Good Men's Tailor in Tokyo/Chiba? Or ANY Men's Tailor?

[Catoneinutica]

I have to start wearing a suit or sportcoat/slax combo a few days a week (I'm handing out tissues in front of Chiba Sogo advertising my new Engrish school venture - I call it "Cato's Barely Legal Engrish").

Anyway, I went to Ginza Tailor to have a suit made; for a two-pants suit using the material I wanted (some Super 150s crap), they wanted...wait for it...498,000 yen. For that kind of money I could go to HK, stay for three days, get three bespoke suits, and have enough left over for a case of Hepatitis C. But I don't have the time, so I bought three suits online, and now they're here and I don't know what to do with them. For simple stuff I go to the obaachan up the street, but these suits need fairly extensive reworking, and I don't trust her to do it. Can you take clothes you've already bought to a department store tailor? Do I have to fly to HK after all?

[Samurai_Jerk]

This isn't going to help you now but next time go somewhere like F-one. You can get an "easy order" suit made of cheap material for 19,000 yen. Nicer material costs more of course. It takes about a month to arrive though. You can also get stuff off the rack and tailor fit at places like Men's Aoki or The Suit Company for fairly cheap. Two guys I used to work for that were both about 6'2" and pretty stocky were able to find suits that fit them at The Suit Company. Another good place to get reasonable suits (either off the rack or "easy order") are the major department stores when they are running their regular sales throughout the year.

[Taro Toporific]

... Do I have to fly to HK after all?

If you have put on a little weight, real tailoring can take 15-25 lbs. Just send an email to GomiGirl asking for a referral to her brother's Hong Kong tailor who visits Japan every three months. Brother GG, is a builtlikeabrickshithouse karate and judo ka but he also looks great in his custom suits.

[Mike Oxlong]

A fairly husky friend also swears by a Hong Kong tailor who visits Japan several times yearly. Could be the same guy Bro GG uses, or perhaps there are a lot of them making the trips. Either way, it seems to one of the better ways to go. That, or go to Thailand and use the dosh you save on condoms and clean hookers...

[Samurai_Jerk]

I don't think you guys are following his question. He bought three suits online and needs them taillor fit so he's trying to find a place to alter three suits he already has.

[Taro Toporific]

I don't think you guys are following his question. He bought three suits online and needs them taillor fit so he's trying to find a place to alter three suits he already has.

Nearly every Japanese dry cleaners has an alterations person working for them as a subcontractor---Ask your dry cleaners for a recommendation if they feel they can't handle it.

[Catoneinutica]

I don't think you guys are following his question. He bought three suits online and needs them taillor fit so he's trying to find a place to alter three suits he already has.

Kinda interesting that, when it comes to tailoring, we have to talk about going to/coming from HK. The Japanese, for all their celebrated monozukuri and industriousness, don't seem to be famous for their tailors. I'll ask the long-suffering Mrs. to call around and see if someone will take me and my suits.

-catone
-the Japanese, for all their celebrated monozukuri and industriousness, don't seem to be able to do a lot of things. Ever try to have a mechanical clock repaired here? Nihonjin dekinai.
-catone mo.

[Catoneinutica]

Nearly every Japanese dry cleaners has an alterations person working for them as a subcontractor---Ask your dry cleaners for a recommendation if they feel they can't handle it.

Thanks Taro. I'd prefer a guy who knows suits rather than the generic li'l granny-types who typically do alterations here. I've had a lot of experience with the latter, and they can do pant hems and minor repairs, but, like I wrote, I don't trust them to do suits.

[Mike Oxlong]

Thread here may help:

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=89738

I think you'll find a big price difference between bespoke and made-to-measure.

[Catoneinutica]

Thread here may help:

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=89738

I think you'll find a big price difference between bespoke and made-to-measure.

Yeah, that thread was one of the reasons I went to Ginza Tailor in the first. But now I've got three friggin' suits that I bought online, and I just wonder if I can take them to a department store like Isetan and have them altered. Will they do "after-market" alterations, or do you have to buy a suit there?

[BigInJapan]

I just wonder if I can take them to a department store like Isetan and have them altered. Will they do "after-market" alterations, or do you have to buy a suit there?

I am also interested to hear how it goes if you go the dept. store alteration route.
I had to buy a black suit a few months ago for a somber occasion with only one day's notice, and I would like to get the gut taken in a bit (it seems that anything in the 3L and over range is made with sumo wrestlers in mind).
I got mine at "Robelt" in Ito Yokado and I know they do alterations.

[tidbits]

I checked on the Yahoo Japan website, someone posted a similar question and seemed like somebody answered that those shop like Konaka, Aoki and Aoyama seemed to do alteration (even you don't buy from there), but I can't find any info when I go to the individual shop's (Konaka etc) website though. http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1110911016 (in Japanese)

This tailor in Suginami-ku seemed professional in tailoring suit and they accept alteration job too.

http://www.tailor-maruyama.com/repair.html

One of the Tsukuda Reform shop has a chain in Saty at Inage, but you probably don't trust them. The problem is, I am not sure if you approach any big departmental store, and even if they accept your alteration order, do they send it to these reform shops anyway. Well, just one extra option here and you can always have a look if the place is near you. http://www.e-tsukuda.com/store06.html

[Jack]

A fairly husky friend also swears by a Hong Kong tailor who visits Japan several times yearly. Could be the same guy Bro GG uses, or perhaps there are a lot of them making the trips. Either way, it seems to one of the better ways to go. That, or go to Thailand and use the dosh you save on condoms and clean hookers...

If you are looking for quality HK tailors are not the way to go. They are expensive plus very poor quality. There are a few that go around the world gather up orders and then mail the product to you. I know two: Maxwell and the other is Taipan Row but I am sure there are others. I have looked at their products and I have passed. For example, using a regular super 120 fabric for a two-piece suit costs around USD$1,700. However, even at that price the product looks and feels like shit. Now if one is not quality or fashion-conscious they'll wear it and think that its a great suit.

If you go to HK Central at some of the better quality tailors expect to pay USD$5,000per suit.

Tailor-made suits, generally, are more expensive than the off-the-rack stuff.

[Catoneinutica]

I checked on the Yahoo Japan website, someone posted a similar question and seemed like somebody answered that those shop like Konaka, Aoki and Aoyama seemed to do alteration (even you don't buy from there), but I can't find any info when I go to the individual shop's (Konaka etc) website though. http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1110911016 (in Japanese)

This tailor in Suginami-ku seemed professional in tailoring suit and they accept alteration job too.

http://www.tailor-maruyama.com/repair.html

One of the Tsukuda Reform shop has a chain in Saty at Inage, but you probably don't trust them. The problem is, I am not sure if you approach any big departmental store, and even if they accept your alteration order, do they send it to these reform shops anyway. Well, just one extra option here and you can always have a look if the place is near you. http://www.e-tsukuda.com/store06.html

Paydirt! Many, many thanks! Inage Saty is five minutes away; think I'll wander over there tomorrow and see if they can help me out.

[Catoneinutica]

If you are looking for quality HK tailors are not the way to go. They are expensive plus very poor quality. There are a few that go around the world gather up orders and then mail the product to you. I know two: Maxwell and the other is Taipan Row but I am sure there are others. I have looked at their products and I have passed. For example, using a regular super 120 fabric for a two-piece suit costs around USD$1,700. However, even at that price the product looks and feels like shit. Now if one is not quality or fashion-conscious they'll wear it and think that its a great suit.

If you go to HK Central at some of the better quality tailors expect to pay USD$5,000per suit.

Tailor-made suits, generally, are more expensive than the off-the-rack stuff.

The kids over at Styleforum refer to the various well-known Hong Kong tailors by name and rate them among the best in the world, so they must be doing something right. The choice of fabric can have a huge impact on price. The Ginza Tailor quasi-bespoke suit I first inquired about had a base price of something like 135,000 yen, but when I selected a fabric I liked (I wanted a fine but dense wool for the mostly fetid, soupy climate here), the price took a huge jump. I assume the same would be true for HK.

[IkemenTommy]

I have to start wearing a suit or sportcoat/slax combo a few days a week (I'm handing out tissues in front of Chiba Sogo advertising my new Engrish school venture - I call it "Cato's Barely Legal Engrish").

Are you crashing AO's wedding?

[Greji]

Are you crashing AO's wedding?

We're all going!

[Jack]

The kids over at Styleforum refer to the various well-known Hong Kong tailors by name and rate them among the best in the world, so they must be doing something right. The choice of fabric can have a huge impact on price. The Ginza Tailor quasi-bespoke suit I first inquired about had a base price of something like 135,000 yen, but when I selected a fabric I liked (I wanted a fine but dense wool for the mostly fetid, soupy climate here), the price took a huge jump. I assume the same would be true for HK.

NO, it's not the same in HK. In HK it's cheap quality. I know the fabric makes a difference and trust me I know fabrics. I had ordered a suit from a tailor in HK (despite my previous experiences there telling me not to because this one was in glitzy IFC) using a Loro Piana fabric. Any suit with Loro Piana fabric would be over USD$4,000 but this guy was going to do it for me at USD$2,500. The finished product was shit so I refused to take it and did not pay for it although I lost my deposit.

They don't have the workmanship in HK. in Japan you will get the latest styles while in HK you will still get that 1980s cut.

[wuchan]

NO, it's not the same in HK. In HK it's cheap quality. I know the fabric makes a difference and trust me I know fabrics. I had ordered a suit from a tailor in HK (despite my previous experiences there telling me not to because this one was in glitzy IFC) using a Loro Piana fabric. Any suit with Loro Piana fabric would be over USD$4,000 but this guy was going to do it for me at USD$2,500. The finished product was shit so I refused to take it and did not pay for it although I lost my deposit.

They don't have the workmanship in HK. in Japan you will get the latest styles while in HK you will still get that 1980s cut.

troll got played.

[Samurai_Jerk]

in Japan you will get the latest styles

This is where you lost all credibility.

[Blah Pete]

If you are looking for quality HK tailors are not the way to go.

Jimmy Wah: "Aha, ha, Earl! Ha, you again. No more fighting, okay?" Cronauer: "Oh, you got it. James! Nice, shiny green suit. You look like an Oriental leprechaun." Jimmy Wah: "You like it? I got it it Hong Kong, home of the shiny green suit. Ha, ha, ha, ha."

[GuyJean]

I checked on the Yahoo Japan website, someone posted a similar question and seemed like somebody answered that those shop like Konaka, Aoki and Aoyama seemed to do alteration..

Aoyama has done decent jobs for me in the past.

If you're around Tokyo, Sakazen actually did me justice. (Yes, the fat, chimpira Shibuya store) But I bought the suit there. Maybe for future reference.. But don't get lost on the host floor.

GJ

[Jack]

This is where you lost all credibility.

If you don't know that Tokyo is the epitome of fashion and style then you are even more retarded than I thought. The Japanese in Tokyo MAKE fashion. They set the style. Who the fuck are you to know anything about fashion?

All the European designers have agencies in Tokyo photographing people on Omotesando on their behalf to get their inspiration for fashion. Look beyond your fucking beer glass and learn about your suroundings before you open your useless mouth.

[Jack]

troll got played.

Oh, because you lost the argument. Can't come up with facts? Who the fuck are you? Some ignorant looser English teacher in Japan?

[wuchan]

Oh, because you lost the argument. Can't come up with facts? Who the fuck are you? Some ignorant looser English teacher in Japan?

Huh? what are you talking about? Don't be mad because a chinaman played you.

[Samurai_Jerk]

If you don't know that Tokyo is the epitome of fashion and style then you are even more retarded than I thought. The Japanese in Tokyo MAKE fashion. They set the style. Who the fuck are you to know anything about fashion?

All the European designers have agencies in Tokyo photographing people on Omotesando on their behalf to get their inspiration for fashion. Look beyond your fucking beer glass and learn about your suroundings before you open your useless mouth.

My mistake. You didn't lose any credibility there because you had none to begin with. Anyway, I'm willing to admit a queen like you probably does know more about the world of high fashion than I do. Nothing looks better on a guy than a skin tight $200 suit with light brown clown shoes and hair that's been teased up like a Jersy Girl on her way to a Motley Crue concert in 1986. Japan: the be all and end all of fashion!

[IkemenTommy]

Aoyama has done decent jobs for me in the past.

If you're around Tokyo, Sakazen actually did me justice.

That's where I got my last suit. They have a good selection of sizes and they aren't too bad actually.

[BigInJapan]

If you're around Tokyo, Sakazen actually did me justice.
That's where I got my last suit. They have a good selection of sizes and they aren't too bad actually.

Good to know as I was a bit turned off by the over abundance of chimpira type tracksuits etc. I've bought gaijin-sized socks at the Kamata branch as they had larger than 27 which is the limit everywhere else.

[IkemenTommy]

Good to know as I was a bit turned off by the over abundance of chimpira type tracksuits etc. I've bought gaijin-sized socks at the Kamata branch as they had larger than 27 which is the limit everywhere else.

As GJ suggested, you have to go to the right floor. Sakazen has floors that specialize in the chimpira yakz suits and the floor for the little more pricey imported brands.

[wuchan]