Do you have a trustworthy Toronto tailor?

January 3, 2022 11:53 AM

I need some repairs done on my two suits before I can wear them without causing further damage, and based on past experience if they are done wrong the whole garment may end up unwearable. Do you have someone in Toronto who you can trust with those sorts of repairs? Bonus if they can also fix broken stitching on boots and handbags.
posted by sindark to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (5 answers total)

Can you be more specific about the kind of repairs?

I often see Magic Tailor recommended on FB and I have used them myself (formerly across from the Eatons Centre on Yonge, now nearby at Church and Queen). I've had a blazer and a structured wool coat tailored there. The coat, they did NOT do a great job- the belt loops were re-attached visibly off centre AND crooked, the sleeves weren't done as I had asked but they lied and said they were, and they were rude when I noticed the crooked belt loops on pickup so I actually never went back and those loops have bothered me ever since. On the other hand, the blazer was done so well that another professional tailor actually peered at it carefully and then really sincerely complimented the work.

And I've had GRRRREAT experiences with Alian Designs (near Yonge and Wellesley, on St Joseph). I've had about 10 items tailored there including several dress shirts, pants, and a very complicated suit, and he does a perfect job every time. He's a bit slow and disorganized so if you have a tight timeline just call him a lot to keep him on track or he'll finish late. But his work is meticulous and he's suuuuper nice. The suit he did was a very complex alteration which included adding fabric in a stylish way to enlarge a suit that was a bit too tight - and it was done to PERFECTION. He was so creative and skilled about how to make the changes, and really enthusiastic about the creativity he got to bring to the project. You could really feel his pride in the work.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:59 PM on January 3, 2022

There is a well done patch on the inside of one suit trouser leg that is visibly getting loose and falling off. Another trouser pocket has been torn at the corner and would open up more if worn at all. There are also moth holes in the sleeve of one suit jacket.

The lining of my Canada Goose photojournalist jacket is getting torn inside at the front, where it rubs against the front of my legs.

I also have a pair of leather boots with a strap at the back to pull them on which has torn free, and a section of the zipper on my Savage Industries EDC One bag where the zipper has disconnected from the fabric beside it.
posted by sindark at 1:22 PM on January 3, 2022

Re: Alian Designs, they haven't posted anything to their FB page since 2015 and their domain at aliandesigns.com is down.
posted by sindark at 1:24 PM on January 3, 2022

Tailoress on Roncesvalles
posted by dobbs at 6:46 AM on January 4, 2022

I've never used his services (only looked into his studio admiringly), but Philip Sparks in the Junction creates the most beautiful suits and other garments. https://www.instagram.com/philipsparks/?hl=en You'll have to check if he does repairs as well, but I would assume so.
posted by elsmith at 9:33 AM on January 4, 2022