Shopping in Singapore/Hong Kong
 

Any tips on shopping in either of these cities? Suits for men in HK? Other ideas? Costs compared to US?

You can have custom suits made in 3-4 days that in NYC would cost $3000 and in HK will cost you $800-$9000. If that price range is too high you are better off at Macy's when they have $600 suits on sale for $375. But the time necessary for 3 maybe 4 fittings to get them right is 4 days minimum. In Bangkok you can get the same at only 3-4 shops for ~25% less. What you want to ask for and confirm you are getting on the receipt is Scabel, Zegna or Sherry & Holland) 150 or 180 Superfine 100% wool fabric (the difference of 150 Sherry & Holland could well be more than 150 Scabel 180 Superfine 100% wool). But any of these are really fine fabrics if cleaned by a good dry cleaners can be worn weekly and last for 10+ years. You do not want the lapels pasted/bonded but you do want the lapel edges as well as flaps on the pockets hand stitched. You should ask to see 3-4 suits that are like the finished product you will be getting.
As it turns out watches were far less expensive (50%) in the 1960-mid 1980's when I traveled there for business. But by 1990 the prices were only 20%-25% less which is no less than you can get from a good local jeweler these days.In fact, on certain good brands Tag Hauer you can get 35% off in the US on current models. On our last trip in 2009 we cdid buy a lovely painting for $180USD but it is difficult to make price comparisons even though this artist did enjoy a reputation of sorts in the US.

I should add we found nothing to buy in Singapore in 2010 and prices where are very high in general.

Singapore also has superb tailoring if that is what you are looking for. Prices are very similar to Hong Kong. Again, you need time for multiple fittings.

There are interesting local items in both cities, like Xixing teapots in Hong Kong, and you can get superb tea in both cities if you like speciality teas.

Kathie we did not like the fabrics they had for mens clothing except dress shirts and there the prices were higher than HK based on visiting 2 places and emailing 5 prior to our visit.

Hi,

A. First of all, here are the details of some of Hong Kong's "best of the best" tailors:

1. Tak Tak Tailor: Ground floor, Langham Hotel Hong Kong,
8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

2. Sam's Tailor Ground floor, Burlington Arcade, 94 Nathan Rd., Tsim sha Tsui, (exit B-1 of MTR-Tsim Sha Tsui)

3. David's Shirts Ltd. Shop M17, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 5 Connaught Road (Via exit F of MTR-Central)

4. Bobby's Fashions - Mirador Mansion, Ground Floor,
3A, Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
(via exit D-2 of MTR-Tsim Sha Tsui)

5. New Century Tailor: 1/F, AIE building, 33 Connaught Road, Central

6. L&K tailors: G/F, No.2 Carnarvon Road, corner of 66-70 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (Exit no. D-1, MTR-Tsim Sha Tsui)

7. Pacific Custom Tailors: L1, 113 - Pacific place, Admiralty

8. Love Light Tailors: 8b Humphrey's Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (Exit A2 from MTR Tsim sha Tsui)

9. Danny's Fashion Shoppe: GF, Shop 31, Far East Mansion Arcade, 5-6 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (Exits L1 or L2 from MTR Tsim sha Tsui)
Tel: (+852) 2366 7194

B. And here is a list of some of Singapore's most reputable tailors:

1. Raffles Tailor: #02-18 Delfi Orchard, 402 Orchard Road, (+65) 6733 1336

2. Personality Menshop: Peninsula Shopping Centre, on Coleman Street (next to Peninsula Excelsior Hotel and just around the corner from Funan digitaLife Mall), phone: (+65) 6337 2459

3. Pagoda Master Tailor is on 48 Smith Street in Chinatown (+65) 6323 6973 / 9009 0840 / 9127 8072

4. Eurobest - 31 Pagoda Street, Chinatown (+65) 6323 4082

5. JustMens tailor is at #01-36/39 Tanglin Shopping Centre, on 19 Tanglin Road - (+65) 6737 4800 / 6235 2303

6. CYC is at #02-12 Raffles Hotel Arcade, phone (+65) 6336 3556

7. Leighton's Shop Pte Ltd can be found at #02-03
Far East Shopping Centre, 545 Orchard Road, (+65) 6235 2410

8. Oxford Tailor can be found at 1 RAFFLES PLACE, #04-12 (OUB Building), Tel: 6533 7131
.
And here are three more shops that are well worth knowing about (and might also be somewhat less expensive):
* Max @ Mohan's, in Far East Plaza on Scotts Road
* "That Shirt Shop", also in Far East Plaza (#03-76B)
* Ehkay Corner Tailor, on 150 Orchard Road

C. There is a short and nice (and FREE) eBook called the "Singapore Shopping Guide" (Link: http://www.slideshare.net/Asia-Pacif...shopping-guide ) where you can fetch plenty of information about Singapore's different shopping malls and shopping districts, although they don't go into things like prices...

Cheers

Leighton's is where my ex always had his suits and shirts made. They had a superb assortment of fabrics and excellent workmanship.

Asia, is that e-book the latest iteration of the book published by the Singapore Tourist Board? It was from the Singapore Tourist Board's book we first found Leighton's back in the mid-1980s.

We weren't looking for custom clothes, but did look at watches, diamonds (our DS and his DF were looking for an engagement ring at the time) and regular everyday stuff in Hong Kong - Nike and the like - and we found prices to be almost exactly the same as they are at home in the US.

Well Sam's Expert; you tried; I used Sam' and Pagoda foir anyone who wants a recommendation for custom suits, jackets and slacks. But I found the price of slacks alone was too expemsive ($225 in 2010).

Thanks for all the tips! Most appreciated!