[FRASUIT]

With Chan--or any bespoke tailor, according to experienced hands--it's always best to start with a single suit rather than ordering multiple items. If you're totally satisfied with their first effort, you can order a second suit directly from Hong Kong, since they have your measurements, and you will receive it in comparatively short order.

So ounce I get one suit to fit perfectly, I can just pick the fabric I want and they can replicate the "cut" of the first suit or would a new suit still require a fitting even if it is to be identical to the first one?

 

[donk93953]

So ONCE I get one suit to fit perfectly, I can just pick the fabric I want and they can replicate the "cut" of the first suit

Yes, but return with the first suit to your next meeting with Chan. They can make any adjustments, weight gain/loss, for your 2nd suit.

 

[FRASUIT]

This is great guys, I am going to call the HKG store tonight (monday morning HKG time) to see if my schedule works with theirs. In the mean time any more suggestions are welcome.

 

[FRASUIT]

Just spoke to one of the tailor (Arnold I believe) and he said that we could do Measurements/fabric selection on Saturday, basted fitting on the flowing Friday morning and final fitting on Saturday late afternoon. They will mail the suit to me after this.
I am a bit skeptical to not getting a final fitting with the finished suit... What do you guys think?

 

[zzdocxx]

I may get some flak for suggesting this, but I think VBC Super 110 would be a good choice for a first suit. It's probably Chan's least expensive option, but it should give you plenty of good service, and it will give Patrick a good starting point for finessing your pattern for subsequent orders.

What is VBC?

And is the least expensive option around $1200US?

Thanks.

 

[bernoulli]

VBC is Vitorio Barberis Canonico. Very nice fabric and I agree that it is a year around fabric that is relatively cheap and a great option for a first suit. For a two-piece it is less than U$1100 in Shanghai, but I think something like U$1200 in Hong Kong.

Frasuit, as for having one last fitting, I don't see any problem, because any tweaking, if it exists, should be very minor and doable by any tailor. Not the best option, but I would not fret over it, especially after having two fits.

As for a new suit, after they have your measurements and a finished suit, it goes on file and if you would need a new suit you only need a final fitting unless you choose otherwise.

 

[JLibourel]

Just spoke to one of the tailor (Arnold I believe) and he said that we could do Measurements/fabric selection on Saturday, basted fitting on the flowing Friday morning and final fitting on Saturday late afternoon. They will mail the suit to me after this.
I am a bit skeptical to not getting a final fitting with the finished suit... What do you guys think?

Are you now going to Hong Kong to visit Chan? I thought your plan was to meet with Patrick on the tour. I don't think Arnold is a tailor. He is more of a general manager. He has been accompanying Patrick on some of the most recent tours.

Getting two fittings is better than no fittings at all, which is the most common procedure when you order from them on tour. I would have every confidence in getting an excellent fitting suit from Chan after two fittings even if they had to mail you the completed suit.

 

[FRASUIT]

JLibourel, I was indeed interest in meeting Patrick during his US tour but I was suppose to go to Beijing the whole week, flying throughout HKG (got to love cathay pacific) I just changed my HKG-PEK flight to a later one and while go into town on monday for measurements and back to the airport. As for the way back I will just be spending 2 extra days in HKG instead of home in the US. I think it is worth it for me to get a couple fittings as it will be my first suit.

 

[donk93953]

"because any tweaking, if it exists, should be very minor and doable by any tailor."
Be careful treading down this path. Chan, like many tailors, may not be comfortable doing future alterations on one of their suits that shows work by another tailor.

 

[FRASUIT]

"because any tweaking, if it exists, should be very minor and doable by any tailor."
Be careful treading down this path. Chan, like many tailors, may not be comfortable doing future alterations on one of their suits that shows work by another tailor.

Very understandable, I will talk to the tailor and ask him how shall we treat any final tweaking.
Is it possible that after those 2 fittings we get a final product close to what it should be?
Also I have seen a few example on this forum of suits that are close to the body one button and look great but I am afraid it would not be comfortable enough to work, travel, drive etc. I also read on here that a good BS suits can be close to the body and yet very comfortable because it is made to your body... any thoughts?

 

[FRASUIT]

OK guys an update from my first experience with WW Chan in Hong-Kong:

-After a long 11 hour flight from Frankfurt with Cathay I made my way int town for my 9:30 am appointment for my measurements at WW Chan. After looking for the place for a bit I finally made my way up the stairs to find the entrance.
Quite frankly this is where my Best spoke experience began and honestly it wasn't great to say the list. I get the and was asked to sit and pick a fabric for my suit by a woman, that although was not mean or rude, was not able to help me at all although I kept on telling her that this was my first Bestspoke and she would just pick up an extra book of fabric and put it in front of me every time I was trying to get more guidance. At first she was clearly pushing the more expensive fabrics, all the books she put in front of me were $2000 for a 2 piece...
After telling her that I wanted to see something more entry level as this was my first suit with them she got some VBC book, but if I had a question about the fabric itself she would just read from the book intro...:frown:
Anyway after its of looking trough the books I settled on a VBC revenge 5 in solid dark navy, and a second one in a solid dark grey (the suit was $1200 I just got a promotion I decided to treat myself to an extra one...) I just loved the feel of it it was so soft, it is probably around 8.5/9 oz and is a super 130 or 140 which seemed high but I read everywhere on here it doesn't matter too much. It looked and felt exactly like I wanted...I just hope this wasn't a mistake.
This is where I am a bit frustrated, at this point I was ready for my measurements, and the place was kind of packed ( good for them)... A young tailor (always thought experience was important for a tailor) came and my strategy was to show hime picture for a forum member's suit made by them that I absolutely loved, and told him this is what I want with a few difference the picture was a 1 button I wanted a 2.
He looked at the pictures for 1 minute top took my measurement in 10 minutes, made me try a sleeveless suit put a few needles and told me we were done. We then when throughout the checklist, straight pockets (thanks to this thread) 1/2 lined (I am always too hot), notch lapel, fitted, cuff one ply for the pants, 3 inside pockets + 1 for pen, lining nothing crazy, and that is it.
I am really worried as I have seen great suits (this is the style I am going after: https://www.styleforum.net/t/15359/hk-tailors-a-man-hing-cheong-and-ww-chan) and horrible ones that were just way off (https://www.styleforum.net/t/185893/please-critique-my-ww-chan-and-geneva) Don't mean to offend... I am terrified, my next fitting is on friday morning in 6 days and I am convinced it is going to be really tough to get this younger tailor that does not seem to care much to provide me with the suit I want (I show him the picture from the thread mentioned above-A man VS WW Chan).
I don't know what to do the plan is that we have a fitting on Friday morning and a final fitting the next day late in afternoon before I head to the airport for my flight back to the US.m
I need help guys, what can I do I have two fittings, some pictures and a tailor that does seem to care as much as I would like...

 

[VentsMcMahon]

Chan Experiece

First, it's bespoke. Not sure what best spoke is. Sounds like you'll be fine. Chan takes measurements quickly. They're used to dealing with customers who know what fabrics they want, so I'm not surprised they weren't spoon-feeding you. Chan is a top-flight operation that will get the job done right. Take my word and an Ativan and you should be ok.

 

[JLibourel]

I think you made a good choice in fabrics, especially if you are "always hot." Some may question the durability of VBC 130 fabric, but I have two blazers from VBC 130, one for 6 1/2 years, the other for a little less than six years. I have given both of them hard use, and they're both holding up just fine.

 

[FRASUIT]

Thanks for correcting my spelling (this was an auto correct function on my mac), telling me I was looking for spoon feeding, and finally to take your word and an anxiety drug and all of this on your 5th post on this forum, very constructive and helpful, keep it up.

 

[FRASUIT]

Another brief update:
I shifted my work schedule to make time for an extra fitting (for a total of three). I proceeded to email WWChan to let them know we can now do a basted fitting on THursday at noon, a second fitting Friday late afternoon and a final fitting on Saturday late afternoon.
Well, to they reply that they cannot accommodate 3 fittings, without giving me any reasons, and since they accepted the changes in schedule by moving my fittings to Thursday and Friday (instead of Friday and Saturday) i know it is not a schedule issue. I have a feeling they have a lot of tourist/one time customer that they try to process really quickly, but I am in it for the long run...
So I emailed them back insisting on a third fitting, we will see. I really want these suits to be close to perfect as I want to be able to order from the US in the future.
We will see,I just didn't expect a plain no...

 

[JLibourel]

^Did it occur to you that the staff at Chan just might be busting a gut to accommodate you with two fittings, especially with their head cutter out of town? They do have other customers beside yourself, you know.

I have a strong sense that most Savile Row houses or top U.S. tailors would not be nearly as accommodating as Chan has been to you.

 

[FRASUIT]

^Did it occur to you that the staff at Chan just might be busting a gut to accommodate you with two fittings, especially with their head cutter out of town? They do have other customers beside yourself, you know.

I have a strong sense that most Savile Row houses or top U.S. tailors would not be nearly as accommodating as Chan has been to you.

Sure I have, This is my reasoning, I live really far and made arrangement to go visit them with a goal in mind to get the best possible suit done in this time frame, so I can, in the future order suits from them without any fittings. Therefore if I was a one time customer I would agree that it would be pushing it to ask for too many fittings, but if these two suits come out good, I will be ordering quite a bit from them, and that repeat business would make those three fittings a great investment of their time on me. Once I shared that with them they agreed to accommodate my request.
To your other point I am not sure what other tailors ability to accommodate three fittings would be but I am sure some would and some wouldn't, in the end everyone will benefit from this.