One thing I was really looking forward to when preparing to move to China was going to the tailor and getting my clothes made in the designs I chose, the fabrics I loved and in my unique size. It was a dream. One of the nicest dreams I've ever had and I'm pretty lucky that my husband is indulgent in my passion for textiles.
I found two names of tailors pretty quickly but didn't venture for a few weeks as it was so busy. One was that of well known expat tailor Mr. Gu an the other was a shop called Dragon and Phoenix. I ultimately wanted to go to Mr. Gu, but when I intended on going he was closed and then I discovered that Dragon and Phoenix was closer to me and ridiculously close to the fabric market (a place where I could spend an extreme amount of time and money). One weekend I headed to the fabric market with a colleague who wanted buttons and had directions. Without haggling most fabrics were as little as 20RMB a metre, but we could get them for less. I bought fabric I could envision as dresses, window seat covers, pillows and to cover the most hideous headboard that just so happens to be on our bed. I returned home with numerous metres of fabric and an enormous box of pins and began transforming the headboard, which took my mind off my disappointment about not being able to go to the tailor too.
A week later I persuaded my husband to join me at the fabric market as clearly I had not bought enough and then on a major expedition to locate the tailor. The market was simple to get to. The tailor was sadly not easy at all. I had been reliably informed that you got off the metro at Leqiao and would see a big white church and it was very near there. A big white church in the middle of Old Town should be really easy to see. We went left. We went right. We went down every street and we did not find a church. We had the Mandarin for the address and shop and asked for assistance and nearly everyone shock their head. After a huge amount of aimless wandering around we found the tailors. At last. Even better the clothes looked good and another expat was there placing a large order.
Feeling pleased with ourselves for eventually having found the tailor I began explaining what I wanted. I had images I had cut from Vogue and fabric ready. To start with I just ordered 2 dresses. There is a girl employed at the tailor who speaks fluent English. She talks everything through with you and a tailor who is always on hand. One tailor said she could not make what I asked for as the neckline was really complicated, however another tailor looked and was positive that they could do it. I was thoroughly measured, paid a deposit and told to return in 7 days and they would call me when my things were ready.
I got my call in 6 days and went the next day to collect my dresses and pay the balance. One dress was a little large on the waist, only marginal and they fixed it within seconds. I think they made it bigger just to be safe. I paid the balance and took my gorgeous dresses home. Both dresses get masses of compliments and I have since directed and taken another 10 people to the same tailor!
Throughout the year I've had alterations, skirts, tops, dresses and a jacket made at the tailor. Everything has turned out well and is unique to me whether it has been made from an image of a designer garment or a direct copy of something I already own. I'm now considered a regular and have been lucky enough to have the fee for linings waived on more than one occasion. Generally I pay considerably less than I would in any shop that caters for my non Chinese frame, and taste, and the quality is exceptional. I've certainly worked out what to take my own fabric for and what to use the tailor's fabric for. It's a luxury being able to have exactly what I want and I probably spend more than I should. How I'll ever live without a tailor again is beyond me.
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