PIMABS
32B Boat Quay, tel: 6538-6466, Wednesday to Friday, 11am to 7pm; Saturday, 11am to 4pm

A cross between a tailor and an image consultant, Leslie Chia, the owner of menswear boutique Pimabs, is the go-to man for workwear with a twist.

With quirky touches such as floral-print buttons, curved cuffs and collars lined with interesting fabrics, no two pieces he designs are the same.

The 42-year-old, who founded clothing labels Haberdasher and The Clothes Publisher but subsequently sold them, decided to start Pimabs when he realised there was a niche to be filled in the men's tailoring industry.

He says: "Local tailors do not give style advice. At the same time, men are becoming more image-conscious.

"So I decided to blend tailoring with image consulting in a menswear line."

International menswear trends are incorporated into his outfits.

He made Pimabs by-appointment- only to better manage customer-flow because he did not want customers waiting for him to have a consultation.

"Customers like the idea that I can give them my full attention and that I will go through fabric and trimming options with them."

The setting: Take a trip back in time when you step into the boutique. Its vintage 1970s decor is Chia's nod to the shop's beginnings in Chinatown.

Pimabs moved to its current 1,500 sq ft location in 2005, a year after he established the brand, to be closer to the central business district where many of his clients work.

The experience: Chia presents first-time customers with his latest collection and shows them fabric swatches before taking orders.

He designs two collections a year and these designs are customised for each client, taking about three weeks to be completed.

Chia keeps a records to help customers build their wardrobes on subsequent visits.

Customers can also pick up accessories such as neckties, cuff links, belts and shoes, which Chia sources mainly from Hong Kong. He also makes bespoke pieces for occasions such as black-tie balls and weddings.

The merchandise: From $250 for pants, $330 for shirts and $1,200 for suits.

The customers: Businessmen and professionals including bankers and lawyers. Singer-songwriter Dick Lee also gets his designs tailored at Pimabs.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times .