From humble beginnings, Sam’s Tailor in Hong Kong finds global fame
Roshan Melwani has made suits for George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, David Bowie, Russell Crowe and Bruno Mars
This article was written by Harrison Jacobs for Business Insider
Roshan Melwani and his father Manu are the second and third-generation proprietors of Sam’s Tailor, a wildly successful Hong Kong-based family-owned small business.
Sam’s Tailor has built a reputation over its 60-plus-year history as a world-famous tailor by providing bespoke suits to an impressive roster of celebrities and world leaders – everyone from former US presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to celebrities such as David Bowie, Russell Crowe and Bruno Mars.
In many ways, a trip to Hong Kong isn’t complete without a stop at the Melwanis shop.
The success of Sam’s Tailor, according to Roshan, comes down to one simple plan: Give the client what they want, even when they don't know it themselves.
When 41-year-old Melwani first began working at his father’s shop at 23 years old – after studying business at New York University and working in London for a year – he approached suit-making like an artist, dictating to his clients what he thought they should have. Such an approach, he says, gave him a lot of success early on in his career, as he gained a reputation for producing very fashionable and flashy clothing.