Dubai (tailoring around the world)

"The brute covers himself, the rich man and the fop adorn themselves, the elegant man dresses!"

-Honore de Balzac

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Bespoke Gent
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:10 pm
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Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:51 am

Gents,

I have a forthcoming trip to Dubai for two weeks.

Does anyone have experience in buying *quality* bespoke in Dubai?

I have searched various forums and although there seem to be a few recommendations, I fear those standards are not mine.

To clarify, I'm not expecting to get S.R. quality tailoring for Dubai pennies, but am trying to see if I can source a good standard traditional method tailor who could make some pants and shirts perhaps.

(I will leave jackets to my trusted British tailor :D )

thanks
Etutee
Posts: 153
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 3:57 am
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Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:18 pm

Dear BG,

I saw your post and would like to respond to it quickly as I am in between a few things.

Last time I visited Dubai was about 5 years ago and that was only for 2 days. My frequent visits were in mid-90s, which are not of much use because Dubai today is a totally different city. However, some things are still somewhat the same.

As far as bespoke in Dubai goes given your time period of 2 weeks only I would advise to refrain from trying anything even pants. Now, in bespoke each man is looking for something different in terms of fit and overall results but regardless of your preference if you are posting on LL I am going to assume the default setting of bespoke "veteran" for you.

Back many years few of the tailoring shops in Dubai were almost exclusively run by tailors of Indian origin or a few by far eastern tailors. There are a few things you have to understand before even thinking about a tailor over there. Dubai's population is divided in 2 categories. Firstly the natives (or 1% of foreigners who have been there forever) and secondly everybody else. A great percent of these people who are foreigners are not the bespoke clientele per se and certainly they do not try that in Dubai.

The local natives with money and tastes distinguished enough to opt for bespoke route as opposed to the mass frenzy of designer labels surely know how to commission one in London or Italy perhaps.

To put it really simply the tailors there are NOT usually capable of turning out garments to the standards we at these forums like to be. It is not a fault or anything, just that there is really no demand for such practices in Dubai. On the other hand crave for designer labels is a totally different matter.

Now that can be changed with dedicated client and a passionate tailor but this process takes time and patience on both ends, which you don’t have. So all in all… I would not advise you to go that route on such a short trip. Plus why do you want to do it anyways? Dubai has never been known for good tailoring and most likely never will be due to the extremely low demand. It is nowhere close to Hong Kong if that’s what you had in mind to compare with.

Hope it helps

gotta run :)
Bespoke Gent
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:10 pm
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Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:49 pm

thanks for your good advice Doug.

To be honest, I had only planned to visit a Dubai tailor simply as a way to get "more things made for less money" than it would be in the UK.

Your comments have opened my eyes though. Since there is no tradition there for proper tailoring, as you've implied, it would simply be a false economy.

Deep down, I knew this would be the case :oops:

lesson learnt (without wasting any time or money too).
G79
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:15 am
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Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:12 am

I admit I do not know much about bespoke even thought I grew up there. Being poor doesnt let you go bespoke but I can tell you this youcan buy quality cloth for cheaper becuase there are no taxes at all!!!

I know Rivoli sells wonderfull cloth from alumo cotton to wools from scabal and cashmere. They have it all.

If you need their number let me know, I should be able to find it for you. The rivoli tailor does a rather good job too. I had an over coat made in a wool - cashmere blend when I was going off to Indiana which I can how you some pictures if you want to see thier work.

Warm Regards
Girish

PS- their number is +971-4-335 0075. They do have several branches, this was the one where I used the tailoring services.

PPS - the website is http://www.rivoligroup.com/store_philos ... StoreID=29
TimMureau
Posts: 132
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 3:49 pm
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Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:49 am

All my Arabian business partners go to

http://www.bespoke.ae/

Never heard a bad experience from them and they always are very well dressed.
gherrmann
Posts: 173
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:09 pm
Location: New York City
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Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:04 am

Am I just getting myself mixed up or am I right that Len Logsdail has some sort of Dubai outpost now (probably in partnership with a local establishment)? It's probably beyond the OP's target range, but perhaps it's worth mentioning anyway.
Bespoke Gent
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:10 pm
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Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:21 pm

Just to follow up on this.

I decided against it.

I did go to the tailoring area of Dubai, but in the back of my mind there was that belief that the finish and craftsmanship would simply not be how I would hope.

As someone said, UAE probably has some great tailors, but they do not have that British or Italian (style ) heritage - I would have to give too much direction in too little time.

It might cost £30 or whatever, not much in the grand scheme of things, but if I did not like the end product, they would just go unworn and I would have been better putting the 30 quid towards a suit with my trusted tailor.
Leonard Logsdail
Posts: 180
Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:56 am
Location: New York
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Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:21 pm

We have the official opening April 15th.
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