Korean Job Discussion Forums

[saint_moi]

I need to have a suit made. Got a bunch of questions:

Have any of you had suits made in Seoul or in Itaewon?
For the jacket and pants, what did you pay? or what's the going rate in Itaewon for a suit?
What was the quality like?
How long did you wait?
If those of you who have had suits made, if you've gotten awesome service, could you recommend such a tailor?

Thanks in advance,

Moi.

[Wangja]

You can pay as little as 150,000 KRW or as much as 2.5 million.

As everywhere, you get what you pay for.

I generally pay around 400,000 for a two-piece but I would prefer one of the 2.5 million suits.

That said, it is also worth checking the major department stores - they sometimes have sales of "last season's" branded suits. A chum of mine got an Armani for 150,000.

[Kyrei]

For the last 10 years, I have used Hahn's Tailor right at the Yongsan-end of Itaewon Street... Around the corner and just below the new Suji's Restaurant. The guy has good clothes, good fabrics, good English, and good business ethics. He has never screwed me around, does all alterations quickly and very cheaply (if not free). A decent suit can be anywhere from 350,00 to 600,000 depending on fabric and options. I used him for my wedding outfits, my family's wedding outfits 10 years ago, and my brother-in-law's wedding outfits for this weekend. My whole in-law family likes the guy. Go there.

[saint_moi]

i asked for advice about having suits made a week back or so. The guy above gave me sound info. but I was hoping some others would too.

To be honest, 350 thou is really rich for my blood for a suit Is there no one here who has had suits made in seoul? No advice or info?

[Wangja]

[RACETRAITOR]

Best suits I ever got were all from Value Village. No diggity.

[lastat06513]

I got a cool suit made at a shop in namdaemun market.
Already madesuit that just needs tayloring-----> 80,000won

Go to namdaemun and find the main street that leads to namdaemun market (if you take the blue bus= number 013 or 015 from Itaewon, Namyoung-dong, Sookdae Subway stop or Seoul Station) get off the bus across the street from namdaemun market and go through the underground walkway to the other side.
Find the bus stop for the same bus (013 and 015) and right next to it should be a shop with signs in front for suits for 80,000.

I have bought suits that ranged from 75,000 (my best suit) to one that is 360,000 (looks like a pilot's uniform).

I live near the tayloring shops and I can say they are a BIG rip off!

The best thing to do is to also find the NIKE sales that are advertised every month (mostly in and around YongSan electronics market or Geumho station), they sell those designer suits for 25% of the original price- a REAL bargain!

[saint_moi]

*bump*

Summer's coming up, need to get a few suits to last me through the sweltering, sweaty crack, pasty face, stifling-can't breathe, oh-so-humid Korean inner city Summer. Has anyone bought a really great suit lately? Tailored or otherwise? lastat06513's post about namdaemun market suits seemed worth looking into. But those of you who like me, aren't 5"3 and have legs and shoulders longer/larger than the average Korean businessman, would probably need a tailored suit. I think I agree that 350K (bottom of price range) for a suit is rich for my blood. Then, suit advice/tips from those with know-how... ?

Thanks in advance.

[Tiger Beer]

Sam's Tailor
02-794-3033

Its down an alley in Itaewon (basically across the street from KEB.. and just go down some stairs and keep walking for 3-4 minutes - its on the right).

Since its off the main drag, their rent is a lot cheaper.. but their suits are great.. they charged me 180,000 each time.. and the second time i went, i didn't even tell them i'd been there before, but got the same deal again.

they do good work though.. plus they have tailors and everything else right there (as opposed to most of those questionable shops with zero tailors who i just presume send the order off somewhere else or worse, just buy off a rack somewhere and pass it off as tailor-made!)

[Karabeara]

Check this place out. This is the place that execs go to get suits if they want something that is great, but isn't terribly expensive.

Othello has a sale this week. 250,000 won for a full wool suit. Silk suits starting around 350,000+. Lots of newer fabrics to choose from. And they don't look like ajosshi styles like the street guys trying to hit you up for suits sell. Here is the name and number of the lady to talk to:

Jeong Hee-Young
Phone: 02-797-2113
Itaewon-Dong 123-13

Located 2 buildings west of the Big Electric Cat bar (sort of in the area across from 3 Alley Pub). It's on the 3rd floor above a greek restaurant. Hee-Young speaks good English. The other lady doesn't. Maybe the sale will last one to two weeks, but that is only a guess.

Very nice suits!

[Cigar_Guy]

When it comes to sutis here, I think you've got a real opportunity. Yeah, maybe 350k is more than you'd like to pay for a suit. But for me it's a real bargain It's about what I'd pay for one back home, but I can get it done here custom-fit (I've got bit shoulders and shoulder blades, whic makes getting a good jacket a horror back home) and EXACTLY the way I want it--color, fabric, lapels and cuffs, everything.

Furthermore, at that price you're probably going to be looking at higher quality stuff. To have something custom made for you of good material that will last a very long time is a much better investment than something from a department store back home where the pant cuffs or jacket seams will wear out after a few years of use. Also I've found that I need to have my pants pressed much less often when I get them here--after wearing one pair of Italian slacks about six or seven days, I still felt like I could cut my finger on the crease.

It's also worth considering the fact that you're not likely to have too too many opportunities to get custom suits at these prices. I say splurge a teensy bit now and be happy with it for a long long time to come. Men's fashions don't change nearly as much as women's, so you can get a couple simple suits made now and probably wear them forever.

[Hollywoodaction]