're better than the ones you get at Hamilton.

[spliff]

I like Hamilton...100% cotton and a substantial fabric. There a place a couple doors down that make shirts as well and have some nicer colors for summer.

[forster_0]

I find Hamilton Shirts to be ok if you dont get the most expensive material (42,000). Its doesnt iron very well, and I dont like how it drapes. I've got too a difficult frame for off the rack clothes, so 36,000 won for decent shirt isn't bad.

[bassexpander]

Hamilton was great, but I've found they are slowly creeping up in price these past few years. There are other better prices along that same block (if you look closely) and they're all pretty much made at the same place anyway.

[mishlert]

There is Satoria Min in COEX, across from TGI Friday's, that makes great shirts for 70,000. I got a couple of shirts there and am very happy with the quality and how they are wrinkle free.