During Christmas break, I laid low with the family. I got lazy, had too many beers and enjoyed a terrific dinner hosted by my brother’s wife in the warm glow of California. On the other hand, Deo Veritas’s founder and CEO, Vinnie Sikka, made the 15 hour journey to Hong Kong to pay a visit to our tailors.
He wants to share his journey, giving an inside view on what it takes to craft a hand made shirt by our seasoned experts. Along with some of the spoils Hong Kong has to offer.
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Author: Amar Categories: Uncategorized Tags: custom tailor, Deo Veritas, designing shirts, dress shirt patterns, expert tailors, fabrics, hong kong, making dress shirts, office, shop, tailors, work
A few months ago, I was shopping for a dress shirt at Nordstrom’s. I was looking for a light yellow shade. After diligently perusing through seven or eight various shades and fabrics for about a ½ hr, I narrowed it down to four choices. Of the four, I wanted a slim fit so that narrowed down my selection to two designers, Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss. I then had to dig through the stacks of yellow and find the proper shirt size (16 32/33). I’ve learned the hard way that no two designers measure the same, each with their own sizing quirks, so I journeyed into the fitting room and tried them on. The Calvin Klein felt baggy but it was supposed to be fitted and the Hugo Boss was long on the sleeves, reaching my thumbs. I tried on a shorter sleeved Boss and it still was a little long but the only size they had left. After spending almost two hours looking for one shirt, I was pressed for time and compromised, going with the Boss.
I think the ordeal I’ve just described has probably happened to you as well. I think we’ve all spent time at a store looking for a few shirts and took the time to make sure it’s the right one, which can become a lengthy process. You may even skip trying it on and just find the size, only to find out later at home it needs to be returned or your stuck with an ill fitted shirt. It’s common for ready made shirts not to fit correctly, each with a unique flaw. Getting shirts tailored is great but that extra cost and time cause a lot of us to think twice and skip it. You’re already spending good money on the shirt; do you really want to spend more?
I tend to be picky when buying my dress shirts. I wear them frequently for work or on a night out, and want something of quality, but I don’t want to spend a fortune. I also want the shirt to be unique, expressing my personality. Most importantly, I want it to fit right. A well fitted shirt makes anyone look better, complimenting their features, making a strong impression but also making you feel comfortable and confident as well. There’s nothing wrong with an edge in the office or the lounge.
Well, I think it’s time we stopped compromising. It’s time to get the dress shirt we want, from the exact fit and finish, to the fabric, the cuff design and whatever else we can think of. Why? Because now we can.
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