Tailored shirts from Hong Kong

September 14, 2007 6:55 AM

Tailored shirts from Hong Kong. Recommendations? Prices? Shipping charges? Speed of delivery? Experiences good / bad?

I have a new position at a new company which requires me to dress a little better. Standard off-the-rack dress shirts don't fit me very well; "fitted" off-the-rack ones fit better. I'm considering trying custom-tailored shirts from HK, but I don't really know where to start. Looking for specific experiences and recommendations. Thanks!

posted by ZenMasterThis to society & culture (6 comments total)

Lots of recommendations in this thread.
posted by junkbox at 7:47 AM on September 14, 2007

Wow, thanks! I should've looked harder before posting!
posted by ZenMasterThis at 7:54 AM on September 14, 2007

I've used MyCustomTailor (in Bangkok, not HK) several times over the years and I've been very satisfied.
posted by hedgehog at 7:56 AM on September 14, 2007

I really like Jantzen. They're a bit spotty on speed (anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months), but they're fully custom for about $44 per shirt, delivered. If the order form doesn't give you enough options, the owner is very accommodating -- just put any more details you want in the comments box.

I'm pretty slim, so wearing, off-the-rack shirts makes me look like a sailboat. I haven't had this problem with Jantzen.

Styleforum has a pretty decent article about Jantzen on their wiki with some examples of how the different fabrics turned out.

If you've got any more questions, feel free to ask! The folks on Styleforum are pretty helpful, too.
posted by poq at 9:01 AM on September 14, 2007

Ascot Chang makes all my shirts - in Shanghai, I believe, not HK. I consider it a luxury, but one that I enjoy very much; and the shirts last so long that it's probably a cost-effective luxury.
posted by ikkyu2 at 12:00 PM on September 14, 2007

Last week, I has a suit and a shirt made at Sam's in Tsim Sha Tsui. The shirt was HK$350 and fit beautifully, if a little loose in the cuff. Now, Sam may not be the absolute best tailor in HK, but you can't argue with a 2-day turnaround at a little over US$40. Once he has your measurements, you can order by email. And during the fitting he kept giving me cans of San Miguel, which was a nice touch.

(Interestingly, when you exit the MTR at TST Station and make your way north on Nathan Rd., and you look vaguely European, you will be beset by men offering you custom tailoring. "Custom tailor, sir, custom tailor? Suit, sir, suit, my friend? Custom suit sir, shirt, pant, sir?" The lone hash dealer was nowhere near as persistent.)
posted by milquetoast at 8:48 PM on November 24, 2007