Oliva’s Tailor Shop

Call before you go for your things. If there’s one thing you gather from this review, let this be it. Twice I have been on my way to pick up something days after the agreed-​upon ready date, and twice I have turned around because said item was not ready.
The second thing to remember: cash or check only. Bring that along as well.
Besides that, the people are kind and the service is not Jersey-​cheap, but not terrible either. I had them work on a pair of leather pants that needed to be taken in to look less early 2000s Matrix and more circa now. I was fitted for the pants twice. The last time I was there I said I would pick it up in a week. I called not one, but TWO weeks later while on my way to pick them up.
Tailor: Oh, well the leather pant glue is not dry yet.
me: oh. huh. How long does it take to dry?
Tailor: 4 – 6 hours.
me: Oh so… you just glued them.
Tailor: well they need to dry, so can you please come tomorrow morning?
Again, the folks are nice, but whatever date you need, you better tell them 2 – 3 days sooner AND follow-​up with phone calls, or you’ll never have your stuff ready. If your schedule is flexible and you’re not regularly tied up in work meetings, you’ll have no problem!

I needed my suit tailored for a wedding and had a tight timeline. While other shops said they couldn’t meet the deadline, Oliva’s took on the challenge and delivered on time and at a cheaper price than the other shops quoted me. Highly recommended!

Being short, I have to hem almost every pair of pants I purchase. Oliva’s has always done a great job for me, hemming everything to the length discussed. They’re very friendly, and so far have always had my items ready on the day they specify when I drop them off. They’re also affordable. Cash or check only, no credit cards, so know that before you go to pick up your items.

I needed a place to get a bridesmaid’s dress altered ahead of a wedding, and went to Oliva’s because of all the great Unilocal reviews — and Unilocal didn’t lie. The ONLY reason I’m not giving it a five star is because my dress was being worked on still on the day I was supposed to pick it up. It was ready later that day, but I couldn’t make it back.
When I got it the next day, the fit was PERFECT and cost totally reasonable. Will definitely recommend

They are really gold at what they do. I had to hem a couple of jeans and I requested them to do it in a day. They did a great job. Affordable too.

I love this place and they saved me the arduous task of searching all over Austin for a tailor to hem my jeans and shorts. They told me it would take a week to complete my alterations which I found reasonable and timely and they were ready when I expected. I do not usually have to have my clothes altered but I found the price to be appropriate for the service I received and the work is excellent. I am now ready to take my trip with clothes that fit. Thanks Oliva’s for the great job.

I’ve used Oliva’s for almost 15 years now, for everything from jeans to suits. They’re not quick (and stuff often isn’t done when they say it will be) but the quality is absolutely 100% perfect. The biggest job they’ve done for me was completely restructuring a business suit, taking it down to seams and making it actually fit along every dimension. Anyone can hem pants… not many can do that major re-​do on expensive clothes. I will wait for quality.

the owner is for sure very friendly and has great attitude every time anything that needs to get redone. Price is very competitive. He doesn’t always get everything right the first time but he is very patient and will work on it until you are satisfied

Don’t send your stuff here. Took way to long. It was over-​priced and they did not have it done when they said the would.

Fast. Friendly. Prices are pretty competitive. 13.00 to hem some jeans. However they do not take credit cards. Had to leave and grab cash

I had to get my wedding dress hemmed and taken in in some places. Had two fittings and they went really fast.
The business had a death in the family and the owner had to close the store the day I was supposed to pick up my dress. He called me right away and we arranged for me to pick it up first thing in the morning, he even opened early for me.
They did a great job on my dress. It was inexpensive too, some places will overcharge for bridal alterations but not this place.

I had a zipper caught up — teeth undone both sides of the zipper. I tried several of the other top rated Unilocal tailors (searched for zipper repair) and the only person who could fix my very expensive leather jacket was the tailor here — Mr. Oliva. 10 minutes and my jacket zipper was like new — repaired — he pried off the top little clips — rethreaded the teeth together — clamped the top little clips back on. Perfect — like new.
And he did not charge me. Lovely people — great work. Wow.

Been coming here for 20 years and two generations of tailors. Must have had 150+
items altered. Always great. Reasonable prices. Carlos does everything. The best a family business can offer.

They can definitely tailor. I sent in my Express columnist pants to be hemmed about 3 inches. A week and a half later, I received a pair of perfectly hemmed pants. Compared with my other two pairs of Express columnist pants and their respective hems, I can guarantee that you would not be able to tell the difference between the two.
My boyfriend, who is an Olivas regular, concurs that it takes at least 1 ½ weeks if not more to get your tailored items.
Getting one polo shirt, a denim jacket, a suit blazer, and one pair of pants tailored took about 2 weeks to complete and cost around $ 80. They can do basics very well, based on how much I like how the polo looks on my boyfriend now. ;) Bring cash!!!
Note: It is super hard to find this place, so use a GPS or look for the Burger King across the street.

This past year I got married and Oliva’s helped me every step of the way in helping alter my wedding dress. I needed more layers in the front to make it a little more puffy and a whole one shoulder removed to make my dress just a strapless sweetheart neckline. Each time I scheduled an appointment and went in and they were just so helpful in making sure I was perfectly happy. Then they recommended a place to get it steamed the week of the wedding and everything turned out perfect!
My sister also got her bridesmaid dress altered here as well and they did a great job too. Great customer service and a great price. I can’t say enough good things about Oliva’s!
Flawless wedding day! Thanks Oliva’s!

Carlos does excellent work. He recently saved a pair of ill fitting J Crew pants I had sitting in my closet and brought a pair of flannel Ralph Lauren trousers back to life that I picked up at the thrift store. I wanted both pants slightly tapered, shortened, and cuffed (I’m going for that Thom Browne look) and he did just that.
His prices are very fair as the quality is excellent. The pants I had brought him were either on final sale or picked up for dirt cheap, those Ralph Lauren pants go for $ 160 from some eBay shops but I was able to find them at Savers for $ 6. That said, it was worth it to pay $ 40 to get them tailored to my specifications. Now if we only had enough cold weather days in Austin for me to wear those flannel trousers.

I took my jeans to Olivia’s to have the legs hemmed and the width taken in a bit. I brought them in on a Wednesday and they were not supposed to be ready until the following Wednesday.
No problem, I was not in a big rush and they had priced themselves lower then the other place I called in town.
After dropping my jeans off, I realized they had not given me a price quote. After multiple attempts, I finally got a hold of them (their hours are very unusual). $ 23 for both alterations (good!).
Seven days go by and I go back into Olivia. I waited for a bit while the gal in front of me was told that her alteration was not finished yet. Then I heard the same thing. However, my jeans were going to be ready in 30 minutes.
So, I left to go get my grub on at Central Market. Came back an hour later to pick up my jeans. Within a minute after I walked in, the tailor ran to the back of the shop to apparently finish the jeans.
The hem looks alright, but the waist that was taken in looks kinda sloppy. Not to sound like a huge PITA, but if it’s not ready the day that you tell a customer that it is going to be ready, at least give em a heads up.

If I could give them 14 stars I would. Why? Because A) 14 is my favorite number and B) They rocked my socks off. Now, I’ve been known to get a little excited about places (Ahem…Spartan Pizza and Franklin’s Barbecue) — and this only adds to my list of awesomeness.
I had a bridesmaid dress that was ridiculously large on me… at least 2 sizes too big and about a foot too long. I took it in, tried it on, and as soon as the tailor came in, I just whined and said «Fix it, pretty please?!» He chuckled and got to work.
I went back in for my final fitting a couple weeks later and the dress is PERFECT. And it wasn’t something simple. We’re talking delicate fabric, tons of pickups, and an added bustle.
He showed that dress who was boss.
I’d go back in a heartbeat.

I have been going to this place for a long time. I came her when I had cuffed pants, multiple pleated pants, culottes and caftans. Well not really on the last 2 but I have been coming here forever.
Dad Olivia was here first and when he past away his son Carlos took over. The work here is amazing and quick. I bought a suit in Round Rock on a Saturday and wanted to have the pants hemmed. It was 20 minutes until 2pm. I called and asked if they would be opened if I got there at 1 minute til closing. Carlos said that he would stay open until 2pm. I raced down as fast as I could without getting a ticket or killing someone. My partner was watching his phone and counting down the time. I made it at 2pm on the nose. I walked in to be greeted by Carlos with a big smile and hand shake. I hadn’t seen him for a couple of years.
I got my pants back a few days later for $ 11 bucks. I had gone to one other place before that tried to charge me twice that.
I also asked him if he could reverse some of my suits that I had taken in since I have put on a little weight. He said as long as he was the one who did the alterations that it would probably be ok since he leaves some extra material. Score!
Great locally owned friendly folks that do amazing work.

Can I tell you a story about this place? It’s about my wedding day, and how this guy helped me out.
It was less than an hour before I had to meet my friends and family at lunch before the evening ceremony. Needed to be in full battle armor, but the top button on my dress shirt broke, and I couldn’t manage to single-​handedly put on my cuff links. Also, it was my wedding day. I was a bit on edge. Very excited, but in need of assistance.
Walked into my friendly neighborhood tailor’s, where I’ve been going since I moved nearby in 1997. For the life of me, I can’t remember the name of the tailor who’s helped me all these times, and he doesn’t remember me from my infrequent visits, but he very calmly replaced the button while soothing me with a story about his son’s wedding.
And as I buttoned my shirt with shaking hands, he stepped in to put the cuff links into my shirt cuffs and chatted with me while I tied my necktie.
I entered his shop all a twitter and left calm, feeling ready for the big event later. I will remain forever grateful for the calming care this tailor gave me on my wedding day.
Oh, and he refused payment.