ChanceSchmerr Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Cao Minh is a great example of what I'm talking about. I priced a suit there this year (prices have run up a lot in HCMC since 2008) using the same Loro Piana wool that Hickey Freeman uses in their off-the-rack suits and the price at Cao Minh was $1,200. You get a custom versus a tailored rack suit, but it's 'supposed' to be cheap-as-chips to get bespoke in Vietnam (Pakistan, India, Thailand, you fill in the blank). Cao Minh can make a suit for less, but it all comes down to the material you pick, as it's very expensive here for them to import fabric (lots of duty and the currency doesn't work in their favor). Stuff that feels good in the hand doesn't always work as well on the body. Probably with someone knowledgeable about alternative british and italian mills (the Vietnamese tailors stock a lot of the fabrics from these) one could make it all work out; but as yet I've been unable to crack the code on this one! $1200??? I shoulda bought more suits from them when I had the chance - things HAVE changed! Well, take what I said with that grain of salt, Rob. I can only say what I experienced back then, I haven't been back to HCMC since 2008.
ChanceSchmerr Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 And yeah - if you want proper bespoke, just take your year's profits with you to Savile Row here in London when you come out in June and the'll make you a suit to last a lifetime.
Bill Hayes Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 I went to Hoi An in 2011 and purchased two suits from two different stores. The shirts were better in one store and the suit was better in the other. The better suit was from Yaly Couture, 47 Nguyen Thai Hoc Hoi An or 47 Tran Phu Hoi An. www.yalycouture.com Yaly Couture seemed to be the biggest, most professional I could find and probably the most expensive. They had some good material with cashmere blend I think from memory. I still have the suit as my stock standard wedding, funeral suit etc. What I found though with a regular single breasted suit is that they like to make the sleeves quite long which seems to be a kind of communist Chinese style whereas I was looking for the cuffs of a white shirt to sneak out a little for that Mad Man Don Draper look and show off the cuff-links etc. I had a different problem to you in that I had put on weight which makes fitting a single breaster difficult with the jacket around the gut. If you still have a bit of a gut then they tend to still make the suit fit perfectly snug and also very fitted around the shoulders, leaving little chance of actually sitting down in any sort of comfort. Looked great standing up. They weren't happy but I asked if they could let out the shoulder just a touch. I found the craftsmanship was pretty good and the materials ok and the lining good but the buttons seemed a little second rate. I got a basic dark charcoal grey suit from Yaly and a brown pinstripe suit from the other tailor who I can't remember for something different. Yaly, at the time, seemed like the obvious place to go for reasonable quality at a reasonable price. But I didn't really think that they were the absolute top of the line. They seemed to have lots of customers and be the go-to store for the masses. That being said, they had a wide range of materials and styles. They also keep your measurements so you can order direct and get suits sent over. I agree that you should have at least two fittings. Yaly insisted on two fittings. As a funny aside, I have a mate who went to Vietnam and got fitted with Miller style shirts made with press studs because he's so long and lean he couldn't find anything to fit him. Anyway, check the website and see if they might have what you're looking for.
PapaDisco Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 $1200??? I shoulda bought more suits from them when I had the chance - things HAVE changed! Well, take what I said with that grain of salt, Rob. I can only say what I experienced back then, I haven't been back to HCMC since 2008. lol, yeah a shocker, BUT that was with the Loro Piana 120 or 130's if I recall. They could make a suit for half of that with wool from another mill, and I just didn't have confidence in the other material. So it all comes down to figuring out the material side of the equation in Vietnam. The shop at Cao Minh is lovely and they do look like they know what they're doing. They like to charge in USD, which doesn't help. It's on Dong Khoi (number 6 down by the river and just across from the Grand). And there's also several $600 crocodile handbag stores on that street for you-know-who . . .
Fuzz AI Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Cao Minh have 2 stores. The one in District 3 is the larger one, with a wider selection of fabric. Personally, I'd rather go to HK for my suits. Pay more, but the quality is there.
OZCUBAN Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 What about a linen suit Rob? (Sure to be handy in the heat). I saw a lovely Canali light blue linen suit last summer but couldn't justify it with the Irish weather :-( Linen is great but you will be tied to the ironing board
OZCUBAN Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Apparently shoes are not that great in Vietnam so part of shopping is not going to happen But......handbags are great over there so I will have room to buy handbags to match "some " of my shoes can't wait Don't talk to me about hand bags and shoes I think I have walked over 500km in Singapore looking for that pefect bag and shoes to match not to worry though ,my price will extracted during the year ,I can shop with the best of them 1
perkinke Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 I was in Hoi An a couple years ago, I bought a 3-piece wool/cashmere blend suit and two shirts from Paradise Tailors (their relatives operate the Sunshine Hotel which I also whole-heartedly recommend) for a REALLY good price (thank you global recession!). They worked fast and I had three fittings to get it right. Very good experience, even though my seamstress called me fat (she was teasing, but also right ). I really wish I'd have had at least another jacket made before I left. But make sure you insist on them redoing work you're not happy with, one of the shirts just doesn't quite fit right, but I was leaving the next day so didn't have time to have it remade.
Ubergosupro69 Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 I could recommend a place in Hong Kong, but unfortunately I've never been to Vietnam. From what I hear they're making great suits for less there, HK bespoke suit makers got a little too popular so the days of $100 custom suits from them are over. Good luck!
peterk814 Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 I get all my suits made in hong kong, 10 per year. Color- Take the fabric book and bring it outside or near a window. You dont get an appreciation for the color unless you see it under natural light Style- This is completely your preference. I am a younger guy, so I go for a very conservative euro slim cut. Thin lapels, no shoulder pads. double slit in the back and very trim. Shorter sleeves to show off the shirt. Always have the edges stitched. I like the two buttons on the sleeves to be able to be opened. Liner- Always pick a contrasting liner color. This is really where people will notice you are wearing something custom. Also ask for them to throw in a free tie, or handkerchief
khamy Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 You've had some great info provided here already. This is only a tip for if you do end up loving the suits you get in Vietnam. Get the details of that tailor. Most of these operations will be willing to mail order your suits to you (so if you like what you get) you can get more as they keep your measurements on file 1. Get yourself measured in Oz first. 2. Get yourself measured by the tailor in Vietnam. 3. If measurements match - you then know with confidence if you continue to lose pounds or regain a few, you can still get measured in Oz again and send the updated measurements back to Vietnam with your next order. who knows, a new sales channel may open up..... friendsofBespoke (FOB). 1
TCContender Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 Make sure you buy buttons elsewhere, most tailors will use plastic buttons instead of horn or shell, big pet peeve of mine. Buttons are inexpensive, of most any materials, why do tailors cut corners. Sorry, that is my only advice. I have a tailor in Shanghai at the Fabric Market, Jennifer in stall 237 is the best. 100s shirts for 100RMB and 140s suits for 800RMB. Hard to do better. 1
Fuzz AI Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 Who do you like in Hong Kong Fuzz? I buy from Pacific Custom Tailors (19 Des Voeux Rd, Ground Floor, C-1, HK). Need to head back there for new measurements and to pick up another suit. My current suit I picked up in Thailand (was relatively inexpensive and I needed a suit urgently), and whilst the cut is nice, I'm not really happy with the trousers.
CaptainQuintero Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 If you don't come back with a white safari suit complete with pith hat your doing yourself a great injustice! 1
First Lady Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 Apparently shoes are not that great in Vietnam so part of shopping is not going to happen But......handbags are great over there so I will have room to buy handbags to match "some " of my shoes can't wait Don't forget your sister working hard so you can have a break 1
OZCUBAN Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 Enjoy Di as I am sure you will our holiday is now over sitting at lounge at Changi Boo hoo??
Ken Gargett Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 Don't forget your sister working hard so you can have a break unless you are doing it for free....
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