Edel Custom Tailor

I co-​own a company that makes very high end custom clothes and we’ve been using Edel for all of our alterations for years. We’ve also used every downtown tailor on «the best» lists many many times but, honestly, Edel is the only one of two tailors in town I’d give 5 stars. Edel is talented and consistent and has saved our butts hundreds of times. Edel has earned this 5 star review many times over and it is long overdue.

He’s now fitted two suits that were too large for me now, one of them was two sizes too big I think and he brought it down to a snug modern look.
He seems to do all the work himself and he has a very fine eye when designing the alteration in the initial meeting. I was surprised that he was able to remember my physique so well and when I put it on it and he smiled lightly at his sewing machine, it was like he was reassured yet again of how well he can take clothes that absolutely don’t fit and make them yours again. He suggested that I just buy another suit in the beginning and I’m glad I had him alter the suit that I genuinely liked years ago.

Great service. Quick turnaround.

I used to really like this place. Reliable, good work, but recently I brought in a pair of Naked & Famous jeans. The girl who measured them had them too short at first so I had her extend the measurement. After I picked them up, I discovered that they had been hemmed at the first measurement! A very expensive pair of jeans ruined!

I used to take everything to Edel, but I will be looking elsewhere now as the quality of the work has gone down significantly. Beware when Edel is not in town and his parents are taking measurements and running the shop, because the work gets sloppy. For the latest pair of jeans that I took to Edel, the measurements were not precise and the stitching on the hem was not even. I rely on Edel’s expert eye to take measurements and get the fit just right, but for the latest pair of jeans that I took in, he wasn’t there on site. The person in the shop didn’t even bother looking at fit when he took the first measurement, and left the legs way too long. I told him they had been preshrunk, asked him to remeasure, and shorten them a bit more. When I got the pants back, they were still almost an inch too long, so now I’m going to have to make yet another trip to have them shortened again. My jeans were also not ready at the time promised, and I had to make a second trip back later in the day to pick them up.
In the past, they also did a sloppy job on hemming the sleeves for a $ 700 leather jacket to a point where the cuffs no longer fit comfortably. I would not recommend taking anything valuable here as the level of work is just not what it used to be.

Fast and efficient service. Two thumbs up for Edel. Great prices and location. I was nervous to ask for a hem on a skirt I just bought due to the construction and material. However, Edel was able to work his magic to make it fit like a glove on my body.

I’ve been here several times for hemming of pants and sleeves thought the work was good. So I debated writing this review. The reason I’m writing is the attitude Edel gave me when I pointed out that my skirt didn’t fit properly after I paid $ 80 to get my skirt fitted. When I tried it on, it was fitted on one side and flared on the other. When I pointed this out, he kept saying that’s how the skirt was made. Really? Well I’m no genius, but I’m certain that my skirt is not supposed to fit that way, regardless of how it was made. When I tried it on the second time, he didn’t even get up from his sewing machine to take a look. Don’t bring him anything complicated and you won’t be disappointed. I’m through with this place.

I’m picky when it comes to clothes and it’s very important that they fit right and Edel has never let me down. In fact, he’s always impressed me with his work.
While his eye might prefer a bit more of a break in my pants where I prefer them hemmed slightly higher, he’s quick to make what I’m looking for a reality. Even tough jobs like shortening the sleeves on a suit jacket with working button holes (where they need to be shortened from the shoulders) he’s handled with ease and great skill.
Edel is the best I know of in SF. 5 stars all the way.

Brought over a few items needing alterations, to see if Edel Custom Tailor could do anything
Had a fun dress that was too short for my modest taste… the hem didn’t have a lot of material to work with & I knew it probably needed some tape to extend it but it was no problem for these guys!
Also had another dress & some shorts I was hoping to make longer as well… are you seeing a trend here?
Final item was a skirt I was hoping to let out, but was advised this was a no-​go since the seams were too small to do anything w/​them… boo for me but appreciated their honesty
The shorts were especially a challenge since they needed additional fabric — this wasn’t a simple «let the hem down» job but luckily I had planned ahead & brought over several swatches from which they could choose…
Be forewarned this place is not an atelier & does NOT have material. They are strictly alterations so if you’re looking to get something added to whatever it is you’re hoping to alter, you’ll have to supply it yourself
But that said, I was amazed & thrilled w/​the job they did on my shorts — you can’t tell at all that additional material was added & I absolutely loved the new length!
My dresses were likewise taken down to the longest length possible & my modesty was thankful for the extra inch or two
Pricewise, this place is pretty on par w/​other places I’ve used & I was very pleased w/​the workmanship. Added to the fact all my items were ready on the date I was quoted & that makes me a huge fan!
And guess what? I have another short dress that’ll be coming your way…

I’m just going to relay the facts here, and let you come to you own opinions.
I bought two dresses a while ago that needed to be taken up in the torso (I’m short waisted). I’ve been putting it off for months, but I finally got my act together and headed to Edel’s. He hemmed a pair of jeans for me a while ago, and did an okay job. I figured I’d give him another shot.
I get there, and it’s sunny and clean. I try on the dress and, don’t you know it, it’s a little tight. Not bad, but a little tight. The tailor says, «hmm… this would fit better if we took it out too.» Fair enough. He’s not wrong. Second dress, same thing, naturally. *Sigh.* But, fine, no secrets between you and your tailor (and hair dresser), am I right?
He gives me the bill, and it’s $ 80 /​dress. Wow. But, fine, I think, it’d better be good. I pay, smiling, and say «thank you.»
«Just don’t gain any more weight,» he says, in a joking way, looking me in the eye. «What?» «Just don’t gain any more weight,» he says again, more emphatically.
«That’s really rude,» I said. Pause. «It’s hurtful. You shouldn’t say things like that to a customer.»
Doubling down, he responds, «you could lose some weight, especially around here,» gesturing in little circular motions, ironically, around his little pot belly. (Which, as an aside, doesn’t look that hot on his 5’4″ frame.)
«I just paid you over $ 100, and you’re making me feel bad.» He responds again, «you could lose a little weight.»
At this point, I’m starting to cry, so I just storm the fuck out of there.
Not that it matters, but I suppose I’ll add that I’m a curvy size 8 – 10. Could I lose 10 lbs? Sure. Like a lot of women /​people, I often feel bad about my looks, my every imperfection. I already know that I don’t look like a model. I don’t need for my tailor to «help» me with that.

My partner and I have been going to Edel for over 5 years… they are always our default choice for clothing repairs, hemming, tailoring, you name it. They’ve always done a great job and I’ve been very pleased with their professionalism!

I recommend this tailor.
I needed a pair of pants hemmed for a suit. Edel’s did it for $ 10 and did a great job.
The staff is brisk and professional, and as in prior reviews, definitely not friendly. However, they were not rude.
The pants were ready on time, and parking was easy.

Great tailor! I highly recommend this place!
After a few mishaps with other tailors in the city (check my past posts) a friend suggested that I try his tailor. The fitting for my suit took no time at all and it was ready in just a couple of days.
When I went it to pick it up and do the final fitting, I noticed that the pants were a little too short for my liking. Edel did not hesitate and immediately fixed them right there and then in 5 mins! Now that’s service!!!
Definitely going to return!

I have used Edel many times and have always been very impressed by the work. Is he more expensive then your local dry cleaners? Yes, but it will be finished flawlessly and fit perfectly. If you are expecting to get off cheaply for same day service, please go elsewhere.
As to him being unfriendly, I think it’s more shyness. If you bother to chat with him he opens up and is quite nice and funny.
As another has mentioned, give yourself at least a week jump if you need something for a certain day. Be specific about what you want and remember he’s a professional tailor so also trust his advice. If you are concerned about the price, ask him before you start getting fitted how much something is going to cost.
I use him exclusively and wouldn’t trust anyone else with my clothes.

I suppose the most important thing for tailoring is them getting the fit correct. They did that. But, they are VERY expensive and the friendliness factor is minimal.
$ 60 to have a jacket tapered/​fitted. $ 40 to have a vest fitted. I understand they have to pay their rent, make money to pay themselves, etc… but it felt very expensive.
They did get the job done. They asked to have 1 week for the work and it was done when I went back to pick it up.
I would have be careful to decide if the value was there for me to use them again. Would have to be an important alteration.

I was in desperate need of getting a same day alteration for a formal long gown and I gave Edel an opportunity.
I stopped by this morning around 10:40am and spoke with a welcoming gentleman who advised me to put the gown on so that he could mark it with chalk for alteration purposes.
The gown was approximately 5 inches longer than what I needed and also needed to be tailored under the armpit area and on my waist.
The gown was completed by 5:00pm. It fit just like a glove, but with a $ 120.00 price tag for tailoring! Yikes!
The service was excellent, shop was clean, and their accommodation for same day alterations were all greatly appreciated. However, I did pay a pretty penny for all of this.
I recommend this place, but just be advised that you will be charged an arm and a leg.
Thank you Edel Custom for altering my dress the same day! I appreciate it.

As Charlie Brown would say, «AAUGH!»
Oh how things can change. The BF and I have been using Edel for years. And as I previously stated we went in spite of the fact that he was not very friendly but because he did things right. But in the last two visits he ruined one pair of my pants and one pair of the BF’s pants to the point that they cannot be worn.
We went last week with a pair of pants for me and a jacket and a pair of pants for the BF. The BF just needed sleeves shortened on the jacket and pants hemmed on the pants. Now the BF because of martial arts injuries has one leg of his pants always shortened ¼″ different. He had to tell Edel at least 4 times. He just kept telling us that «I already marked the pants.» The BF literally took the pants from him and had to make him measure the one leg differently.
I brought in a pair of slacks that I wanted tapered. These were brand new blackwatch plaid dresspants, tags still on them. He pinned them correctly from right above the knee. As pinned they were perfect, just slightly loose around the leg with a narrow opening, think Mad Men style cigarette pants, which is exactly what I was going for, specifically for a Christmas party. My son picked them up so I tried them on when I got home. I don’t know what he did, but the pant legs were so tight from the knee down I could barely pull them all the way up. Needless to say, RUINED. And as for the BF’s pants from a previous visit, he hemmed the pants at least an inch shorter than he had measured and there was not enough fabric to let them down. And when he told Edel he ruined the pants he just acted like he did not hear him.
I will NOT be going back.

I’m a tiny slip of a girl with tough sizing and a penchant for high end consignment shopping. Miguel at Sui Generis recommended Edel and my life has never been the same.
As I haven’t comparative shopped, I can’t really attest to how competitive he may be compared to others, but here are the prices of some recent tailoring he’s done for me:
— Hugo Boss suit jacket (bust, waist, shoulders, arms) and pants (waist, hems): $ 160
— Theory and Dolce Gabbana pants (waist, hems): $ 40 each
— Born in June jacket custom made in Australia (bust, waist, shoulders): $ 100
All of the work he’s done for me has turned out beautifully, including pieces with complicated stitching, embellishments, and avant-​garde details.
As an aside, Edel was greeting me by name on my second visit. Yes, he’s efficient and gets you in and out quickly, but he’s also extremely pleasant and professional.

Terrible, horrible, infuriating.
I brought a Utilikilt to be taken in.
I told him I needed it for an event (Dore, Folsom, or something like that). Well, he was closed the day I was supposed to pick it up so I did not have it in time for the event. Went back the day after the event. Said he was sick and didn’t come in. I’m sorry he was sick but, couldn’t he have someone there for pickup only?! No apologies, no nothing, didn’t care.
It was ruined to boot so I could not use it for anything else except a garbage can liner. Simple — just take in the pleats, right? Well, the snaps wound up not being centered so the whole thing was twisted to the side.
This happened a couple years ago. I get angry every time I walk by. I’ve got to learn to let go.

This is the first time I’ve had a professional alteration. Typically, I’ll take a bunch of clothes to mama’s house and be done with it.
This time around, I needed a skirt zipper replaced asap.
How much? $ 20! AND I have to pre-​pay? WHAT? Is that normal protocol?
I went with it anyway, assuming I’d get back a perfectly mended skirt.
I’m a stickler for details.
First, they called me to tell me they couldn’t find the exact zipper color. I was fine with that. But when I got my skirt back, the zipper hadn’t been sewn on evenly. It looked like poor technique. Last thing I noticed was an oily fingerprint smudge near the alteration. I wasn’t happy, but I didn’t argue. I just won’t return.
Honestly, I think I have to stick with mama’s alterations.