General stuff, tailor, food stores

[LivinginSG]

Agreed Bunter, there seem to be some bad apples, that spoil the barrel. It reminds me of the crap that goes on at Sim Lim, for electronics.

When you spec your suit, small swatches of the chosen cloth/lining (even buttons, if they're above the default) should be stapled to your receipt, together with a precise description of the make/blend.

Most physical tailoring gets outsourced, much to Batam/Bintang. But as with much in life you have the whole spectrum there, from 14 year olds in sweatshops, to very very highly skilled seamstresses and tailors.


@LISg, I'd have to look up his contact details. It's the kind of thing I'd share down at one of the forum beer-nights rather than publishing details in public here... either ways: like I suggested, a personal recommendation from a 'local' who has made an informed choice, seems to be the way to go...

Wasn't aware of the beer nights...do let me know when haha...

[JR8]

Wasn't aware of the beer nights...do let me know when haha...

Like many things they're not broadcast, but go on in the background.

Get stuck in, share and contribute to the forum and soon enough, down the road, you'll find an invite wafting by....

[Strong Eagle]

If suits form an important part of your life, the old adage is still true - you get what you pay for and i'm yet to find a tailor here that ticks all the boxes!

When I bought my stuff at Christian Armani they stapled a swatch of the materials I selected to both their work order and my receipt.

When I made my order we went over everything, and I mean everything. For example, for my shirts, we discussed tail length, pleating and darts, width of the button panel, size and shape of the collar, button size, color, thread,type, spacing, and position of second button, cuff size and shape for long sleeve shirts, sleeve length and diameter for short sleeve shirts, pocket size, shape, and position, and more. Then we went to work on the suit jacket.

They also told me that they did all of the cutting and sewing in Singapore and my suits were done with multiple fittings... initial measurement... sizing of the roughed in jacket and trousers... and final fitting.

I previously tried three other places... one in Four Floors that was complete crap... shirts not cut to measurements, couldn't get the monogram right, stitching that pulled the fabric, and fabric that deteriorated quite quickly... another in the same mall as Christian Armani that was mostly pretty good but not as much into the details, and another shop in Far East Shopping Center on Orchard that was very good but way too expensive.

Christian Armani is definitely not cheap... then again, I learned that you get what you pay for.

[LivinginSG]

If suits form an important part of your life, the old adage is still true - you get what you pay for and i'm yet to find a tailor here that ticks all the boxes!

When I bought my stuff at Christian Armani they stapled a swatch of the materials I selected to both their work order and my receipt.

When I made my order we went over everything, and I mean everything. For example, for my shirts, we discussed tail length, pleating and darts, width of the button panel, size and shape of the collar, button size, color, thread,type, spacing, and position of second button, cuff size and shape for long sleeve shirts, sleeve length and diameter for short sleeve shirts, pocket size, shape, and position, and more. Then we went to work on the suit jacket.

They also told me that they did all of the cutting and sewing in Singapore and my suits were done with multiple fittings... initial measurement... sizing of the roughed in jacket and trousers... and final fitting.

I previously tried three other places... one in Four Floors that was complete crap... shirts not cut to measurements, couldn't get the monogram right, stitching that pulled the fabric, and fabric that deteriorated quite quickly... another in the same mall as Christian Armani that was mostly pretty good but not as much into the details, and another shop in Far East Shopping Center on Orchard that was very good but way too expensive.

Christian Armani is definitely not cheap... then again, I learned that you get what you pay for.

I'm going to C Armani this weekend..need a pair of chinos and some light weight shorts....

[Brah]

I'd be interested to know about the prices there, I have my own tailor here, who is quite good, but I may be getting Ang Moh taxed, not sure.

I was getting shirts and suits from him but now just trousers - the tailors at some of the department stores here are pretty iffy.

[LivinginSG]

I'd be interested to know about the prices there, I have my own tailor here, who is quite good, but I may be getting Ang Moh taxed, not sure.

I was getting shirts and suits from him but now just trousers - the tailors at some of the department stores here are pretty iffy.

Maybe I shd go there with with Singaporean accent since I look Asian!!

[Brah]

I'd be interested to know about the prices there, I have my own tailor here, who is quite good, but I may be getting Ang Moh taxed, not sure.

I was getting shirts and suits from him but now just trousers - the tailors at some of the department stores here are pretty iffy.

Maybe I shd go there with with Singaporean accent since I look Asian!!

Well if you spell "should' that way you're more than halfway there.

[LivinginSG]

I'd be interested to know about the prices there, I have my own tailor here, who is quite good, but I may be getting Ang Moh taxed, not sure.

I was getting shirts and suits from him but now just trousers - the tailors at some of the department stores here are pretty iffy.

Maybe I shd go there with with Singaporean accent since I look Asian!!

Well if you spell "should' that way you're more than halfway there.

That's reassuring...wish me luck hahaha

[the lynx]

Friend just got back to me. He was very, very pleased with Christian Armani at Far East @ Scotts Road.

He got a suit and two shirts for $900. It was about the same price (slightly lower) he got for his older set in London but he said the quality is just as nice if not better. Plus he had more options for the materials for his price range compared to London.

First visit, to consult about the material and cut and to negotiate the price. Second visit, for fitting. Third visit, the suit was ready and there was no further need for alterations. Best to give two weeks for good time frame.

Yeah he went for Dave by SE's recommendation.

Another friend told me he had his suit done for $2000 at Masters Tailor, just a few units to right from Christian Armani That guy probably got himself a Zegna one, which is way OTT.

[rajagainstthemachine]

if you guys are ever in Bangalore and need a suit, you could consider these guys, I had a few suits made by them and they are frankly quite amazing for both price and quality.
I know its not related to this discussion at all but its just a post I guess for people who fly frequently between Singapore and Bangalore

http://www.pnrao.com/categories/Suits/c ... 61866.aspx

they however take two weeks to make one and will call you to try the suit at various points before they finish the product.

[JR8]

they however take two weeks to make one and will call you to try the suit at various points before they finish the product.

If you approach a tailor, and he suggests such visits ('fittings') are not necessary, that is all the warning sign you need to avoid*. MTM requires fittings. Promises of quality MTM in 12/24hrs (a la Orchard Road) are an impossible contradiction.

As such I don't regard '2 weeks, and fittings required' as a negative, in fact on the contrary!



* I learned my lesson on this way back in c1989 ... in transit home via Singapore! In a mall near the top of Orchard, somewhere between Far-East SC and the Tanglin Mall. I thought I'd have a blazer made, an MTM one. I had the initial measure up, and two days later a first fitting of the basic sleeveless shell. The end ill-fitting result was eventually posted to me weeks later stuffed roughly in a shoe-box.

[Brah]

As such I don't regard '2 weeks, and fittings required' as a negative, in fact on the contrary!

* I learned my lesson on this way back in c1989 ... in transit home via Singapore! In a mall near the top of Orchard, somewhere between Far-East SC and the Tanglin Mall. I thought I'd have a blazer made, an MTM one. I had the initial measure up, and two days later a first fitting of the basic sleeveless shell. The end ill-fitting result was eventually posted to me weeks later stuffed roughly in a shoe-box.

Same here but in Bangkok, the suit was never quite right and I wore it once.

A a suit and two shirts for $900 sounds like a lot to me, if you plan to get another suit and want to take a chance on my tailor, it will be cheaper. I like quality and think my tailor delivers on that.

I think he was about $500 for the suit and about $100 for a shirt.

Someone on this forum got a suit from him and said it was good, I forget who.

[miyoung]

Really please with the service at Christian Armani, great recommendation! Not cheap but they delivered on their promise.

[CaptainBullus]

Anyone had any more items made in the last 5-6weeks? I've got some fabric from NYC that I'd like made into short sleeved shirts and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[Brah]

You could shop around and see what they say, I have to wonder if some tailors are making out on the fabric being part of the overall deal.

Even better (I have done this) get something from two or more different tailors and compare the prices, fit, and quality. Easy as you have the fabric as a common denominator.