In recent years, an increasing number of affluent, well-known, and informed individuals have turned to high-end tailoring in places like Hong Kong and Singapore. For men, Seville Street has become a top destination for custom suits, renowned globally for its craftsmanship. However, the rising cost of living is beginning to impact the entire fashion industry, with handcrafted, made-to-measure garments becoming more expensive than ever.
W. W. Chan & Sons, one of the pioneering tailors in Hong Kong, recently raised their prices. According to Patrick Chu, the chief tailor at the shop, a standard VBC wool two-piece suit now costs 9,000 Hong Kong dollars (around $1,160), up by 10% over the past two years. While Italian fabric supplier Vitale Barberis Canonico is still highly regarded, it hasn’t yet reached the highest quality level.
The primary driver behind this price increase is the rising cost of fabrics. In 2010, cotton prices surged by 91%, and blended wool saw a nearly 50% increase over 15 consecutive months, peaking at a 14-year high in October. Patrick Chu also noted that premium wool from Loro Piana has risen by 10% in just six months.
However, fabric costs are only part of the story. Increased demand is another key factor. Mark Cho, co-founder of The Armoury in Hong Kong, shared that their business has been so successful that they’ve had to turn away some customers. “We plan to raise prices by 10–20% in mid-February,†he said. The Armoury even set up a small desk inside the store to track how these price hikes affect consumer behavior.
Lee Baron, a custom shop in Kowloon, is experiencing similar trends. Owner Peter Lee mentioned that more customers are now seeking full-canvas-lined suits priced around HK$5,000. These suits require 50 hours of work, costing 2,200 Hong Kong dollars more than half-canvas options. With rising labor costs due to higher living expenses in Hong Kong, the shop is considering lowering prices—but only after discussing with employees.
In Singapore, clothing prices are also climbing. Leslie Chia, who runs Pinabs, reported a 30% increase in prices since 2009. A shirt that once cost 229 Singapore dollars now sells for 330. Chia noted that while prices remain stable for now, suppliers are starting to hoard wool and cotton. He’s closely monitoring the situation.
Despite rising costs, the custom clothing industry in Asia continues to grow steadily. Compared to Western countries, Asian custom tailoring remains relatively affordable. For example, Kevin Seah, a high-end tailor in Singapore, offers a two-piece suit for about 7,000 to 8,000 Singapore dollars ($5,400). This is significantly cheaper than top Italian brands like Kiton, where a similar suit can cost nearly $10,000. As demand grows and craftsmanship remains unmatched, the custom tailoring industry continues to thrive, even in the face of inflation.
This classification includes women's sweaters with high quality, good comfort, all kinds of customized colors.
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Women Sweater,Ladies Sweater,Knit Sweater,Long Sweater
Jiangyin Minglang Textile Co., Ltd , https://www.jymltextile.com