The Affordable Elegance of Hong Kong Tailors

In many major financial districts and metropolitan cities around the world, men wear fitted suits. Some do so by personal preference, while others do so because they have no other say on the matter.

But whatever the case, this means that many men have no choice but to be in the constant lookout for great tailors who can deliver quality custom tailoring clothes and other services.

And Hong Kong, being a city at a unique position between the Western and Eastern cultures is leading the way in meeting and supplying that rising demand all over the world.

Nowadays, there are Hong Kong tailors that number by the hundreds, if not thousands, in this metropolitan Chinese territory. Obviously, this was brought about by the increasing need of men to find not only a good quality and a fit of a suit but also that which may not strain the pockets too much.

These are, perhaps, the driving forces that have made Hong Kong tailors quite popular around the world. It has been estimated that there are more or less 42 million tourists that pass through this city annually. And it cannot be denied that aside from the usual sightseeing attractions and numerous business opportunities that this metropolitan Chinese city has to offer, tailoring tourism likewise plays a big part on the city’s allure.

Hong Kong tailors have built up a reputation for themselves for what might be called as affordable elegance. The phrase may sound incongruent at first encounter. After all, elegance has always been expected and associated with extravagance and luxury.

Affordable is just not usually said at the same breath as elegance.

On the other hand, that is what these ingenuous Hong Kong tailors have amazingly accomplished with their impeccably made custom suits and other men’s clothing apparels.

And despite what skeptics may say, tailoring tourism, which is already a billion dollar business in this city, will not have continued to thrive and flourish if it were just riding solely on its being cheap or affordable. Nonetheless, there is some truth to it that the cost of fitted suits and shirts here (even at many well established tailoring houses in the city) is only about a quarter of the price in other leading cities in the world, including London and New York.

It is undeniable though that many tourists continue to patronize Hong Kong tailors because of their excellent craftsmanship and skillful handiwork. Being affordable is just a bonus.

In other words, affordable elegance is possible.

Why Bespoke Tailors Deserve the Respect of Men

In a world dominated by artificial intelligent and modern technological innovations that were truly unthinkable even a few decades ago, much less at the start of the last century, why then artisans like bespoke tailors who work slowly and meticulously purely and solely with their skillful hands are so greatly admired by many men and women?

So what are bespoke tailors anyways?

Bespoke tailors belong to that special breed of men that first flourished in an era when English tradesmen take great pride in their crafts; a time when these master artisans work meticulously using their hands to create a custom suit that is designed perfectly to fit the wearer’s body like a glove.

To say that a work of something is bespoke in the fashion industry is to strictly and customarily mean that individually cut paper pattern and clothing garment was sewn together sans the aid of machines such as sewing and cutting machines.

And to construct a thing of beauty solely by hand all the more sets apart these master custom clothiers, who truly deserve the respect and admiration of men.

No wonder then that bespoke tailors are regarded highly not only for their long and storied history, but more importantly, for their passionate dedication and unyielding pursuit of perfection for their craft.

And in the world of bespoke tailoring, this means that the craftsmanship of both the tailors and master cutters on all garments, including the individual cut of a paper pattern, have been done entirely by hand.

And considering all the modern technological advancement being used in the mass production of clothes nowadays, the endeavor of bespoke tailoring may initially seem unwise and unproductive.

But the finished product of impeccable bespoke suits would attest otherwise. The use of the finest threads and meticulous handiwork of up to the minutest details of the custom suit makes every penny that a man pays for it worth it.

This is in stark contrast with mass manufactured ready to wear clothes that were created generically for anyone. These off the peg clothes have become the default preferred clothing of the common people, primarily because it is cheaper and easily available compared with custom tailored clothes. However, these mass produced clothes are usually considered substandard in quality in the materials used and in the process it was made.

Indeed, bespoke tailors deserve the respect and admiration of men because in the end these master artisans likewise help pave the way for a man to make good impression on the people that he encounters.

Top 4 Reasons Why Dressing Sharply in Custom Suits Should Matter

Any sensible man should be able to find many sensible reasons to dress up sharply in custom suits. And as if not looking sloppy and shabby are not incentives enough, here are some points to ponder on why every man should give a damn on their everyday appearance and not just occasionally on special events.


Creating that Positive First Impressions

People are generally superficial. And it should not necessarily be a bad thing actually, it is just a human instinct or nature to make split seconds decisions and judgment calls. In the first 30 seconds of meeting someone, that person has already sized you up and formed an opinion of your status and position in the society’s food chain. The better dressed and impeccable looking you are in your custom suit, the higher you must be in the societal hierarchy, and therefore a force to be reckoned with.

Increasing Your Stature in the Eyes of Your Colleagues

So creating a remarkable first impression is something that every man, especially in the business world, should aspire for, but what about your appearance every single day? After all, an impeccable and well polished appearance day in and day out serves as a constant reminder to your colleagues and to your bosses as well how you want to be treated.

It is a fact that a man in an elegant men’s suit and fashionable custom suit routinely experience better treatment and service than their shabbily-dressed counterparts.

Dressing Sharp Can Help Boost Your Self-Esteem

So people you meet react and treat you with a high regard than many people. You can probably even get a table at a swanky restaurant without prior reservation just on the strength of your great looking and expensive custom suit. The receptionist probably thinks you are a high roller. Certainly, being treated like a royalty everywhere you go does give you that bit of a good feeling to your well being.

Looking Sharp Sharpens the Mind

Believe it or not, once your mind becomes accustomed to planning every detail of your custom suit ensemble, you become more keenly aware of the things and the people around you.

This would probably translate also to developing an ability to have deeper insight on the people that you meet, including just by looking at how they treat themselves and how they present themselves to the world.

After all, a sensible and rational man must realize that no man is an island. He cannot just dismiss another man’s opinion on himself. At some point, a man has to care also on how he comes across to others.

Indeed, if you are a sensible and rational man, you would realize that dressing sharply in custom suit matters.

Made to Measure Suits: The Middle Ground Option

How does a man find the balance between a quite expensive suit with a flawless and impeccable fit and a relatively inexpensive ready to wear suit, but one that is essentially quite difficult for the wearer to truly find something to gush over?

The answer: Made to measure suits.

Indeed, more than anything else, a man would be willing to spend top dollar just to get that perfect fit of a men’s suit for him. But for men with lesser financial means, the ideal solution is to find the in-betweens of both worlds. In other words, the middle ground option.

Realistically speaking, not all men would be able to get that feel of a true bespoke suit on themselves. In the world of modern technology and fast machines, a work of art that is done solely and meticulously by a skillful hand is a rare and expensive commodity.

And paradoxically enough, as men become more and more immersed in a high speed world, time likewise becomes more and more the most precious commodity in the world.

But for the average and ordinary wage earner, the price of time that is spent working on bespoke tailoring is a high cost to pay, which is equivalent to a few months’ worth of salary. It would be impractical as well as foolish to buy one, to say the least.

Short of settling down on a relatively inexpensive off the peg suits, which are usually not capable of providing the man with that desired fit and drape on his body, a man has the affordable middle ground option on made to measure suits.

It may be said that made to measure suits are certainly a lot more affordable compared with the top tiers occupied by bespoke suits and custom suits.

In essence, the first choice is typically less expensive compared with the latter choices because the creation of a made to measure suit involves both machine and handmade work. It has been noted that the price of this type of suit is at least 15% more than the ones bought at a department store.

Basically, as the name suggests the suit is still made to fit each client individually with a standard sized base pattern as a starting point of measurement. The unique body nuances and figuration of each individual client are still taken into account before the cloth pattern is cut and sewn together, not unlike a bespoke tailoring.

Not all men may able to reach the pinnacle of custom tailoring, but the middle ground option of made to measure suits sure beats the hell out of just staying on the ground.

Single Button Tailor Made Suits: Who Should Wear Them & Why

You do not often see men wearing single button tailor made suits nowadays. Most of the time, the spotlight is on either a two button or a three button custom suits. 

Perhaps, the reason why a single button tailored suit is not that popular is because this particular suit style does not suit the body type and built of most men. In fact, the body built and stature of men that may be able to manage to pull off wearing a single button suit well is a bit confusing to understand at first.

This is maybe one of the reasons why the preferred suit styles of majority of men, men with average to mid-average height and stature, are either a two button or three button outfit ensemble. And perhaps another compelling reason why many stay away from the single button tailored made suit is because it takes a lot of confidence and a special kind of attitude to wear this type of suit.  

Nevertheless, for the right kind of man, the single button suit has its charms and can even create a nice perfect cut and silhouette for the wearer. Moreover, the suit’s unique statement fashion piece can be an interesting additional mix in a man’s social wear wardrobe collection.

But the question is who should and why wear a single button tailor made suit?

First of all, this suit piece is perfect for very tall and very lean men. And by lean, preferably men sans a protruding midsection because this kind of suit will obviously not hide a less than impressive figure.

And while short men may not present an elegant cut on a single button tailor made suit, for some peculiar reason, short men with a stocky figure can pull off this suit impeccably well also. The reason for this is because the single button provides a focal point that draws the eye of the observer inward, and thus creating an illusion of a trimmer figure. 

As a rather unconventional type of custom suit, it is not common to see single button suit in a conservative work setting. More often than not, this suit is better suited in an after-five setting such as social dinners, gala nights and the like; it can be a refreshing alternative outfit during those formal occasions when a tuxedo can get a bit stuffy while the standard looking two or three button suit are just so trite and common already.

On the whole, the single button tailor made suit is an all-season wear ensemble. It is the suit to wear on special occasions in lieu of his standard tux or two-piece suit, but it takes a certain type of man with the right sort of attitude and confidence in order to pull off that dashing and dapper appearance. 

The Customized Service of a Tailor in Hong Kong

With the increasing demand for quality but affordable custom made suits around the world, it would be literally a walk in the park to find a tailor in Hong Kong. However, stumbling upon a great master of the craft who is knowledgeable of “the way things are” is an altogether different matter.

The city of Hong Kong is famous not just for its breathtaking views and its glittering skyline harbor, but also for its made to measure suits. And currently, there are literally thousands of tailors in the streets of Hong Kong plying their trade to susceptible tourists and residents alike. Some are cheap or affordable while others can truly break one’s pockets.

Sad to say, there are those who would claim to be well-taught on the centuries-old craft of bespoke tailoring, but are clearly lacking the depth and the knowledge of its flawless workmanship and meticulous craftsmanship.

The process of getting fitted for a custom made suit or a custom shirt is not merely obtaining the body size measurement of the client.

It is not just showing the buyer some swatches of clothing pattern and asking him to decide which one he likes best for his suit. Moreover, it is not simply telling the gentleman to come back a day or so after to get his so-called made to measure suit.

And certainly, the process of custom tailoring services should not just end as soon as the goods have been delivered to the customer.

The pride and beauty of this craftsmanship offer so much more than a brisk and speedy delivery of the suit to the buyer. Bespoke tailoring is almost like a lifelong relationship between the tailor and the client.

Even the process of meeting up with one’s tailor, be it in Hong Kong, New York or London, is a lot like a slow courtship dance of getting to know someone. In this sense, it is the master tailor who leads the dance by eliciting as much information as he can from his client-partner.

The master fitter is not just taking body size measurements, he also takes the time to study and observe contours, silhouettes as well as minor body quirks of the client.

The customized service extends to the tailor advising the client on the attributes of a chosen fabric material; meaning where and when is the appropriate time or climate to wear a custom suit created in a particular fabric and etc.

Indeed there is so much more than a tailor in Hong Kong, who is truly knowledgeable in the way things are of bespoke tailoring, can offer a gentleman than by merely measuring the client and delivering a suit.

The Fabric in Custom Suits Makes a Big Difference

Indeed, it is undeniable that elegantly made custom suits makes a big difference in the way a man is perceived by the people around him.

More than anything else, a well-fitted custom made suit is a man’s personal statement piece because it is a reflection of his own preference and fashion taste, especially if he had the final say on the suit’s piece by piece construction.

The choice of color scheme and style of the tailor made suits are certainly important. But likewise critical to the overall result of statement piece is the selection of suit fabrics, which have much to do with both the feel and end appearance of the custom suit.

Actually, mens suits are categorized to either wool or non-wool, and choosing the right kind of suit fabric solely depends on the client’s lifestyle needs including the occasion and the season the suit is needed.

And to determine one’s lifestyle requirements, it is therefore essential for a man wanting to suit himself up impeccably to understand the basic attributes and characteristics of different fabric threads commonly favored by suit makers around the world.

Non-wool suits consist mainly of polyester, linen and cotton. Polyester, a relatively inexpensive man made fabric material, is oftentimes combined with a woolen fabric to offset the expensive cost of a pure woolen custom suit. This fabric combination is good for yearlong wear.

Linen, on the other hand, is ideal for summer wear because it is very light, cool. The downside is that this type of threads attracts wrinkles and creases easily. Moreover, cleaning a linen suit can get very expensive especially if you do it often. Cotton suit has basically the same traits as linen’s.

But for the all time must-have suit fabric is the wool. It is also the favorite threads of tailors because it is easy to work with in terms of cutting and styling. Custom suits made of wool are likely to retain its shape for years despite repeated uses and washings.

A pure wool tailor made suit may be expensive, but the high price is worth it in the long run in keeping a gentleman looking well put and elegant for many years to come. And that should be priceless.

Of all the different types of woolen fabric, tweed is one of the most popular especially in the older generation. Tweed, which is a heavy fabric, is ideal during winter time because it keeps the wearer warm. Another perfect wear during the cold days is the flannel suit.

But for the all season wear, the best choice is the worsted wool. It is very durable, and depending upon the weave production it can be made into light or heavyweight suit. A great thing about worsted wool bespoke suits is that it very durable and practically crease-resistant.

Certainly, there are hundreds of different types of suit fabric that will fit your lifestyle needs. Whether you choose a non-wool or woolen custom suit, the important thing is that your suit fabric is appropriate for the occasion and the season.