Bonham Strand was founded to solve a problem: Hong Kong's master tailors were growing old with no one to follow them. Jong Lee, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, launched it commercially in 2012 as a for-profit social enterprise that pairs veteran tailors with young apprentices, among them rehabilitated drug users. When Reuters visited in 2015, the firm had eight tailors; Cheung Wan-sun, then 65, was one of the younger masters, and Yally Yan, 24, an apprentice.
The process the firm describes is a traditional one. A consultant advises on fabric, lining and silhouette; a cutter draws the pattern in chalk directly on the fabric, cuts it with shears and bastes the suit for a first fitting; the client returns for at least three baste fittings before the suit is taken apart and finished with hand-stitched interlining and buttonholes, including the Milanese style. The firm says its suits are cut and made in Hong Kong, using English and Italian fabrics.
The case against ranking it high is the thin record. The firm names no cutter, publishes no suit prices and describes no house cut; press listings from 2016 to 2026 quote prices from $500 without naming the garment. Its blog was last updated in 2022, and the only recent coverage is a 2024 Gafencu magazine feature on alterations and directory listings. Beside WW Chan or A-Man Hing Cheong, whose cut and lineage are documented over decades, it is an unknown quantity.
Choose it if you want a suit made in Hong Kong by local tailors and the purpose matters to you, and ask to see finished work and agree a price before ordering.
TailorGuide score
Each test is scored out of 10 and weighted. Scores set the order within Hong Kong; they are not compared across cities.
- CutCut and construction35%
- 7/10
- FitFit and fittings30%
- 8/10
- ReputationReputation over time20%
- 7/10
- ServiceService15%
- 9/10
- Founded
- 2012, by Jong Lee
- House style
- Classic suits, made in Hong Kong
- Best for
- A Hong Kong-made suit from a social enterprise
- What they make
- Bespoke suits, jackets and trousers, evening wear, shirts, women's tailoring, alterations
- Prices
- Not published. Ask the house for a quote.
Prices are approximate and change with the fabric and customizations you choose. Confirm the price and the number of fittings before you order.
History
- 2012Jong Lee launches Bonham Strand commercially as a social enterprise, named after the Sheung Wan street where it was first based
- 2012Cirque du Soleil donates equipment to the startup in May
- 2015Reuters reports eight tailors at the firm, from veteran masters to a 24-year-old apprentice
- 2016Announces plans to take its model to Philadelphia, training inmates as tailors
- 2022Working from a workshop and showroom at 39-43 Hollywood Road, Central
Questions
Is Bonham Strand in Sheung Wan?
Not any more. Its workshop and showroom are at Suite B & C, 2/F, On Lok Mansion, 39-43 Hollywood Road, Central. The firm takes its name from Bonham Strand, the Sheung Wan street where it was first based.
Are Bonham Strand suits made in Hong Kong?
Yes, according to the firm: suits are cut and made in Hong Kong by local tailors, from English and Italian fabrics.
How many fittings does a Bonham Strand suit need?
The firm says at least three baste fittings, more depending on the client's figure. The cutter chalks the pattern onto the fabric and bastes the suit for the first fitting.
How much does a suit cost at Bonham Strand?
The firm does not publish suit prices. Press listings have quoted prices from $500 since about 2016 without saying which garment that buys, so ask for a quotation.
Why is Bonham Strand called a social enterprise?
It was set up in 2012 to keep Hong Kong's master tailors working and to train apprentices beside them, including young people recovering from drug addiction.
By TailorGuide · Updated April 2026
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