Custom making ballroom dresses in China?
- Thread starter tuxedosam
- Start date
danceislove
New Member
I think the biggest risk is that she will give you what you ask for, unlike a typical dress designer who are normally highly opinonated... So the risk is, if you have bad taste, don't know what to order or you don't dress to flatter your body type then it will probably look awful! If you have somewhat of a clue, and put some thought into it then it will probably be great
contracheck
New Member
If you show her a photo of the dress you like, she will tell you whether she can make it. I saw a nice mens Latin shirt in one of Chsris Johnson's Manhattan comp photos and forwarded it to her. She said that she could make it. The price is incredible. I pay $60 for shirts and $60 for a pair of pants, which include registered mail. Before I knew her existence, I used to pay about $300 for custom made pants or shirts in NYC. If they don't fit well, she repairs it till you're satisfied at no additional cost. She pays the postal cost. I don't know how she makes profit. I usually ask what fabric she uses and she almost instantly replies all questions. In case I don't like something I also take it to local tailor who fixes it at $10-20. The pants matrial is high quality polyester (to me it is better than Superfine wool 140) and shirt material Lycra. I also bought shirts from Aida Dance Wear, which also makes dance costumes in Hong Kong but a shirt costs about $110. I don't see much difference between twice more expensive Aida shirts and Rainbow shirts.
Natalka
Member
I just saw a dress from Rainbow Shui delivered last week to a local lady...it was "okay" but looked more like a cocktail dress. Also, it had no bodysuit in it at all.
My best recommendation would be to make a list of everything you must have such as:
-a bodysuit
-lining in the panty
-double layer of material for bodysuit
-extra material sent with the dress in case you need to make any corrections
-extra "flesh colored" straps sent with dress in case you need to add another strap if something doesn't fit right
and ask a lot of questions to clarify what you want in a dress.
delamusica
Active Member
Good advice
and123
Well-Known Member
I can't help but wonder if the inconsistency in the quality of Rainbowshiu's items is due to however many people she has making the things. Surely with the amount of items she offers for sale they cannot all be made by the same person. I've had both well-made and needs-a-lot-of-work items from her. You just never know. But yeah, the bottom line is don't expect a Dore' gown at Rainbowshiu prices (unless you hit the jackpot on eBay 
, which I have been fortunate enough to do a few times.)
, which I have been fortunate enough to do a few times.)
bjp22tango
Active Member
This is good advice no matter who you are asking to make the dress for you. A competitive dance dress and an evening gown are not the same thing even if the dance dress is supposed to resermble an evening gown.
contracheck
New Member
It is a kind of and hit and miss with her. After a while you finally get what you want from her. Then, you stick to the one that's right for you. To be fair, however, She is no more inconstent than the top dance costume maker in NYC who charge five times more than she does. When the NYC tailor made my shirts and pants, my coach always did not like something and sent me (and her other students as well) back to him for redo. As I said, I sent the Hong Kong dressmaker a photo of a fairly complex latin shirt. It's not a tuck-in type, and needs satin belt, satin lapel, mesh arms and neck, and lycra front and back. In short, It looks like a Ninja/Zoro uniform and I was going to use it for a Paso showcase. Since I had so much problem in finding a good Paso costume, I was prepared for paying $600, easily. She sent me her own sketch of the shirt from the photo with a price tag of $60. I did not hesitate one second to say "YES."I can't help but wonder if the inconsistency in the quality of Rainbowshiu's items is due to however many people she has making the things. Surely with the amount of items she offers for sale they cannot all be made by the same person. I've had both well-made and needs-a-lot-of-work items from her. You just never know. But yeah, the bottom line is don't expect a Dore' gown at Rainbowshiu prices (unless you hit the jackpot on eBay
There is a new seller on e-bay who appears to be making BEAUTIFUL GOWNS. Check out user swanstudioau. The dresses for the most part are very VERY nice. I'm waiting for the perfect dress to pounce on...
Rainbowshiu is alright. The only problem with her dresses is you can ALWAYS identify a smooth gown made by her. You glance around the comp floor and immediately spot them. They're all cut the same, they all hang lifelessly, and most of them have ill placed adornments. So, if you buy from rainbowshiu, just know that people will take one look at you and know, you bought that dress off e-bay.
Rainbowshiu is alright. The only problem with her dresses is you can ALWAYS identify a smooth gown made by her. You glance around the comp floor and immediately spot them. They're all cut the same, they all hang lifelessly, and most of them have ill placed adornments. So, if you buy from rainbowshiu, just know that people will take one look at you and know, you bought that dress off e-bay.
and123
Well-Known Member
I agree the "adornments" tend to leave a bit to be desired. Generally the first thing I do is remove them. A few years ago I bought a pink latin costume that had ghastly orange feathers and white sequins on it :shock: It's been completely re-worked, and it doesn't scream RAINBOWSHIU anymore -- just whispers a little (like you said, the style and fit tend to be common to her products). However, in terms of the collegiate circuit, I'd much rather see a newer Rainbowshiu gown than a few of the really scary antiques I've seen out on the floor. Some of those gowns are so massive and excessively adorned that they look like they're going to envelop and consume the person wearing it. All that will remain is a pile of chiffon, feathers, and sequins.
tanya_the_dancer
Well-Known Member
One lady in our studio bought several dresses from her. She was quite happy with the experience. She bought a couple of cheaper dresses for showcases and now she also bought 2 more dresses to compete in smooth and rhythm. The latter 2 she ordered with Swarovski stones and they look quite good. The smooth dress is a bit on the long side, I would have preferred mine shorter. I bought one dress through ebay from rainbow and the dress is a bit long for me. I don't know what I'll do with it yet. I might use it for a showcase or two. I probably won't compete in it. I myself have bought 4 dresses in the past from another ebay seller, appleuser. She is based in NY, but the dresses are made somewhere in HK, I think. I am happy with the dresses she sold me and I think when I have a better idea of what I want for my new standard dress I'll go to her.
mamboqueen
Well-Known Member
I'll give Natalka a little plug here...she has an e-mail list and is constantly sending out "ads" for the dresses she has under consignment. I actually have my yellow dress with her now. It's an easy way to find dresses (all sorts of price ranges) without actually having to search them out. Unfortunately, I keep seeing ones I like! Anyway, if you want to be added to her mailing list, just send her a pm.
Musique
New Member
Just to share my experience. I've done business with raibow shiu. I'm not very satisfied with my latin dress. though it has a body suit it's lined... it does not fit well, the fabric looks cheap and the craftmanship is bad.
I agree with sayings like "you get what you paid". But given the cheap labor rate in China (and the fact that they directly copy good design without paying), you surely can get a lot more with less money than here in the US. I'd even say Rainbow's dress are a bit over-priced giving the quality. And please don't be misled by wal-mart or some dresses from raibow shiu, "Made in China" does not always mean poor quality. There are several high-quality costume-makers in China. Several Chinese couples wore their costumes in Blackpool. I assume they didn't look too shabby.
Since you are going to China, don't miss the opportunity to order custom made costume at a good price. The best in the north is "Romatic" in Beijing. The best in the south include "Shi Dai" (Times) in Shen Zhen. "Wan Fang" in Guanzhou is good too. They even have pictures from major world events to show costomers what they can copy. My partner ordered a latin shirt from Wan Fang, which is a direct copy of Slavic's last year blackpool shirt. The result is great. But my latin dress was not fit well. (He was there while I was not.) My partner also ordered a tail suit from Shi Dai. Only $200, but the fit was excellent. I myself has bought a ball gown from Romatic in Beijing. I'm very satisfied with it.
My suggestions for ordering are
- ask about the fabric. Europe made fabric is available at a higher price.
- ask about the stones. The venders I mentioned usually use Swarovski. But double check to make sure.
- if they let you choose from catalogue, ask for fabric samples to make sure the color is right.
- lastly, keep in mind, Hong Kong venders' costumes are made in southern China anyway. So there shouldn't be too much a difference in price and quality.
PM me if you need further info
I agree with sayings like "you get what you paid". But given the cheap labor rate in China (and the fact that they directly copy good design without paying), you surely can get a lot more with less money than here in the US. I'd even say Rainbow's dress are a bit over-priced giving the quality. And please don't be misled by wal-mart or some dresses from raibow shiu, "Made in China" does not always mean poor quality. There are several high-quality costume-makers in China. Several Chinese couples wore their costumes in Blackpool. I assume they didn't look too shabby.
Since you are going to China, don't miss the opportunity to order custom made costume at a good price. The best in the north is "Romatic" in Beijing. The best in the south include "Shi Dai" (Times) in Shen Zhen. "Wan Fang" in Guanzhou is good too. They even have pictures from major world events to show costomers what they can copy. My partner ordered a latin shirt from Wan Fang, which is a direct copy of Slavic's last year blackpool shirt. The result is great. But my latin dress was not fit well. (He was there while I was not.) My partner also ordered a tail suit from Shi Dai. Only $200, but the fit was excellent. I myself has bought a ball gown from Romatic in Beijing. I'm very satisfied with it.
My suggestions for ordering are
- ask about the fabric. Europe made fabric is available at a higher price.
- ask about the stones. The venders I mentioned usually use Swarovski. But double check to make sure.
- if they let you choose from catalogue, ask for fabric samples to make sure the color is right.
- lastly, keep in mind, Hong Kong venders' costumes are made in southern China anyway. So there shouldn't be too much a difference in price and quality.
PM me if you need further info