Bargain tailoring in Hong Kong
By RAMA GAIND
MAKING the most of grabbing a bargain in Hong Kong, I deliberately shied away from being there for the annual frenzy which springs up for the mid-year shopping festival.
I’d been told that the festival was a mesmerising event which showcased the best Hong Kong has to offer with best values, superb quality service and some great take-home buys.
However. I knew exactly where I was headed because my husband and I had previously had clothes stitched at Shaniel Custom Tailors.
We had taken possession of made-to-measure slacks and shirts on our last visit and this time were prepared for more of the same.
The midday sun was crackling and so were we, anxious to get to the Comfort Building at 86-88A Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.
Walking through the arcade and into the shop and it was nice to see friendly faces.
David Waheed was most attentive. He first asked what our requirements were; then many decisions had to be made relating to style, colour, type of fabric, costs and how many items of clothing needed to be stitched. We also needed to be measured.
Quick to assist was Feroz ‘Happy’ Aftab, who has been in the industry for seven years, as he rapidly spread out an endless array of fabrics. Swift decisions had to be made.
In between making choices on style cuts and colours, David said about 60 per cent of their business was for men and 40 per cent on outfits for women.
While making clothes for men has challenges, women tend to be more selective, seeking specific designs. David said the women “usually advise us on how to make the garments”.
Born in Hong Kong, David has been in the industry for eight years. “I enjoy my job … there’s freedom, have fun and meet with people from different cultures.”
While Australia and the UK is their main market, business partners also travel to Europe and the US. Their mail order business is flourishing.
Services of two eager teenagers – Umair Khan and Alex Naqash – were also used as they stood outside the arcade to Shaniel Custom Tailors inviting customers into the shop.
Shaniel has been Hong Kong-based since 1963. They specialise in making custom-tailored suits/tuxedos, shirts, over-coats, blazers, vests, slacks, leather jackets, shoes, uniforms and tie/suspenders sets for office wear, casual wear or formal wear.
“We welcome all the old and new customers from around the world who visit our showroom for updated fabrics and styles. Shaniel strives to provide customers with exceptional quality and timely completion of work, superior service and guaranteed satisfaction.”
After our stitching order was placed, with a promise of delivery within three days, we ventured out for further sightseeing.
There is just so much to see and do in and around Nathan Road. Named after Governor Sir Matthew Nathan, the road runs directly up to Boundary Street, the northern limit.
Today, this is one of the busiest commercial roads in Hong Kong; the lower end of the road is known as the Golden Mile because of the plethora of storefront neon signs. A walk along Nathan Road will reveal a shopping paradise with many boutiques, camera shops, street markets and restaurants crammed in side-by-side.
Other highlights include Chi Lin Nunnery, Festival Walk, Flower Market, Gold Fish Market, Hau Wong Temple, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong International Trade & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong Space Museum, Kowloon City Plaza, Lion Rock Road Market and Wong Tai Sin Temple.
The day was not only exhaustive, but invigorating – and what’s more – we walked out by remaining within our budget!
