I Custom Tailors Available

Kenny Lim established I Custom Tailors in 1985, applying drafting methods he began developing during his apprenticeship in South Korea in 1971. Operating on Wilshire Boulevard, the shop concentrates on bespoke suit construction, custom shirting, and complex structural alterations for suiting and formal wear. Rather than adjusting pre-graded factory templates, bench work begins on the cutting table with raw craft paper, tailors' curves, and individual body measurements. This diagnostic approach captures personal posture nuances, asymmetric shoulder drops, and spinal curvature before cutting shears touch the textile.

Assessing fit discrepancies requires an exact understanding of garment architecture. When an off-the-rack suit jacket collapses behind the neck ring or pulls diagonally across the chest button, Lim examines the collar stance and shoulder pitch. Correcting these issues involves opening the armscye seams, resetting the interior canvas and chest piece, re-pitching the sleeve forward or backward to mirror the client's natural resting arm angle, and hand-basting the parts together for an intermediate fitting. Working with dense Italian wools, cashmeres, and fine silks demands controlled ironwork; seams are shaped over hardwood pressing bucks with calibrated steam to permanently lock curves into the cloth fibers.

Trouser tapering and waist alterations receive the same anatomical consideration. Rather than simply shaving excess cloth off the outer lateral seams—which pulls the crease off-center and twists the trouser leg—the shop balances the crotch curve, rear rise, and seat seam to ensure the fabric drops plumb to the shoe. Custom shirting follows a similar bench discipline, where split yokes and individually drafted armholes accommodate shoulder blade expansion without untucking the shirt tails during normal movement.

Bespoke commissions typically take between three to four weeks and include intermediate basted fittings to confirm balance, while general suit alterations average seven to ten business days. For the most accurate assessment during an initial fitting consultation, clients should wear or bring the exact dress shoes, belt, and dress shirt intended for the finished suit, as even a quarter-inch variation in heel height or collar thickness alters the drape of the garment.