The Ins and Outs of Being a Tailor: Wei Tao of Carol & Luc

Hebei native Wei Tao first came to Beijing at age 18 to work as a translator for a local tailor. She soon fell in love with the art of clothing alteration herself. Now, seven years later, she’s well on her way to establishing Beijing’s first tailoring empire, with three Carol & Luc shops and counting. We asked Wei Tao what it takes to make a suit.

A tailor must be patient, careful and intuitive. Making clothing to order requires a good eye for detail, plus you must adapt designs on the spot according to the needs of your customers.

If I wasn’t a tailor, I’d be a teacher. I consider it meaningful work to transfer one’s knowledge, skills and experience to the next generation.

My ideal client is the one who appreciates and understands the tailoring process. In the end, it all comes down to respect.

A really good business suit has to be light, thin, straight and soft.
Suits have a long history, but the details keep changing. Suits need to “follow” the body. Women’s dresses, on the other hand, require far less complicated cutting and sewing.

I can’t imagine a life without color, since color represents the diversity of life. But if I could make clothes with one color for the rest of my life, I’d use black. It’s practical and suited for every type of person and occasion.

Tailoring is a very personal process, but these days, I see more and more of my clients ordering online.

I dream that my company will one day be international. I want to become the best tailor in all of China, and show that Chinese tailors can beat the best tailors in the UK and Italy.

Carol & Luc
Daily 9am-9pm. Unit 5-12, 1/F, Bldg 5, Diplomatic Residence Compound, Jianguomenwai, Chaoyang District (8532 3817, 138 1005 1411, cltailors@gmail.com) www.thebeijingtailor.com
朝阳区建国门外外交公寓5楼1层5-12号