Assisi, the Korean tailors I have enjoyed using so much over the past year, have announced they are coming to London for the first time.
They will be here at the end of February, from Friday February 28th to Sunday March 2nd. The location is yet to be confirmed, but it will be central, around Mayfair.
We will also be helping them by organising a drinks event on the Thursday night, the 27th. I know it can be intimidating to go and see a tailor and order something when you've never even seen the garments in person. So this will be an opportunity to do so, and book an appointment if there are any left.
Assisi plan to visit twice a year. This is a little limiting, but on my experience I'd have a lot of confidence in them nailing the fit quickly.
They also do a made-to-measure offering that is very high end. The make is the same as bespoke, they bring fitting garments to try on, and they create a unique paper pattern.
They then deliver a finished suit six months later, at the next appointment. Minor changes like sleeve length etc can be made at that stage, but otherwise it's considered finished. I think it could be a really interesting way in for those on a more limited budget.
I've covered two things I've had made so far by Assisi - a double-breasted tweed jacket (above) and a summer suit (below). I've been really impressed, both by the style and by the execution.
The first jacket has some small things I'd change, but that was largely a result of me trying to fiddle with the style too much (lowering the gorge too far, creating slightly smaller lapels). The suit was perfect and I've recently received a navy cashmere DB as well, which I will cover before the trunk show.
I haven't tried their single-breasted style so far, but that's only because I like the DB so much and wear them so frequently these days. I'll likely try an SB at this show.
Appointments are from 12 to 6pm every day. Prices are:
Bespoke:
- Suit $3,600
- Jacket $2,880
- Trousers $1,100
Handmade to measure:
- Suit $2,700
- Jacket $2,160
- Trousers $810
All are exclusive of 10% Korean VAT. They are starting prices but include most standard cloths. Double-breasted styles have a 10% surcharge. Coat prices are available on request. Reservation is by email on [email protected]
Exciting! What’d you have in mind for a SB Simon?
Perhaps a cord, I think their style would be really nice in a casual jacket or suit like that
You’ve mentioned below the differences in cut with the Anthology. Regarding the shoulder , do Asssi and the Anthology both have slight roping? And would that make the jacket slightly more formal than a jacket from someone like Ciardi?
They do, but it can be adjusted with all of them. Ciardi would be the one that would naturally go softest with nothing there if requested, and I’ve done that obviously before
Hi Simon, did you end up commissioning a SB? I have to say, the guys at Assisi looked really good in their respective suits
I didn’t, no, I stayed strong. But I agree, they really did. In fact they’re still here today and they still do!
Nice to see !
Hey Simon
Are those prices USD?
Yes
Cheers!
Does Korean VAT apply? Normal tax would have VAT at 0% for exported goods and my last online purchase from there didnt have local VAT (unfortunately UK VAT on import though)
That’s what they told me. Feel free to double check with them if you want more clarity
PWC says the rate for exported goods is 0%. I dont know what experience they have on doing exports/overseas sales and may they simply not know? Have certainly seen small UK sellers adding UK’s 20% VAT for overseas sales simply because they didnt know that it goes to 0% for export.
They do shows a lot, just in the US and France, not London yet.
Hey Simon, thanks for letting the reader know about their visit. I might give it a try as I’ve been eyeing them for a while. I’m still inexperienced in tailoring, so I feel like I lack the eye to distinguish between similar style houses. Compared to other London visiting tailors you like, such as Ciardi and Anthology, how does Assisi differ in terms of cut and quality?
No worries Brandon.
The style is the biggest differentiating factor – a slightly wider shoulder, a roomier cut but with shape still. Best on that score if you’re unexperienced is probably to look at images of them on their site or Instagram and see how the style sits with you
Thanks Simon, it’s great to hear about these new tailors, especially as they become more accessible location wise. It seems a lot younger tailors are focusing on relaxed styles of tailoring, I wonder if they are starting to take business away from traditional structured London tailoring.
Price wise they are similar to The Anthology, how do you think they compare in quality and style?
See above Henry on the last point.
Not sure on the first, I’d say softer tailoring has probably been having that impact for a long time, going back to when Rubinacci first set up here. I think these would be taking from that market more than the current structured English offering
Hi Simon,
Looking forward to the feature about your navy cashmere DB from Assisi. Pardon my impatience, but I’m just curious if you might be able to share what cloth you chose for it. I ask because I’m on the verge of commissioning a winter DB jacket in Fox CT-12 overcoating, which I really like the look and feel of based on a swatch I ordered from Fox, but I’ve read your various articles about your Solito jacket in that material and your reservations about the weight, so I’m wondering if your cashmere pick might be a good alternative and something I should look at instead. Any guidance would be much appreciated! Thanks.
Hey Kevin,
Sure, it was a Harrison’s cashmere, though it was one the team had on site so I’m just trying to work out which one from the current collection it was (with Harrison’s help!)
Thank you, Simon!
I like your gray DB. I own some fine SBs from leading tailors, but find my DBs consistently get the most compliments. They must stand out in today’s ever-more-casual world. Do you find the same? I imagine your Assisi and Caraceni DBs get a lot of compliments in real life.
They do stand out more, that’s true. And yes, they probably get slightly more compliments but I wouldn’t say it’s a big difference
i live in Singapore so I have had the pleasure of participating in trunk shows from Assisi and commissioned 2 suits (after I had eyed the DB summer grey suit that Simon had had made), and I must say I am very impressed. Am worried that their popularity in the West will drive their prices up, but am happy for them !
i’m a customer of theirs as well. have commissioned a grey sb suit, and have a db and a db coat being made up now. their work is really impeccable.
hi Simon
Would it bother you if people at the consultation with Assisi simply asked for ‘ same as that grey db jacket worn by Mr Crompton please’?
or near enough.
Nope, and I don’t think it would bother them either!