Rafael Castro’s Design

Brought a dress in to get sized down, a simple task for a tailor. I just needed the dress to fit more snug around the waist and bust area. I was told it would cost $ 35, okay no problem. I got sized for the dress on a Thursday and was told to come back on Tuesday. I showed up on Tuesday and he said the dress isn’t simple to alter I need more time, so I asked, ok when should I come back? He said tomorrow. The next day (Wednesday) I called him around 3pm and he told me the same thing. So on Thursday I go back to the shop and he says it’s not ready he needs more time. Then proceeds to say he cannot be rushed if you want him to do a good job. I never rushed him I only simply wanted an actual date he would finish the dress by, and that’s what I told him and he said to come back tomorrow.
I didn’t return until next Monday, once again the dress isn’t done, ridiculous, again he tells me that the dress needs time and can’t be rushed. I was busy for the rest of the week then on the following Monday (almost 4 weeks later) I went to the shop and told him if he didn’t start on my dress yet I want it back. He didn’t want to give it back and insisted it takes time when its been almost a month. I asked for my dress back and we’ll it hasn’t even been touched yet, how disappointing. He insists that he will finish it that day so I gave him ONE more chance. I return to the shop later that day around 6pm and again he has not started on my dress. He told me to comeback in 30mins and I told him I’ll stay in the shop until he finished. The end product was messy and sloppy. He got the job done but it could’ve been better, you can’t see the sloppiness when the dress is worn because it’s on the inside, however I paid expecting a good job on my dress.
I do not recommend this place, bring your tailoring and dress needs elsewhere. If he was truly too busy to alter my dress he could’ve been honest and told me from the start so I can go elsewhere instead of wasting my time making multiple trips to his shop. He is a bad business man and tailoring skills aren’t great. I will never return.

I should have known better… I’ve been getting dresses from Rafael for 20 years and I KNOW better than to go to him. His work is great (when HE does the work, but not when he subs it out to other people) but he can’t tell the truth to save his life! My dress was supposed to be ready for the first fitting April 1^st (it’s now May 4^th) — I got to try on the REALLY rough muslin top, but have yet to see anything more than a scrap of my dress fabric. Every day I’m told that the dress is ready — then I go to the shop and surprise surprise, it’s not even THERE. I only went to him because I couldn’t find anyone who could do my dress for the same price. Here’s a reminder — you get what you pay for. They are a pain in the a$$ to deal with and not worth the money you’ll save. For real — stay away! He will tell you your dress is ready time and time again and won’t have done anything on it. He’ll tell you to come in tomorrow and then he won’t be there. Spend your money somewhere else. I would give negative stars if I could, but one is the lowest we’re allowed to go!
UPDATE: After making a HUGE stink with him Monday, he actually CALLED me Tuesday and let me know my dress was ready. I still had to wait while he put the finishing touches on it, but the dress turned out perfect as always. Know what you’re getting into with him — Rafael is a fantastic artist, but bad businessman.

Don Castro is the best in the business. No lie, he is very talented. His prices are very reasonable. The reason Im giving him such a low rating is that he is never on time. I knew that going to him. So i told him my wedding dress needed to be done on month before the actual date. The day he told me it would be done, he hadn’t even touched it. I needed some pretty serious alterations, bustle, bra cups, 10 inches off the bottom, a corseted back. nothing was done. He promised next week, So went again the next week, he didn’t want me to see it, but he promised he had started. I could tell he was lying, I forced him to bring out my dress, it wasn’t started. So i asked him to atleast cut the skirt by tommorrow. The next day at 7 we came he was complaining in Spanish about how he had wished he never taken in my dress, too much work. He brought it out, it was a great length but that was all that was done. Antoher week passed he finished, it looked great I paid him.
On the day of the wedding the boning in my dress became lose under my arms. It scratched me so bad, I bled. I couldn’t use deodrant for a wekk :-(. Becasue he did shotty rushed work. On my 1500 dollar wedding dress. Thanks for nothing. I will never be back.

this place is aw full if you plan on getting something made lie to him about the date. hes never punctual. i lied and he still didn’t have it ready. was suppose to pick up sept 10^th and today is sept 13 and its still not ready. he rushes things. i don’t recommend this place!!!

I can understand the frustration expressed by one of the previous Unilocalers regarding the tardiness of her items requested. I have experienced Rafael’s tardiness since I was in the 9^th grade getting ready for my Jr. High school dinner… sooo long ago ;). However, now at the age of 30, I will not let anyone make or alter dresses for me other then Rafeal (and he is getting older so it he has really slowed down a lot).
He is amazing when it comes to creating what you want, what you like and nothing less! It’s been a year ago that he made MAJOR alterations to my wedding dress and created jackets for my dress as well as my brides maids (including alterations for them too). The man is BAD… In a good way that is. I had a vintage themed wedding in mind and the jackets that he made for us were perfect! Although he is slow (I do agree), I wont go any where else for this type of work. My advice to anyone using his services, tell him that you need your items finished a month before you REALLY need it! That seems to work for me… And believe me, after all these years of allowing him to create or alter dresses for me, I have learned a few tricks of the trade when dealing with him. He is a pleasant man and has a pleasant family who works by his side (his daughter is now working with him and she is a sweet heart too). Hope this was helpful!
Your friend,
OB

I will NEVER come here again. Today is the day before the wedding & 3 vests aren’t done, 4 are wrong & he’s no where near done. My mom had to sit there until 12am this morning to ensure he did what he was supposed to do & today the shit isn’t done.
I’m pretty much done with these unprofessional people. Rafeal’s is a NO GO.

Rafael made the dress of my dreams for my wedding reception (we got married in Vegas). I brought in two photos and a crappy drawing. I pointed at luxe fabrics that I liked. I was measured, came back in a week and a half, and it was done. And it was perfect. and it cost far less than I had budgeted or was even willing to pay. (hey a girl only has a wedding reception once in her life, right?)
My girlfriend Kat went the traditional route and had a fancy wedding, she went untraditional, and decided that she wanted to wear a green dress. She brought Rafael this amazing sage-​colored silk, and he created the most perfect dress for Kat, it draped, it was goddessy and bridal and was so fabulous, she even had him make her a custom dress for her rehersal dinner, (she had always wanted a classic I love lucy style dress) She has a slightly more uniques figure (huge boobs) and has had trouble finding dresses that fit well, he totally blew her away with two perfect dresses for her special day (s).
If you speak spanish, this should be an easy transaction. Rafael and his staff are HIGHLY skilled. If you do not speak spanish, bring along a friend that does so you can fully express yourself, but honestly, this place is so pro, a picture and some measurements is all they need.
Again, I cannot stress the level of skill of Rafael Castro Designs. The man is a genius. His team is amazing, you should be so lucky to have a dress made by them.
Sadly I live in LA now, but still refer people to Rafael. And I will be back, oh yes!