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A strongly recommended Hong Kong Shirt maker

daizawaguy

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,661
Location
Tokyo
I passed through HK in december, and had 3 shirts made at Jantzen. For the price, $35-40, they were the best value custom shirt I have had so far. I have bought from Ascot Chang in the past (whom I consider the best custom shirt maker in the world), but for about 1/3 the cost of AC`s basic shirt, the European cotton offered by Jantzen, and the quality of detail, makes them 1/5 (or less in cost) the cost of a AC, with little difference in detail.

They take internet orders, and are super-reliable. They have no minimum order, and they posted an addition shirt to Japan airmail, for around $5!

NikonSouthAfricaDec2009031.jpg
 

daizawaguy

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,661
Location
Tokyo
Not sure about the quality though. Have tried Thailand...the very best Tailor next to the Oriental, and was very dissapointed...around the same price as Jantzen.
 

Selvaggio

One of the Regulars
Messages
136
Location
Sydney
That looks like great quality for the price. May I ask whether they provide a fused or unfused collar?

I have had shirts made by Charlie Chang in the Admiralty Centre - good quality, but a fair bit more expensive than that.
 

Macheath

One of the Regulars
Messages
254
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Very nice! I love the look of the gussets reinforced with pink, it's a nice touch.

I'm on their website perusing the collar syles they have available, and I'm thrilled to see they're offering double-button high collars in a few styles as well.

I'm having trouble getting consistent collar sizing on new RTW shirts. It seems a lot of them run big. I think I may have to place in order with jantzentailors in the very near future. $40 for EXACTLY what you want is quite amazing.

They also have a full selection of dinner suit styles, and it makes me wonder if they'd do evening shirts, too. I'm having a hell of the time finding an affordable formal shirt with a bib front.
 

Ed13

Familiar Face
Messages
65
Location
Toronto
I would suggest buyer beware with Jantzen. I ordered a shirt through the internet and it was nice. Fit OK and good material. A friend ordered one on my suggestion and it wasn't close to the measurements provided and ended up in the garbage.

When in Hong Kong I ordered 10 shirts, a pair of trousers and a waistcoat. The trousers were thrown away after 2 wearings (started falling apart), the waiscoat's fit is off and only worn once and the shirts had to be redone twice while I was there due to sleeves being about 4 inches too short. Even with them measuring it was a comedy of errors.

If I factor in what is wearable there is no savings over better custom tailors. I won't use them again. While there I witnessed a couple of suit fittings, not even close to being acceptable.
 

cookie

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,927
Location
Sydney Australia
Ed13 said:
I would suggest buyer beware with Jantzen. I ordered a shirt through the internet and it was nice. Fit OK and good material. A friend ordered one on my suggestion and it wasn't close to the measurements provided and ended up in the garbage.

When in Hong Kong I ordered 10 shirts, a pair of trousers and a waistcoat. The trousers were thrown away after 2 wearings (started falling apart), the waiscoat's fit is off and only worn once and the shirts had to be redone twice while I was there due to sleeves being about 4 inches too short. Even with them measuring it was a comedy of errors.

If I factor in what is wearable there is no savings over better custom tailors. I won't use them again. While there I witnessed a couple of suit fittings, not even close to being acceptable.


That is interesting in view of most things said about Jantzen being positive...
 

Ed13

Familiar Face
Messages
65
Location
Toronto
Do some Jantzen searches on Styleforum and Ask Andy About Clothes and you will find comments both good and bad.
 

Saho

New in Town
Messages
18
Location
West USA
BellyTank said:
And unfortunately, they can Interpret what you actually want, into "anything".

B
T

I agree BellyTank. Getting custom made shirts is basically a luxury expenditure. Why would you want to enter the bargain basement in this pursuit? Surely, if price is a concern, those Stafford wrinkle-frees at JC Penney for $20 a pop represent a much better bargain than Jantzen and tailors in more exotic locales. I could never understand ordering dress shirts over the internet; there are so many great local shirt makers in the US and both SR/HK tailors visit the US annually.
 

Saho

New in Town
Messages
18
Location
West USA
cookie said:
That is interesting in view of most things said about Jantzen being positive...

I have had some very bad experience with Jantzen so I would never recommend Jantzen to anyone on this forum. Long story short: Ordered 12 shirts, waited a year, no shirts, asked for refund, no replies, had American Express take my money back. Jantzen is only good if you visit in person to pick out the swatch and specify what you want. If you call Ricky Ho, the owner, he just nod his head "yah yah yah" and hang up the phone as soon as you expect him to reply intelligently.
 

Tomasso

Incurably Addicted
Messages
13,719
Location
USA
Ed13 said:
Do some Jantzen searches on Styleforum and Ask Andy About Clothes and you will find comments both good and bad.
I would concur. While I've never ordered from Jantzen, I've been following them on the menswear forums for years and have come to the following conclusions about how to get the best fit out of them: It is best to visit their shop to be measured by Ricky, the proprietor. Better yet, if you can hang around HK long enough to do a test shirt with a fitting. If you can't get to HK then send them your best fitting shirt and have it copied. Personally, I wouldn't deal with them after this point.....but if you must enter into an online transaction, have a tailor take your measurements.
 

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