Modernize Tailors

This is a proper bespoke– if you’re privileged enough to be able to afford a suit here, you’re also buying a piece of history–
Over 100 years of history and knowledge at this location.
A suit from here means you’ve «made it».

Poor poor service. I called and said I would be there at 12:30 to get some measurements done. When I arrived the fellow told me he was having lunch and come back in an hour. I explained I take transit and is a long trip. He didn’t care. There are better options out there. This place SUCKS.

I was waiting to get a few more uses out of the bespoke suit that I had made by the Wong brothers. However, I just took a peek at what I had hanging in the closet and it brought back many emotions about the journey.
I’ll save a bunch of details since others have written just as much praise for the fantastic generations of men who have served the Vancouver area for 100yrs and focus on my own experience.
I had made the decision to have a suit custom tailored at Modernize Tailor because it’s the place my grandfather had gone decades ago to get his very own suits made. I wanted to own a piece of history that is multiple generations old and that meant ensuring the suit was made by the same hands that would have created the timeless pieces that my grandfather would have worn.
It was not cheap and it was not lightning fast. In fact, I didn’t make it any faster by being very particular about the bolt of wool that I would wear with pride. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough material left to make a full jacket and pants for me and I ended up spending more hours digging through the famous «stash» of finely-​aged bolts of fabric before finding something from a new collection of British wools that gave me the same level of excitement.
Steven and I spent quite a bit of time talking about what makes a suit and how I will be wearing the single-​buttoned, side-​vented, and fish-​mouth notched and narrow lapelled gem that I had been visualizing for months. Thinking about the all the options I had, I sat on a couch in the foyer of a residential building where Modernize Tailors has returned to their origins after years of being across the street. The results of our conversation and all this time to decide had me re-​thinking many elements of the design and fit that I was looking to achieve. Ultimately, I’m so glad that it did.
The result was an instant classic. Little work needed to be done upon pickup of the finished masterpiece which took nearly three months due to vacation time for both them and myself. I was picky about a little bit of neck roll just below the collar and I decided it was necessary to turn it into a two-​button jacket to make the overall look more professional and proportional. It was a non-​issue for them to take care of and an hour later, I walked out of Modernize Tailor with a giant grin on my face.
No, I wasn’t wearing the suit on my way back to my car. In fact, the suit wasn’t even put in a special travel bag or anything. It sat on a very plain hanger, but I just felt better about myself holding it. Chinatown has changed quite a bit since my grandfather would have been walking those same streets, but I’m sure he felt the same way after picking up his new apparel from the Wong brothers.
In closing, you don’t buy a suit from Modernize Tailors. You are buying a piece of history.

I have had tailors that were good, but these people are by far and away the best!
The work was done fast, and the crafstmanship was beyond reproach. I will definitely be using them again for all of my tailoring needs.

Best tailors I’ve ever found… I just wish they were younger so I know I’d be set for life. My tailored suit is incredible, thank you for staring, and I’ve had a dozen suits/​jackets fitted here too.
This shop is a national treasure, and well worth a trip to Chinatown.

Read the previous reviews and decided to trust them with alternations to my brand new Zegna tuxedo. BIG MISTAKE! I finally gave up after 2 attempts to let them fix their shoddy workmanship. The day I took back my tux, I witnessed an irate lady causing a huge commotion over what she perceived to be unacceptable work. IMHO, you might be able to trust these tailors with minor alterations (hemming of pant bottoms etc…), I won’t trust them with anything else.
Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Jeff

These cool cats really know what they’re doing. My suit is pretty slick if I do say so myself.
The suit was pretty pricey but it’s great quality and it’ll stay part of my wardrobe for a long long time. It also takes a while for the whole process from start to finish (about a month), ’cause you’ll go in for a chat/​consultation, choose the fabric, and do a preliminary sizing. Then there’s the 2^nd and subsequent sizings.
All in all, if you aren’t in a rush and are ready to invest a chunk, this is a definitely a place to consider for your suit.

I was *so* pleased to find Modernize! They repaired a stack of clothes for me within 48 hours, and didn’t charge me an arm and a leg. Not only that, but they were the best repairs I’ve ever had done, and even caught some I hadn’t seen.
I’m now considering taking them some skirts that I loved but have worn out to get them to replicate them for me.
Don’t think they take plastic.

I was introduced to Modernize Tailors by a CBC television special. The brothers are semi-​retired now and the shop is only open 3 days a week. They remind me of my own grandfather and their sense of humour takes you by surprise. Their experience and skill are demostrated by their work. Although I haven’t had any suits made yet, the alterations I had done were all amazing. It takes a bit longer than regular alteration shops because there’s just 3 old men working there now, but it’s worth the wait. If you want to own a little piece of Vancouver history, you can purchase from their tailor shop a recipe book they printed as a private run called «Wong Family Feast».

My Modernize custom tailored suit is one my my most prized possessions. The Wong brothers took over the shop 60 years ago from their father who opened it in 1913. They are masters at their craft, and have a great sense of humor to boot. I believe you need at least 2 weeks to have a suit made, although they may be able to expedite the process. My 3 piece suit was around $ 800 and was worth every penny. I’m saving up for another one.
And if you don’t believe me, just ask Sean Connery whose photo hangs in the dressing room.