How to find a vintage tailor?

[Brownie]

Hello. This is my first post outside of the "new guy" thread. I'm new to vintage suits and I need some advice. How would I find a tailor and a dry cleaner who will properly fit and care for vintage clothing? Is there a directory anywhere of tailors who work with vintage, or should any tailor be able to do it? Tailors seem to be in short supply in my area.

Is anyone from Charlotte, NC or the surrounding area that could recommend someone? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

-Drew

 

[GHT]

It's just a suggestion, if there are no tailors within your vicinity that specialise in vintage suits, you could always look up on the internet, anywhere in the world, a suit that you like, make a note of the web page, then go along to someone like: Myers Park Tailors, show them the suit that you want making and ask them if they can do it, and how much they will charge.
Here in London, England, we have a specialist name of Rob Crossley, who trades as:Rocacha.
Have a look on his website and see if there are any designs that you like.

You could buy direct from Rob, as long as you feel confident that you can get your measurements correct, but the problem for you, buying from someone like Rob is that: He will charge you in pounds, you will then have to meet the cost of the exchange rate, you will pay a considerable carriage charge and on top of all that, Uncle Sam will probably want to slap on some sort of import tax.

So if Myers, or somebody similar, can reproduce the suit you like, go for it.



/

 

[LuvMyMan]

I have to admit at first glance I thought the topic of this thread was where to find a "drunken sailor" instead of a vintage tailor....lol!

I am always very careful about the dry cleaners....why? Loss of clothing. I have had the say they cannot find my clothes a few times....very not cool. I've learned to let them know when you drop off clothing to make sure they connect the clothing to your face that way they won't give it to anyone else by mistake...but then I hear of some dry cleaner will be the culprit and take your clothing home......very not cool again.

Tailors are harder to find. Look in the phone book or do a google search and see what yo can find.

 

[mactire]

You could buy direct from Rob, as long as you feel confident that you can get your measurements correct, but the problem for you, buying from someone like Rob is that: He will charge you in pounds, you will then have to meet the cost of the exchange rate, you will pay a considerable carriage charge and on top of all that, Uncle Sam will probably want to slap on some sort of import tax. So if Myers, or somebody similar, can reproduce the suit you like, go for it.
/

Well if based in the US he should be able to get VAT (sales tax) deducted from the price, plus in order to avoid high carriage fees you can get very good rates from parcel2go.com, and be able to get that service VAT-free as well.

Unless whoever sells it to him puts an insane valuation on it he's unlikely to get caught by customs either.