VLVL2 (9.5): "The Burlington Arcade"

[Dave Monroe]

"Takeshi wore a suit and tie, DL a made-to-measure gi
of raw silk from the Burlington Arcade in Nathan Road,
Kowloon." (VL, Ch. 9, p. 177)


"a made-to-measure gi"

The Gi is the traditional uniform of Karate, and its
main purpose lies in its functionality. This applies
to all of the Japanese and Okinawan Karate styles.
Judo uniforms are also called Gi.

http://www.all-karate.com/karate_uniform_gi.php


"from the Burlington Arcade in Nathan Road, Kowloon"

Sam's Tailor

Run by the effulgent and entertaining Manu Melwani,
Sam's Tailor is an interesting hybrid of the classic
24-hour Hong Kong tailor and its more upscale Savile
Row-style cousin. Tirelessly self-promoting, Melwani
loves to pose with his famous clientele--including
Pierce Brosnan, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Bill
Clinton, Prince Charles and even his mum, Queen
Elizabeth II. But the real point of going to Sam's is
not seeing his gallery of celebrity photographs but
for the suits, which are the real thing. Despite the
slightly shabby shop and fitting rooms--low overhead
means less expensive suits!--there is nothing
second-rate about the beautifully tailored suits,
jackets and trousers that come out of Sam's five
workrooms. But the best recommendation for Sam's is
that until the handover in 1997, it was the only
official uniform tailor for British troops in Hong
Kong. Today a suit from Sam's starts out at $300 and
can be finished in two or three days. 

Sam's Tailor 
TSIM SHA TSUI 
Burlington Arcade 
94 Nathan Road, ground floor 
Phone: (852) 2721-8375 
Hours: Daily, 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.

http://www.forbes.com/2001/08/02/hongkongshops_print.html

One of the town's great institutions is Sam's Tailor
(tel: [852] 2367-9423, www.samstailor.com) which
occupies a tiny shop in scruffy Burlington Arcade,
just off Nathan Road, Kowloon's "Golden Mile". It
looks unprepossessing – until you see the photos of
satisfied customers on the wall. Sam's outfits have
been worn by royalty, pop stars, movie stars and
several US presidents. Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson,
Margaret Thatcher and Kylie Minogue have all come here
to be measured by Manu Melwani – now quite a celebrity
himself – who will offer you a beer or a Coke while
you wait for your fitting. Suits start at around
HK$2,500 (US$320) and, famously, can be made in 24
hours, but it is a better idea to allow a few days and
return for a second fitting.

http://www.smarttravelasia.com/hongkong.htm

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