As we all know, honing your personal style takes time. It requires attention to detail and a thorough knowledge of what suits you best – because every style has its own twist. And no individual journey to getting that stuff right is complete without the help of a good tailor. Tailors are the backbone of the fashion world and have the power to take a look from average to red carpet-ready.
In honor of these often unsung heroes, we’ve compiled a list of standouts in New York tailoring. Next time you’re in the middle of a quick hemming job, give them some love—they keep the whole fashion world going.
Tailoring Ramon – 110 Forsyth St
From his humble “IYKYK” beginnings to a waiting list of big-name clients from New York’s eclectic downtown scene, Ramon Tailor Shop is the American dream in action. Ramón Nuñez, who emigrated from the Dominican Republic in 1978, officially opened his eponymous shop on Allen Street in 1990 before finally settling into the now-famous Forsythe location in 2004. Offering quality services that far exceed his modest price points, the lifelong courtier stands in the doorway of his shop, patiently waiting to alter, hem, and rejuvenate your clothes to his heart’s content.
Hector’s Shoe Repair – 11 Greenwich Avenue
Hector’s Shoe Repair feels like something out of an old movie about old New York. In the middle of Greenwich Village, at the same address as a local barbershop, this family-owned shoe repair shop has been offering artisanal services for over 30 years. Prices start at just $20, so bring your shoes, bags, jackets, or leather goods into the shop with the neon boot-shaped sign and let Hector and John Sanchez get to work.
Eva Joan – 28 Jane St
Eva Joan is dedicated to exploring the infinite possibilities of clothing, bridging the worlds of intentional tailoring and custom upcycling. This visionary atelier on Jane Street in the West Village challenges us to think of clothing as the investment that it is. The woman-owned business offers services ranging from standard alterations to complete makeovers, adding unique patchwork and embellishment patterns to everyday garments. Eva Joan’s tailoring truly embodies the phrase “quality over quantity.”
Shoe Repair East Village – 1073 Broadway
This small shoe repair shop that once served pop culture provocateurs like Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Macaulay Culkin is a far cry from the cobbler of your childhood. Ironically located in Brooklyn, hidden beneath the Broad Street J train station, East Village Shoe Repair is a madhouse for shoe anomalies. Run by co-owners Boris Zuborev and Eugene Finkelberg, the shop specializes in messy custom orders in addition to the usual shoe repair services. From triple-stacked Timbs to Tabi-patterned sneakers, East Village Shoe Repair is as punk as can be, delivering special sneakers you’d probably only dream up in a drug-induced fever dream.
Vince’s Village Shoemaker – 125 Sullivan St./227 W. 29th St.
The true definition of a repair shop—we’re talking everything from LV bags and Chanel ballet flats to YSL clutches and Birkenstock Bostons—there’s nothing Vince’s Village Cobbler can’t bring back to life. To give an insight into their process, Vince’s team of experts sew, lace and stitch your beloved favorite pieces until they’re almost as pristine as when you first wore them. Plus, their social media pages feature satisfying ASMR highlighting repairs in progress.
The Tailoring –42 Clinton St
Specializing in denim tailoring, patchwork, and hardware replacement, The Tailoring Room is a reliable one-stop shop for any alterations you may need. Located at 42 Clinton Street in the Lower East Side, these skilled seamstresses have a keen eye and a precise hand to ensure your garments meet your specific taste—a true sign of a good tailor. As classic as they come, this is the place to go if you need the perfect fit or angled cuffs at the right price.
Orchard Express Tailoring –136 Orchard St
Orchard Express takes the term “hole in the wall” seriously and is as unassuming as can be. As the name suggests, the humble business is conveniently located on Orchard Street and is known for quick resolutions and same-day turnaround times – an impressive feat for an old-school company.
Martin Keehner –53 Ludlow St
Describing itself on its website as “Modern. Weird. Familiar,” Martin Keehn is both a shop for coveted vintage clothing and a showroom for the bespoke garments of the eponymous designer. Martin Keehn is a bit unpredictable, and this Ludlow boutique isn’t easily pigeonholed into a specific category. A look at the shop’s Instagram page makes it clear that this shop likes to push boundaries, but what exactly those boundaries are and what is being crossed may be something you’ll have to find out for yourself.
Flatiron Tailor Shop –20 W 22nd Street
One hundred percent customer satisfaction is a high bar to set in itself, and yet Flatiron Tailor Shop meets and exceeds this self-imposed standard. Offering high-quality clothing alterations for men and women, the members of this tailoring team have a combined total of more than 45 years of experience in the industry. They have seen it all when it comes to garment restoration.
G&G Cleaners – 311 W Broadway
There is no full-service clothing repair service like G&G in NYC. We’re talking alterations, dry cleaning, wash and fold, leather and fur cleaning – you name it, they have it. With a client database full of names like Thom Browne, APC and Ghetto Gastro and a reputation for fast, effective service – what more could you ask for from a tailor?
