How Sam’s Tailor heir in Hong Kong is using TikTok and Instagram to make suits ‘cool for kids’, after dressing US presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton

For decades Sam’s Tailor earned publicity making suits for stars and political leaders. Its third-generation steward Roshan Melwani has turned to social media

He has over a million followers on TikTok, where his videos attract parodies. He talks about the family legacy and selling a new generation on bespoke suits

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Roshan Melwani of Sam’s Tailor in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, has made suits for A-list celebrities and is now enjoying TikTok success with videos that share his love of suits with a young audience. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Nicole Tan

Published: 11:47am, 10 Jul 2023

Roshan Melwani has always been a people person.

It’s what drew him to his family’s business: Sam’s Tailor, a 66-year-old Hong Kong institution that celebrities, presidents and locals alike have turned to for a bespoke suit.

While growing up, every day after school Melwani would visit his father and grandfather at the shop, which would be packed with “every type of person”, he says.

“Working with real-life people, different people every day – that’s very alluring to me.”

Melwani (second from right) with Bill Clinton, and his father, Manu Melwani (left), at Sam’s Tailor in April 2001. Melwani worked personally with the former US president at his family’s tailors. Photo: Roshan Melwani

It was in the shop that he learned one of his most valuable life lessons. When he was 12 his father, Manu Melwani, taught him how to strike up a conversation with clients three times his age.