FAIFO TAILOR: THE JOURNEY BACK TO THE FUTURE

4/20/2025 11:12:06 AM

Hoi An, Vietnam's UNESCO gem, boasts a 500-year tailoring heritage from its Silk Road port era

Skilled artisans swiftly craft bespoke attire, from elegant Ao Dai to Western wear, often within days, sometimes even using AI-powered body measurement for ultimate precision. Explore lantern-lit streets and witness generations of tradition blend with rapid, precise, tech-enhanced service, creating unique, custom-fit clothes for global travelers.

Sugnature: Faifo Tailor's logo

FaiFo history
Central Vietnam, home to the former imperial capital, boasts a rich heritage of skilled artisans shaped by the hardworking spirit of its people. During the nearly 150-year Nguyen Dynasty, traditional craft villages like Da Nang and Quang Nam (Hoi An) flourished, serving over 13 emperors and nurturing talents such as tailoring. Since the 16th century, the vibrant trading port of Hoai Pho—known as Faifo—connected Vietnam to China, Japan, and Portugal along the Silk Road. Today, Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage site, preserving this unique blend of cultural history and ancient global trade.

Tailoring talent

The Journey Back
This journey is led by entrepreneur Ho Thai Son, a native of the traditional land of Hoi An, with over 30 years of experience in the garment industry. He previously made his mark with the fashion brand FOCI, which boasted over 100 stores nationwide in the early 2000s. Mr. Son continues to pursue his dream of transforming Hoi An into the "world's handmade garment hub" with the vision of Faifo Tailor.
Faifo Tailor is not just a traditional tailor shop; it also harbors the ambition to revive the traditional tailoring craft of its ancestors in every village, every hamlet, and every household in Hoi An. Mr. Son shared: "With the aspiration to develop a sustainable craft for the people of Central Vietnam, I want to help artisans thrive through their traditional skills. I don't want to start up with a personal brand, but rather hope that Faifo Tailor becomes a brand representing the entire land with a rich tailoring tradition, so that everyone can be proud."

Handmake and linked with special fabrics 10,000 types globally

Startup with Tradition & Technology
Experience, persistence, aesthetics, and sophistication are indispensable elements for the artisans of Faifo. They are meticulous in taking measurements and listening to the customer's personality, which then dictates every chalk line and the first cuts of fabric for all product lines, from shirts and blazers to suits and tuxedos.

The world today is trending back towards core values, especially among young people, tourists, and domestic consumers. They strongly desire handmade garments rather than mass-produced industrial items. Mr. Son stated: "The feeling of customers when trying on Faifo Tailor's clothing is very special, something not easily found in shopping centers. Certainly, when they directly discuss adjustments for blazers and vests with the artisan, the feeling of owning a personalized garment and connecting with the artisan's story is very important. What they wear is not just clothing but also a fashion piece carrying the story of Hai Pho – the 17th-century trading port – and of course, it's unique."

Towards the Future

Tradictional & AI

Vision
Mr. Son aims to develop 500-1000 stores worldwide with 10,000 types of fabric. So, how to scale up? Mr. Son explained: "We definitely have to combine technology and communication. Faifo Tailor built an AI-powered measurement app three years ago, and it's operating very effectively. Customers only need 30 seconds through 8 very detailed steps to scan and get their full measurements. All data is stored at the hub center and sent to the artisan instantly. If tourists are in Vietnam, they will receive their garments at their hotel or resort within 48 hours. For special fabrics in our inventory, linked with 10,000 types globally, we have complete control over the time to ship them to Vietnam and the costs, allowing us to accurately guarantee the delivery time of the finished product to customers. This entire process takes place on a technology platform, connecting all stakeholders and Faifo Tailor's handmade artisans."

Mr. Ho The Son, founder of Faifo Tailor

The message from Mr. Ho The Son, founder of Faifo Tailor, is: "The world is increasingly developing and competitive, but few lands have the advantage of a unique historical and cultural heritage in bespoke tailoring like Hoi An. And with technological advancements like AI now fully capable of supporting and bringing the story of Hoi An's bespoke tailoring artisans to the world methodically and effectively… the important thing left is for the Faifo team to strive every day to fulfill this extremely noble mission."