How long has it been since you last had clothes made at a tailor shop? Or have you never been to such a place with piles of fabric and salespeople wielding measuring tapes? People have gradually forgotten about this industry, but it hasn't disappeared; instead, it has welcomed new developments. On the 18th, reporters investigated the Beijing custom clothing market and found that bespoke suits are beginning to re-emerge in the city and regain an important position. Unlike before, now it mainly serves urban white-collar workers, the newly rich in cities, people who value taste and individuality—those who have money, leisure, capability, and status.
With rising prices, "custom-tailored" clothing is becoming popular again. In recent years, price hikes have increased expenses in all aspects of "clothing, food, housing, and transportation." Clothing, for some young fashion-conscious women, is a top priority and also a major reason why some people become "moonlight tribes," spending over a thousand yuan in one mall visit becoming increasingly normal.
"Nowadays, a single winter outfit in the mall costs over a thousand yuan, and if it's slightly high-end, it's three to four thousand yuan—too expensive, equivalent to a month's salary," said Miss Zhang, who works near Xidan, as she wanted to buy a windbreaker amidst the gradually cooling weather. After looking around, she found that the ones she liked exceeded her budget, and she sighed, saying, "I don't dare to look at new arrivals anymore; I can only buy discounted items."
The reporter discovered that many people share Miss Zhang's thoughts. Many indicated that this year's clothing in malls seems particularly expensive, so they would just make do with last year's old clothes. If there were a cheaper and fashionable place to make clothes, they would be willing to try it. Miss Zhang said, "I'm now preparing to buy a piece of wool fabric to make a coat. The same material in the mall would cost several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan, but with customization, it doesn't require spending that much, saving quite a bit."
At a clothing factory store in Daxing, Ms. Wang was busy in her shop. There were many fashionable and clothing-related magazines on the table, half of the store filled with fabrics and the other half with ready-made clothes, including suits, evening gowns, and windbreakers in various styles. Ms. Wang introduced, "Tailoring fees vary depending on the fabric, generally ranging from 3280 yuan to 26800 yuan."
"Making clothes is relatively cheaper, and both the fabric and style can be chosen by oneself. This is an important reason why many people choose to buy fabric and make their own clothes," Ms. Wang explained, "Many people with special body shapes, such as elderly individuals who have gained weight with large bellies and thick shoulders, come here to make clothes. These people find it hard to buy clothes off the rack, and even when they do, they aren't very suitable, so they often opt for custom-made outfits."
High-end customization: A set of clothes costing over ten thousand yuan
High-end custom handbags use crocodile skin, and high-end custom jewelry requires mining hundreds of tons of ore to obtain. Raw materials are half the success of high-end customization, and clothing is no exception. The rise of the ready-to-wear industry once caused countless tailor shops to close, but cyclically, custom clothing not only avoided its demise but also found a new spring in the realm of high-end customization. In Beijing, especially in recent years, it has been particularly favored by the nouveau riche class.
In some bustling areas of Beijing, one often sees well-decorated and tasteful custom clothing stores promoting "designed by famous designers, tailored to measure." Tailor-made clothing has become a method to enhance one's image, a distinction from others, and a fashion trend among the new rich.
F.S & PAISTE's high-end suit customization factory store is located within a garment industrial park. They told reporters, "Previously, wealthy individuals liked to buy clothes in big malls, but now more and more successful individuals with economic strength are enthusiastic about high-end customization. The consumption level in Beijing is relatively high, and people are increasingly accepting the form of custom-made clothing."
At a high-end customization store named "Cameo" on Macao Road, elegant lighting, comfortable sofas, and warm service from the staff offering hot tea greeted customers. Unlike the noisy music and crowded crowds in malls, customers could comfortably listen to introductions and complete their clothing purchase process while seated. However, behind the comfortable shopping environment lies a significant consumption level.
Manager Li told reporters, "The store's fabrics are divided into domestic and imported varieties, priced from several thousand yuan to nearly tens of thousands. Imported fabrics mainly come from the UK and Italy, with British fabrics being the highest grade." To avoid discrepancies between the final product and customer expectations, halfway through the process, store staff deliver the semi-finished products to the customer's home for them to try on first, noting any necessary modifications to minimize errors in the finished product.
"We have dedicated designers ensuring the quality of the final product, making sure it's fashionable and comfortable. Customers who come to customize clothes are less concerned with the price of the clothing and more focused on the fabric and style. We once made a 60,000 yuan suit using world-class fabric combined with several top-notch accessories, naturally resulting in a higher price."
Customers purchasing from the store are primarily successful individuals. From the moment they enter, high-end custom clothing stores strive to create a comfortable environment for customers. Many high-end customization stores have club-like characteristics, with salespeople receiving specialized training to ensure customers feel at home. Manager Li informed reporters, "Store members enjoy many services, such as reserved spaces within the factory providing VIP private rooms. If customers need a quiet place or wish to conduct business discussions, they can come to the factory."
Manager Li said, "Our tailors are professionally trained, measuring over 20 different parts of the body for each outfit, with corresponding instruments aiding in measurements to help designers grasp dimensions and meet customer requirements." She added, "The main group purchasing from our factory consists of successful individuals. Some come to order outfits for important occasions, while others order everyday wear. They have strict requirements for their clothing and value service highly."
Buying fabric to make clothes used to be an old tradition
Since the advent of tailors, clothing has always been custom-made according to individual requests, then tailored based on measurements with variations for different people. However, after the term "ready-to-wear" appeared, tailor shops gradually faded from the scene, though not disappearing entirely, their significance in the clothing industry has greatly diminished compared to before.
In the 1970s and 80s, every household would acquire new clothes for the New Year. Back then, many families owned sewing machines, making simple clothes themselves, and taking those wanting to be stylish to tailor shops for the masters. Nowadays, sewing machines are mostly gone, and if they exist, they're covered with a white cloth, a layer of dust atop.
Ms. Wang, who now owns F.S & PAISTE's suit customization store in Beijing, was a boss of a custom clothing store over twenty years ago. A few years ago, she transitioned to doing wholesale ready-to-wear business. Talking about the custom clothing business in the 1990s, Ms. Gao said, "Back then, the tailor business was easy to do, with people of all age groups coming to make clothes. Any type of clothing could be made—spring, summer, autumn, winter, suits, western suits, dresses—the workload was endless. Previously, buying clothes were for the wealthy, while those with average incomes chose to make their own. Many bought their own fabric and had tailors make them. If the custom-made ones didn't fit, it was easy to adjust them yourself. Now it's reversed; the wealthy all opt for custom-made clothing, avoiding crowded malls."
The above information is provided by Beijing Paiste Clothing Co., Ltd. Please credit the source when reprinting. The most professional suit customization is available at [F.S & PAISTE Online Suit Store]. Offering bespoke suits, shirts, and custom-made professional attire.