Top Global Destinations for Bespoke Tailoring: Custom Clothes That Fit Perfectly
While off-the-rack clothing is convenient, discerning travelers prefer bespoke, locally made garments for superior fit, quality, and cultural authenticity.
Saris, Mumbai, India
A crowd of people wearing saris. Image by Mint Images/Art Wolfe / Photodisc / Getty Images.
In vibrant emerald greens, peacock blues, royal purples, sunrise oranges, and pomegranate reds, saris embody India's rich culture and landscapes. Visitors typically select fabrics at specialty shops, then have the choli (cropped blouse) tailored on-site or nearby. Kala Niketan, a renowned Mumbai emporium, offers an extensive selection of silk and cotton saris with intricate embroidery, gold borders, birds, flowers, or sequins. Indecisive? Pick several!
Kala Niketan (www.kalaniketangroup.com) is located on Queens Rd in Mumbai's Marine Lines area.
Suits, Shirts, and Dresses, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Stepping off the Star Ferry into Kowloon's bustling streets, expect eager tailors offering their services. Hong Kong's skilled artisans are famous for crafting suits or dresses in under 24 hours. Follow locals' lead: bring a favorite shirt or trousers to duplicate in various fabrics.
Locals recommend Raja Fashions (www.raja-fashions.com) on Cameron Rd.
Suits, Savile Row, London, England
Savile Row, London. Image by Shaun Egan / The Image Bank / Getty Images.
Savile Row, the 'golden mile of tailoring' in London's Mayfair, has outfitted icons like Winston Churchill and James Bond since the 1800s. With over a dozen elite tailors, opt for a striped three-piece suit or classic tweed.
Cad and the Dandy (www.cadandthedandy.co.uk), a modern entrant, produces bespoke suits starting at £950 by outsourcing some work to China.
Jeans, USA
Levi Strauss invented jeans during San Francisco's Gold Rush, making them an American icon. For the perfect fit—worn more than any other garment—choose bespoke denim tailored to your cut and color.
Levi’s offers custom jeans at its NYC Meatpacking District store (www.us.levi.com). In Nashville, Imogene & Willie (www.imogeneandwillie.com) crafts retro indigo styles in a former gas station.
Qipao, Shanghai, China
Girl wearing a blue qipao. Image by Anissa Sariatu / Flickr / Getty Images.
The elegant qipao (or cheongsam)—famously featured in Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love—evolved from loose robes to sleek dresses in 1920s Shanghai. The city remains ideal for custom versions. Han Yi, a favorite among fashion insiders, provides hundreds of fabrics and expert fittings. A week later, channel 1930s Cathay Hotel glamour.
Han Yi is at 221 Changle Rd in the Luwan District.
Bras, Paris, France
French women's effortless elegance starts with perfect foundations: custom-fitted bras. At Cadolle, a historic atelier, the family has crafted soutien-gorges for royalty and Mata Hari. Book fittings for silk and lace masterpieces. Invest in quality—it's worth every euro.
Cadolle (www.cadolle.com) is on Rue Saint-Honoré in the 1st arrondissement.
Guayaberas, Miami, Florida, USA
This Caribbean shirt, with four pockets for guayabas, is a Miami staple for Cuban men and trendy youth alike. The late Ramon Puig, 'king of guayaberas,' dressed Hemingway and Clinton. His shop offers ready-to-wear and embroidered customs. Perfect before South Beach nightlife.
Ramon Puig (www.ramonpuig.com) is at 5840 SW 8th St in West Miami.
Cowboy Boots, Austin, Texas, USA
Row of cowboy boots. Image by Kraig Scarbinsky / The Image Bank / Getty Images.
Texas boots suit ranch work or galas. Austin blends tradition and edge as the handmade boot capital. Choose ostrich, alligator, or exotic leathers from Heritage Boots (hipster picks), Capitol Saddlery (classic), or Texas Custom Boots (rockabilly flair).
Racked (www.racked.com) maps top shops—search 'Where to Shop Cowboy Boots in Austin'.
Sandals, Athens, Greece
Greeks have worn sandals since ancient times. In Athens, the Melissinos family crafts Cretan leather pairs—shaved, molded, oiled—on-site. Worn by Jackie O, Princess Diana, and celebrities, they're ideal for Aegean islands.
Melissinos (www.melissinos-art.com) is near Monastiraki Sq.
Leather Gloves, Milan, Italy
Italians exude style. In chilly Milan, Sermoneta's custom gloves—from kidskin to peccary—involve 10 artisans per pair. Embrace la dolce vita in the fashion district.
Sermoneta (www.sermonetagloves.com) is on Via della Spiga in the Quadrilatero d’Oro.
Expand your style with Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2014.
