No holiday to Hoi An is complete without a trip to one of the town’s renowned tailors. Armed with magazine tear-sheets from the latest catwalks, Joanna Peios hits the tailor shops of Hoi An in search of a fashion fix.
You could be forgiven for thinking the streets of Hoi An are paved with silk: the Unesco World Heritage listed town boasts more than 400 tailors who can whip up a made-to-measure outfit quicker than you can say airline baggage allowance.
Inside the showrooms, satisfied customers swirl elegantly before mirrors while others pour over catalogues and browse walls seemingly built from coloured bolts of fabric. Some have come prepared, armed with magazine cut-outs of celebrities parading the perfect dress.
Tape measure wielding assistants wander the floors like fairy godmothers, ready to turn dreams into reality. Whether you’re after a trip down the red carpet, out to snare that promotion, or just in need of a fashion fix, Hoi An is a great place to indulge fashion fantasies.
When you wander the old streets of Hoi An, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the glut of small tailor storefronts and wonder about the quality of the work. While there’s always new ones cropping up to meet demand, it pays to stick with the regulars, who not only have better quality fabrics but use trained tailors.
Top for customer service and quality is Yaly Couture, which has two shops, and Thu Thuy, run by Madame Thuy, who claims to be the first tailor shop in Hoi An. While their prices are higher, the quality comes with more of a guarantee and the same efficient service (typical 12-hr. turnaround for a new suit).
I chose Yaly Couture on Nguyen Thai Hoc after a few recommendations. While customers can find inspiration for designs from the rails and mannequins, or through browsing the numerous catalogues, knowing my indecisiveness, I’d come prepared with a pair of trousers and a dress that I wanted copying and tear-sheets of a Phillip Lim structured jacket. Of course I would carried away and ordered lots more, but that’s part of the fun.
My demurely beautiful sales assistant, Melissa, dressed in a purple silk ao dai, helped me choose fabrics. Once given the go-ahead she whisked me away to another room where I was meticulously measured from top to bottom. I was glad I couldn’t understand her Vietnamese when she started shouting out my measurements matter of factedly to another girl who wrote them all down in ‘the big black book’. To be doubly sure, they also took a photo to help the tailors see my height and body shape.
Tugged this way and that as they got the measurements just right, I loved getting caught up in the frenetic atmosphere, helped along by the constant humming from the sewing machines upstairs and the tailors running up and down with new items ready for fitting.
One day later I returned to try on my garments, and after some minor alterations, I gleefully waltzed out of there with a spanking new wardrobe for under $500. If you love shopping for clothes, this is the ultimate rush – having them custom-fitted to your shape and all without the Savile Row prices. I’m dreaming up my summer wardrobe as we speak.
Top tips for shopping for tailor-made clothes in Hoi An
Take magazine cut-outs/print-outs of your favourite designs
Bring your favourite fabrics from home – the fabric is more expensive than the cost of the tailoring
Look for the best quality fabrics instead of the lowest price
Build a good rapport with your sales advisor, they will do a better job
Shop around – don’t feel rushed to make a decision
Don’t rush the job, they will have longer to get it just right
Allow enough time for alterations an final fittings, 3-4 days is sufficient
Make time for a final fitting and check all finished garments before you pay for them
Having your clothes couriered home is sometimes cheaper than paying excess baggage fees.
Happy shopping!
Address book
Yaly Couture, 47 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street and 47 Tran Phu Street ,Hoi An
Thu Thuy, 60 Le Loi, Hoi An
Bao Khanh Silk, 101 Tran Hung Dao, Hoi An
Comments