Tailor from a distance?

November 24, 2024 5:04 AM

Have you had custom clothes made from a distance, through Etsy or otherwise? What was the experience, and the cost, like? Would you recommend whoever you used?
posted by NotLost to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total)

Once. I got a dress similar but not quite to this one from this shop. It's exactly as it was described and looked like in photos and fits me exactly and the price was very reasonable.

I haven't actually worn it yet but that's my own fault, I got something that looked cool but without a plan to actually incorporate it into my life. (I've been making louder clothing choices lately though and I'm making a point of incorporating it into my wardrobe this year, I promise.)
posted by phunniemee at 6:33 AM on November 24 [2 favorites]

Oh, I also many years ago tried to buy a custom cargo skirt from someone on Etsy who took 6+ months and was variably in the hospital for kidney disease, cancer, her dog, her husband's truck, insufficient postage, ghosted me when I asked to cancel the transaction, made me go through Etsy for refund resolution, sent me messages begging me to give her more time so they didn't close her shop, still couldn't provide any photos or promise of a delivery time, then another two months later with no warning mailed me a skirt that was 6" too big in the waistband and 8" too short and a card covered in hearts and then asked me to pay for postage to return it to her.

So like. You know, mixed experience I guess.
posted by phunniemee at 6:39 AM on November 24 [1 favorite]

two separate metropolitan shops with tailors elsewhere, the first was disappointing; i'd recommend the second
posted by HearHere at 6:51 AM on November 24

often clothes from stores don't fit, so i checked various options. the experience you're asking about was ultimately unsatisfying, though the cost was less than going directly to a tailor. if i feel the need again, i'd save up for a tailor i met. in the meantime, i just adjust store-bought clothes 🪡
posted by HearHere at 7:19 AM on November 24 [1 favorite]

I ordered a tie-dye skirt from Etsy, but asked the shop owner to do it in a different color palette than the ones she had listed. Worked out great, same price as listed item, quick turnaround and I ended up getting three more.
posted by bluesky78987 at 7:29 AM on November 24 [1 favorite]

I had my wedding dress custom made through etsy. It was great - high quality, exactly as described, and fit really well. I did have some minor tailoring adjustments made, and I was overall really happy with it.

I have also had a dress made from heartmycloset on etsy. It was also great, but it doesn't fit me anymore.

I have also bought some things through eShakti and that was a mixed experience. Some were great, some fit really strangely.
posted by jeoc at 7:35 AM on November 24 [1 favorite]

I got a full length wool winter coat from Sophia Clothing (no longer on Etsy, sadly) a few years ago made to my measurements. It cost $250, fit me perfectly, and was beautifully made. It was made to order from China, but I don't remember it taking a long time to arrive.
posted by pangolin party at 7:39 AM on November 24

eShakti and the experience, as of 2 years ago, was hit and miss.
posted by jadepearl at 8:39 AM on November 24

eShakti has apparently shut down (though they’ll still take your money). I think there was a period of bad work instead of no work as they went.
posted by clew at 11:37 AM on November 24

I bought a made-to-order linen skirt from LinenHandmadeStudio on Etsy. I was very happy with my purchase, and part of why I was happy is their reviews indicated that their garments were true to the size chart, full skirts like the one I ordered only have one measurement that matters (waist), and I measured myself and ordered accordingly (which was not my regular size). The price was fair (they are more expensive now) and they took the 6 weeks indicated to ship, which was also reasonable.

I would be much less likely to order a made to order dress because there are too many ways for it to go wrong. In fact, I ordered a couple of made-to-measure shirt/pants combos (shalwar kameez) from various South Asian websites for a series of wedding events and they ultimately fit less well than the ones that I purchased that were standard sizes, despite me being a couple of inches larger around the waist than is proportional.

Hard earned lesson: make sure you’re 100% clear on whether you are providing your measurements or desired measurements of the finished garment.
posted by A Blue Moon at 3:04 PM on November 24 [1 favorite]