Sew Good

Sew Good Tailor has been around for nearly 20 years and has been the top alteration choice for all the Luxury Stores in Ala Moana and Waikiki such as Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Chanel, Prada, etc. Voted Best of Honolulu in 2004 for Alterations. A small store but definitely one of the best alteration shops on the island. Prices are a little more than other stores but «you get what you pay for.»

How I found Sew Good Tailor:
The crown jewel of my suit collection is a mint condition, unfinished, Ralph Lauren Purple Label Three Piece Suit in my «size». However, like all Non-​bespoke suits (suits not custom made for the wearer), it needs to be altered to fit perfectly. With a retail value of over $ 3,000 I was not going to entrust just anyone with the alterations. Ralph Lauren Ala Moana pointed me in the direction of the tailor they subcontract to, Sew Good Tailor.
Customer Service:
The first two items I had altered were not the suit, but Yves Saint Laurent and Lanvin blazers. I had the sides taken in and the button holes of the cuff opened. This took two weeks for both items. The YSL ended up fitting perfectly. The button holes were a great addition for Hawaii weather because I can now roll up my sleeves when I get hot, and when I wash my hands. The Lanvin took a week longer because it was still a little too loose in the body. There are constraints to how much a suit can be altered, but she was willing to try again to slim it down.
Craftsmanship:
The stitching of the liner was well done and the reattachment of the arm had a few minor stray threads. The cost breakdown was $ 60 to take in the sides and $ 40 for the button holes. It’s on the pricier side, but not by much. Most other places charge $ 50 to take in the sides, and won’t do the button holes. In the Garment District of Los Angeles, the tailor I found there was also going to charge $ 40 to do the button holes.
Overall:
If you need a suit tailored in Hawaii, go here. The extra cost is worth it, especially for a tailor you can use often.
* I will continue to update this review as I get more work done. I’ll also try to include a before and after picture when I have the RL suit done.

ITEM: strapless satin Mermaid-​style maid of honor dress with boned bodice
CHALLENGE: the dress was 2 sizes too big. Major hemming and tucking was needed
LOCATION: co-​worker recommended this place. This place is tucked away on the second floor of the building. There is no sign from the outside.
RESULT: the alterist charged me $ 100 to alter the dress (more than I expected) but she did do a really good job. I had to get the dressed re-​altered because she tucked it in too much. I gave her a few weeks to work on the dress and another 3 days to re-​do it. I believe others trust her work especially since most of the pieces that come in to get altered have labels such as Prada and Channel. She also had a ton of suites and bridal wear. It’s not cheap but I know she’ll do a great job.