Hello, everyone, and welcome to another of my articles. In this review, I’ll chronicle my experience tailoring a new suit from Mohan’s Custom Tailors.
I’ve previously tailored two suits with Mohan’s – a beige double-breasted suit and a grey single-breasted suit. However, it’s been over four years since I last visited Mohan’s, so I figured it’s time to return for another suit. Let’s see how my new suit from Mohan’s turned out.
Mohan’s Custom Tailors – Video
For hands-on footage of my experience with Mohan’s Custom Tailors, do watch the YouTube video below:
Mohan’s Custom Tailors – the Experience
Mohan’s is like a time capsule – the store remains the same since I last visited.
Mohan’s showroom is located on the ground floor of Far East Plaza, adjacent to the atrium. First-time visitors can look for the bright white signboard – it’s hard to miss.
When I first visited Mohan’s in 2018, I wrote that the store felt like a time capsule that had been transported from the 1990s. That remains true, with faded article clippings and name cards being displayed in a display table that has seen better days.
I was attended to by Max Mohan, who founded the establishment back in 1971. Now in his late 70s, I was mildly surprised that Mr. Mohan has not yet retired – in fact, he tells me that he still comes to the shop every day to oversee operations and interact with customers. That’s the epitome of dedication, reflecting Max’s unwavering commitment to his craft.
I asked Max to show me some of his newer mixed-wool books, which he promptly brought out for me to see. A couple of maroon fabrics caught my eye – I’ve never made a single-breasted maroon suit before, and this felt as good a time as any to do so.
I eventually selected a lovely burgundy fabric from the Luiciano Royal Opera collection. Not only does it have a high wool content, but it’s also relatively lightweight and breathable at 270g, making it perfect for Singapore’s tropical humid weather.
If you have a higher budget, Mohan’s also carries fabric rolls from esteemed mills such as Holland & Sherry, VBC, Reda, Drago, etc.
After selecting the fabric, it was time to get measured.
Despite his age, Max still does some of the measurements, thus bringing decades of experience to the table.
Due to his knee problems, however, Max can no longer perform the lower body measurements for clients. Instead, one of his employees (in my case, Victor) takes over. It’s worth noting that most of his employees have also been with Max for decades and are also vastly experienced in their own right.
After three weeks, I returned to Mohan’s for my basted fitting. For those uninitiated in tailoring, a basted fitting process involves trying on a skeleton jacket, held together by temporary white basting stitches. For more information on the basted fitting stage, do read this educational article here. To me, a basted fitting stage is essential to an actual tailoring experience. To quote a line from the article above: “It’s the difference between flying first class and flying on a private jet.” Not only does it contribute to a better-fitting garment, but it is also an experience to behold in itself.
The basted fitting was supervised by Mr. Thomas Tan, one of the tailors employed by Mohan’s. It’s crucial to note that by definition, an actual tailor is someone who cuts, drafts, and constructs the suit. Most affordable “tailors” (especially the younger generation) don’t do so – they take down your measurements and pass them on to an outsourced workshop. As such, they may lack a proper understanding of how a suit should fit, or how to rectify an improper fit. At Mohan’s, tailors like Mr. Tan cut and draft the fabrics by hand, and thus are the ones best suited to oversee the baste fitting.
As always, my back caused the most problems, which Thomas promptly pinned up. Like Victor, he has been working as a tailor for Mohan’s for decades, and his experience showed throughout the baste fitting.
During the fitting, Thomas deftly used pins and chalk—the quintessential tools of the trade—to denote the necessary areas for alteration. The charm of tailoring is in these anachronistic, analogue touches, which also highlight the labour-intensive, artisanal nature of the craft.
Mohan’s Custom Tailors – Suit Review
After another three weeks, I returned to Mohan’s to collect the suit. Let’s take a closer look and see how it fares.
Firstly, the front fits well, with the shoulders lying perfectly flat without any fabric wrinkling or bunching. Secondly, there is a slight tapering around the waist, and the jacket is also the right length, ending near the base of my thumb bone.
The sleeve pitch, although not perfect, is sufficient, with the majority of the sleeve draping cleanly. The sleeve is of the right length too, exposing about half an inch of shirt cuff. Furthermore, the jacket lies flat against the shirt without a noticeable collar gap.
As always, my back is the hardest to nail. I would say that Mohan’s did a decent job, especially with the right side of my back. However, there is still noticeable wrinkling on the left side of my back, which is caused by my uneven shoulders (my left shoulder slopes significantly lower than my right).
On the plus side, the trousers drape beautifully, with a modern no-break look that pairs perfectly with my pair of CustomWelt loafers.
I loved the textured burgundy fabric, which has a rich, deep hue that reminds me of a nice Shiraz. For a non-branded fabric, I was also impressed by its premium feel – the suit felt breathable due to its lightweight nature and high wool content.
Mohan’s also does functional sleeve buttons, which is typically seen as a hallmark of quality tailoring. The oxblood buttons are a nice touch as well, complementing the burgundy suit nicely while still subtly standing out.
As for the inner lining, I decided to keep affairs simple by opting for a red cupro lining. Compared to polyester, cupro is more breathable (which translates to enhanced comfort), but typically only comes in solid colours.
Despite being an “uncle” tailor, Mohan’s employs a versatile British cut that manages to look modern. It’s neither too baggy nor too slim-fitting, resulting in a suit that’s suitable for a variety of settings. I appreciate that the jacket is not heavily padded (unlike some affordable tailors), with softer shoulders that lend a more natural look.
Overall, I’m happy with my new burgundy suit from Mohan’s. Firstly, the suit fits sharply, with a versatile modern cut. Secondly, the Luiciano fabric feels premium and breathable, and is a cut above the previous fabric I chose from Mohan’s. Thirdly, the burgundy fabric is eminently striking without being overly ostentatious. I’m at an age now where my friends are getting married, and I can see myself wearing this suit to attend their weddings.
Conclusion – so Mohan’s Custom Tailors “shiok” or not?
Mohan’s Custom Tailors is arguably one of the most renowned tailors in Singapore. Their reputation wasn’t built in a day – it gradually grew, client by client, over 54 years. And throughout this time, Max Mohan has been overseeing operations almost daily in his shop, rain or shine. Interacting with Max in his store reminds me of those lao jiao hawkers who have been plying their trade for their entire lives – their sheer dedication garners respect. Yet, like those hawkers, there’s also a sense of inevitable loss. I can’t imagine Max Mohan doing this for much longer, and when he eventually retires, Mohan’s may very well disappear into the annals of Singaporean business history. Till that day comes however, I encourage readers to continue supporting the establishment. The entire Mohan’s team has extensive experience, and it shows in the finished garments. Mohan’s may not be my first choice when I’m looking for a Met Gala look, but they will fit the bill nicely for those looking for a sharp-fitting, well-made suit that doesn’t break the bank.
Suits at Mohan’s start at $375, with this particular Luiciano suit costing $850. For my readers, Mohan’s offers a free shirt with every suit purchase (worth $85). Quote “WAHSOSHIOK” when making your appointment, or flash this post while at the store to enjoy the complimentary shirt. Considering Mohan’s experience and history, I believe its prices are more than fair.
Book an appointment at Mohan’s by calling (+65) 6732 3892.
Mohan’s Custom Tailors Location:
14 Scotts Road, #02-73 Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213
Opening hours
Mondays to Saturdays: 9am – 9pm
Sundays and Public Holidays: 9am – 7pm
P.S: Check out The Shiok Store here – it serves as a curation of my favourite products from my favourite brands.
P.P.S: Do check out the new “Discounts!” page for exclusive discounts for Wah so Shiok readers! More brands will be added very soon – stay tuned!
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P.P.P.P.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
