How to Have Clothes Custom Made in Hong Kong

Expert tailors still lurk in the back corners of Hong Kong's many skyscrapers. Long gone are the days when you could have shirts made overnight, but over the course of a week, you can walk away with some phenomenal pieces made to fit your exact measurements.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Fabrics
• Measuring Tapes

1. Have a clear idea of what you'd like to have made before your departure. Hand-tailored garments are pricey and made to last. Use this as an opportunity to fill your closet with basics: suits, slacks, dresses, jackets and tailored shirts.

2. Understand the price structure. You'll be charged a flat rate, which includes measurements and fittings, for the type of garment you wish to have made. A tailor also charges for any fabric or trims that you do not supply yourself.

3. Ensure that you have sufficient yardage when providing your own fabric. Let fabric suppliers know what you intend to have made, through description or picture, and get their professional opinion on the number of yards needed.

4. Remember that you will require more fabric if you wish to line up patterns and stripes at the seams, and also be aware that wasting fabric is an inevitable part of garment making.

5. Know what you're paying for. The most exclusive Hong Kong tailors, who design and make your garment in-house, will charge $500 to $800 for a top-of-the-line man's suit and $100 to $175 for labor alone on women's pants, dresses and jackets.

6. The prices will drop dramatically when you select a tailor who designs your garment but contracts it out for cutting and sewing.

7. Visit a few tailors before you commit to one. Ask to see finished garments and check stitching, balance in construction and quality of fabric and lining.

8. Settle on the price and due date before you proceed. Make sure you have enough time for measurements, fittings, payment and pick up. Expect a minimum of three visits. A 50 percent deposit is required to begin the process.

Tips & Warnings

• Need a place to start? Check out the Burlington Arcade on Nathan Road, an old building that houses many good, reasonably priced tailors. The most exclusive and expensive tailors can be found in and around the city's most expensive hotels.

• Like what you already have? Bring your favorite pair of pants and have additional pairs made in different fabrics and colors.

• Remember that Hong Kong is full of tailors who specialize in structured garments. Most do not have the skills or the inclination to make unstructured pieces like a wrap dress or a wedding gown.

• Avoid the establishments that advertise packaged deals - a fixed price for a range of garments.