The suiting thread

["6"]

Let me see if I understand you. The capitalists are supposed to deal with the artisans while surrounded by onlooking scallywags who brought along packets of nasi lemak?

The Ascot Chang trunks in Melb often descend into a little chaos. No nasi lemak, but its the result of ppl coming late, staying longer for bigger orders/ indecisiveness, or ppl with 1 slot bringing their mates who also place orders.

 

I've mingled with the other customers in the ensuing chaos, most are interesting characters.

 

Lucky Chang they have always have at least 2 or maybe 3 ppl in the room to layan ppl.

[zjchen]

The Ascot Chang trunks in Melb often descend into a little chaos. No nasi lemak, but its the result of ppl coming late, staying longer for bigger orders/ indecisiveness, or ppl with 1 slot bringing their mates who also place orders.

I've mingled with the other customers in the ensuing chaos, most are interesting characters.

Lucky Chang they have always have at least 2 or maybe 3 ppl in the room to layan ppl.

Hey "6", did u go for the recent one? What kinda prices do they charge nowadays?

["6"]

No I'm away from Melb for a few years.

 

The most recent one I went to in Melb was in 2015. My order was around 12-150 USD for entry level oxfords/ poplins (they quote in USD during trunks, but HKD when ordering from their home territory).

 

Placed a more recent order whilst in HK Peninsula last year (May 2016), came to about 1400HKD per shirt for their house fabrics (entry level). It can go north of there very very quickly when you get better branded fabrics.

 

Minimum order of 3 shirts. Their entry shirts are great value IMO. The fit I have has been exceptional for me, and even better on from a couple of other friends of mine who are also their customers. YMMV of course.

 

I visited two Jerymn Street shirtmakers in London and they told me they have a minimum of 6 shirts; and were around £250-£300 per entry level shirt. I did not end up placing an order.

 

Apologies for the multiple currencies, but probably more accurate this way as FX tend to fluctuate.

[Hurmm]

I'm in HK for a 4-month work assignment and recently bought 3 RTW shirts from Ascot Chang in IFC Mall HK. My workplace dress code in Malaysia is casual so I never needed shirts, and al I had previously were mostly from Uniqlo. The biggest difference was wow, look at how nice the AC collars are! They were on 50% discount so I got 3.

 

The fit probably isn't the best for me though. One size fits my chest area, but there is some excess around the waist. Size down and the chest a bit too tight. Cuffs are a bit too big, but I suppose the cuff button placement can be altered slightly to accommodate my slim wrists.

 

I think 2 were from house fabrics and 1 from Alumo which was pricier by about 35% I think.

[kotmj]

Look at how these dumb fucks have been receiving so many requests for "by appointment only" option since at least early last year but have not implemented it:

 

https://www.en.advertisercommunity.com/t5/Enhance-Your-Presence/Need-quot-By-appointment-only-quot-option-for-business-hours/td-p/502183#

[kotmj]

https://www.en.advertisercommunity.com/t5/Basics-for-Business-Owners/Business-is-open-by-appointment-only/td-p/490230

[takashi]

You would think only the smarty pants work at the big G

[kotmj]

Was asked if I'd like to sponsor something like 17 suits for the Malaysian contingent to this event in London:

http://enactusuk.org/world-cup/

 

I think...nahhh.

[kotmj]

Told the apprentice today he can do recreational tailoring instead of commercial tailoring.

[takashi]

What does that mean?

[kotmj]

It means whatever you think it does.

[kotmj]

 

If it sometimes seems like it takes me forever to invoice you, it's because I hate doing it. It's one of those things I keep putting off. In fact, I have to "reward" myself in order to do it. I have a few invoices to make, so I came up here to Awana Skyway and ordered a Sumatra pourover in order to do the dirty work. I am very weak in the commercial side of things. I need to take on a partner to handle these aspects. I'm basically just a technician.

 

But I remember I wanted to take some pics to show you guys why I think this place is the best mall ever, architecturally.

 

The width of the "street" is very similar to the old shopping thoroughfares of European towns. It's also open air. When it rains, it gets wet. It also has these open "squares" -- mini ones compared to the real European thing -- but it works.

 

 

There is quite a bit of complexity in the layout. It's a bit disorienting, with shops "tucked away" in small alleys. The place is like a jumble of shops. It feels organic, like a town that evolved organically.

[takashi]

You need a sexy PA

[John]

WTF do you have 2 phones?

[zjchen]

surely there's technology that will allow you to create an invoice from an app...

["6"]

What does that mean?

I imagine a scene in a huge corporate. Lets say its in the engineering department of a mega utility/energy company.

 

A Head of Dept tells her subordinate during his annual performance review that after careful assessment of his performance, he cannot be an engineer in a commercial sense (i.e. charge money for his service/expertise). But hey! Theres nothing stopping him from being one recreationally.

["6"]

surely there's technology that will allow you to create an invoice from an app...

There is an easier solution - ready made invoice pads, the ones that come with carbon copy paper (typically 3 copies, 1 for your records, 1 for customer, 1 for the supplier).

 

Scribble something barely legible/discernable on these pads (preferably in Chinese characters) so auditors will have a hard time judging the value on the invoice to goods delivered. Tell customers that there is a discount for cash settlement. Always write up the chit once the order is placed.

 

Chinaman business and tax planning 101.

[kotmj]

Jajajaja. Don't have to be so...graphic.

["6"]

Jaja titillating ma

[kotmj]

I think a lot of what makes for worldly success is how mentally engaged a person is. Mental engagement is this energy-expending act of constantly observing what is before you and figuring out their characteristics, mechanics, dynamics, etc. Say you drove past a car accident. Some drivers notice that an accident had taken place. "Oh, an accident," they think. And they think no more. If you ask them if they saw an accident while on the way and to describe what they can of it, they say, "Oh, yes, there was an accident."

 

Then there are those mentally engaged people who, as they approach the scene of an accident, absorb something like 20X more information from the scene than the guy in the first paragraph. They saw that the front axle on one of the cars was broken. From this, they guess that the driver may have tried to steer hard to the side, potentially to avoid something in front of him? His eyes then wander down to the asphalt, and saw there were black tyre marks from this car with the broken front axle. This suggest to him the driver tried braking too. This further suggest this driver was wide awake during the accident and took pains to avoid one.

 

His eyes then scanned around to search for the thing this driver tried to avoid. And he sees in the bushes the wheel of a motorbike peeking out. And so on, so forth. He does all this within the 5 seconds or so as he drives past the scene.

 

Mentally engaged people tend to be "successful" because they have a habit of observing things around them and forming hypotheses and looking for confirming and disconfirming evidences. They are constantly figuring out how the part of the world that is relevant to them works.

 

If they are interested in people, over time, they become very good at making people do things that benefit them. They get promoted, they have mates of their choice, they have some standing in their groups, etc. Because they spent decades figuring out people.

 

If they instead direct their attention to material things, they become very good at imparting form to matter. They become great designers of various goods.

 

If they habitually direct their minds to the emotions evoked by words and cadences of words, they become accomplished writers.

 

But what hapens to the guy who is NOT mentally engaged with the world? Someone whose mind is habitually lethargic/slothful? Who looks, but does not see much?

[kotmj]

 

Just now... Trousers still in baste stage. It wasn't so easy with him, and Coatmaker D saw my uncertainty and said he's ok with a third fitting. But time was running out, so went to finish.

[carbman]

 

I

 

But I remember I wanted to take some pics to show you guys why I think this place is the best mall ever, architecturally.

 

 

The width of the "street" is very similar to the old shopping thoroughfares of European towns. It's also open air. When it rains, it gets wet. It also has these open "squares" -- mini ones compared to the real European thing -- but it works.

 

 

 

There is quite a bit of complexity in the layout. It's a bit disorienting, with shops "tucked away" in small alleys. The place is like a jumble of shops. It feels organic, like a town that evolved organically.

 

 

Just came back from GPO. The missus insisted we went twice - once last night and once in today at noon. I can't be entirely sure, but GPO's layout is more-or-less like JPO, may be bigger. JPO's outdoorsy design would have been OK if not for our hot weather. What makes GPO better than JPO is the weather.

[kotmj]

It sounds a lot less romantic when you describe it

[kotmj]

I have always wanted to ask for an update on the popup shop in BSC that I'm supposed to be in. I also wanted to go to BSC to see the unit (under renovation, I was then told). But I never got around to it.

 

Today, the lady who offered me the opportunity came by the shop. In fact, she just left. Now I have more clarity about the arrangement.

 

She and her husband are primarily in the construction business. They also run some F&B outlets. They were given the opportunity to do something with a unit in BSC, and decided on the "hidden bar" concept. It's a stylish bar, but what makes it a bit special is that it's hidden behind something else. They will launch in October being hidden behind a barber. The barber will be there for 6 months. After that, the barber vacates his place and will be replaced with a tailor, with a tenure of six months. After the tailor, a shoemaker is slotted to take the place.

 

The couple were here to meet with me, get a feel for a tailor's shop, and discuss the visual merchandising aspects.

[carbman]

why the short duration?