Chaperon
New in Town
- Messages
- 35
- Location
- Atlanta, Georgia
So - I'm in Hong Kong today on business, which concluded a bit earlier than planned (to a good conclusion). I come here more or less annually, and have for some years.
I find the hotel is smack in the middle of a row of maybe 30 or more custom tailors. So I say to myself, "Self - time to try a bespoke shirt. You're here with the time, and can get a fitting."
Finding the right shop seemed to be all the battle so I cruised up and down and into and out of the various micromalls and small shops you will find all over HK.
I immediately ruled out any shops with street barkers, some of whom are darned persistant. (Hey, sailor! Wanta buy a shirt?) They did everything but physically shove you into the shop. Prices ran as low as 100 $HK (about 13.50 $US right now), or lower if you bought several or a suit with the shirt or similar deals.
Other shops were empty of customers and had a hangdog look about them. Dust on fabric bolts is probably not a good thing. Hard to decide why of course. Bad marketing of a good product? Ugly fabrics? Just plain no-good, or?
I did note one shop which was full of some lively Germans or Danes (I was not sure which) all of whom were ordering a good bit. I had to wait for service as the staff as quite busy. One of the Europeans mentioned when I asked him that he had been buying there for eight years or more and was happy with the results. They were a well dressed group for sure.
So - either this shop was clever enough to hire a happy crew of Euro-shills to lure customers or I had found my place to try out the modest purchase of a single shirt. It helped some that the shop been there since 1962 also.
I had noted that the prices were higher there, and at some of the other shops I'd seen. No problem with that if the value is there. I'm not looking for a cheap shirt - I'm looking for a good shirt. Standard price of a single was 280 $HK (37.83 $US) plus 50 $HK (6.75 $US) for shipping to the US. His price break was at a purchase of eight shirts, where two of the eight were then free (buy 6 get 8). Lots of fabrics to choose from - I picked a light blue and light gold small check (100% cotton) as I knew it would play well with what I already had.
I got measured head to toe and asked a good many questions about fit and intended use of the shirt. I picked a collar style and a cuff style, with no monogram, thanks anyhow.
This is the first non-rack shirt I've ever tried. I got the bug from reading here and also from knowing that was how my grandfather purchased all his shirts, slacks, suits, etc. Turnaround time is a standard three days, but expidited service is also possible I think. Three days works, because I have to stop in Tokyo for the next four before returning, so it should beat me home.
I'm pretty sure I'll like the result, but I'm not sure this gent would be my normal go-to tailor. Many of the fabrics were a bit too European in flavor for my old Southern eyes, but he did have enough that worked I suppose.
I'll keep you posted.
By the way I had the hotel do laundry for me today as I am on the road for a spell and it came back while I was writing this -
Q. What result do you get in Hong Kong when you check "Starch" on the hotel laundry ticket?
A. Everything is starched - socks, underwear, shirts, slacks - all of it. My Socks now stand for themselves. Crunchy underwear does not seem the most comfortable choice one could make either.
I find the hotel is smack in the middle of a row of maybe 30 or more custom tailors. So I say to myself, "Self - time to try a bespoke shirt. You're here with the time, and can get a fitting."
Finding the right shop seemed to be all the battle so I cruised up and down and into and out of the various micromalls and small shops you will find all over HK.
I immediately ruled out any shops with street barkers, some of whom are darned persistant. (Hey, sailor! Wanta buy a shirt?) They did everything but physically shove you into the shop. Prices ran as low as 100 $HK (about 13.50 $US right now), or lower if you bought several or a suit with the shirt or similar deals.
Other shops were empty of customers and had a hangdog look about them. Dust on fabric bolts is probably not a good thing. Hard to decide why of course. Bad marketing of a good product? Ugly fabrics? Just plain no-good, or?
I did note one shop which was full of some lively Germans or Danes (I was not sure which) all of whom were ordering a good bit. I had to wait for service as the staff as quite busy. One of the Europeans mentioned when I asked him that he had been buying there for eight years or more and was happy with the results. They were a well dressed group for sure.
So - either this shop was clever enough to hire a happy crew of Euro-shills to lure customers or I had found my place to try out the modest purchase of a single shirt. It helped some that the shop been there since 1962 also.
I had noted that the prices were higher there, and at some of the other shops I'd seen. No problem with that if the value is there. I'm not looking for a cheap shirt - I'm looking for a good shirt. Standard price of a single was 280 $HK (37.83 $US) plus 50 $HK (6.75 $US) for shipping to the US. His price break was at a purchase of eight shirts, where two of the eight were then free (buy 6 get 8). Lots of fabrics to choose from - I picked a light blue and light gold small check (100% cotton) as I knew it would play well with what I already had.
I got measured head to toe and asked a good many questions about fit and intended use of the shirt. I picked a collar style and a cuff style, with no monogram, thanks anyhow.
This is the first non-rack shirt I've ever tried. I got the bug from reading here and also from knowing that was how my grandfather purchased all his shirts, slacks, suits, etc. Turnaround time is a standard three days, but expidited service is also possible I think. Three days works, because I have to stop in Tokyo for the next four before returning, so it should beat me home.
I'm pretty sure I'll like the result, but I'm not sure this gent would be my normal go-to tailor. Many of the fabrics were a bit too European in flavor for my old Southern eyes, but he did have enough that worked I suppose.
I'll keep you posted.
By the way I had the hotel do laundry for me today as I am on the road for a spell and it came back while I was writing this -
Q. What result do you get in Hong Kong when you check "Starch" on the hotel laundry ticket?
A. Everything is starched - socks, underwear, shirts, slacks - all of it. My Socks now stand for themselves. Crunchy underwear does not seem the most comfortable choice one could make either.