Poor quality work, didn't finish the job as requested. Had to go to another place to have the same job done correctly.

Rene put a verbal idea of a few custom pieces into actual fly fitted gear...his alterations are top notch - completed in a timely fashion ... He's a perfectionist to say the least. read more

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Yes, the wait is less than Stanton or anywhere else in the LES. In fact, for most alterations they have same-day service. You ever wonder why? Perhaps something got lost in translation, but if by "alterations" they mean "we butcher your clothes so they look way worse than they did before you came into our shop," then sure - by all means, bring your clothes there. If you expect a professional job, enter at your own risk. The first time I went in to have a blazer fitted, they tore up the back, took in 2 inches, then put it back together. 30 min and you're done! No attempt was made, of course, to adjust the sides or the arms, so it ended up billowing in the front and scrunched in the back. When I complained, monsieur Rene advised me that the jacket would need to be taken in the sides as well (duh!). But there was a catch, he continued: that would be $25 more. Alright, what's 25 bucks more? Pissed but resolved to get this over with, I resign myself to waiting 30 min more. When I tried the jacket for the second time, it felt like I was in a vice. Wait! Did I just gain 10 pounds by eating a sad burrito from the bodega around the corner, patiently awaiting the expert tailoring of my beloved garment? Nope. They took so much fabric out that unless I moved to Somalia and lived there for a year, there would be no way of squeezing into it without looking like a bratwurst. When I went to my usual tailor in Chelsea and asked them if they can fix the damage, they said it was impossible: Rene's tailors had removed all the extra fabric, so there was no way to let it out. In fact, it was already breaking at the seams. So much for that: lesson learned. read more

I've lived in this neighboord for about three years and have tried out both Stanton Tailor and Nelson Tailor shops. I've taken my clothes to Rene for the following: Pros: 1) Less wait than Stanton. Although Stanton Tailor is a superior shop, it is much more popular thus you will have to wait on large line at times and it is unlikely that you will get your work done on the same date. 2) Same day alterations. These guys do a good job on same day non-basic alterations i.e. tapering pants, jackets, shortening jackets etc. 3) Reasonable pricing. Pant hems $5, tapering $15, waist $10, Jacket shortening $25. The prices are the same as Stanton Tailor shop. Cons 1) Rene is not fluent in English and when his son is not there to translate, you may have some issues getting your full message across. 2) Rene' sometimes charges you to fix the original work. Let say the pants are too tapered, when you bring it back to get it fixed, he may charge you half. 3)They can be a bit careless with the hemming so if you want some extra length just in case you want to make the pants longer, make sure you let them know. Overall, its a great shop and they do quality same day alterations. If it weren't for the cons listed above, it would get 5 stars. read more

I've been going to Rene for about 10 years now, sadly when his shop relocated I lost contact. I'm so happy to have found him again, he's simply the best for all your alteration needs. read more

He flawlessly fixed a ruptured blazer seam and took in a pencil skirt for a perfect fit.

Rene altered my friend's 1960s cashmere coat to perfection. It was a simple hemming and sleeve job, but everything was finished uncommonly well for a great price ($40). Also, he seems very comfortable with avant garde silhouettes, judging from the items other customers brought to the shop. I would definitely return here for alterations that require expert attention to detail. read more

WARNING DO NOT GO HERE!!! Dropped off Bridesmaid dress for alteration on Sunday, they said it would be ready the next day. Wow I thought that is quick...I don't live in the area, I told them I would be back the following Sunday to pick it up. Came back the next Sunday, and they cannot find my dress! The shop is also rather filthy, and they continue for 45 mins looking for inside bags on the floor (I brought it in on a hanger wrapped in plastic straight from the bridal shop). Finally they find it crumpled behind a bunch of other clothes and it's not even altered!!! "come back tomorrow' they say....I said I want to speak with the owner. They said he's not there and the people there were saying they don't really work there, they are borrowing the space from them. I get the owners # "Rene" and call him the next morning. I asked him what happened, he doesn't speak any ENGLISH! He found someone in the shop for me to speak with and translate our conversation. I told him I don't live around there, and I'm going to have to take a half day off work to come back and pay for another cab ride down there. He didn't care, he said he would put my dress when it's finished in a cab BY ITSELF to my apartment, I told him NO WAY and to send it with someone from his shop, he said he has no one he can go with it... I said I will pick it up Tuesday. I came to pick it up, he was very unapologetic about the incident, then I look at my dress and there are GREASE STAINS on it!!! He claims they were there before, HAHA NO WAY then he was mocking me in Spanish to the other people there.... THEN I try on the dress and it was very obvious the alterations were done in a hurry, top was still WAY TOO big, hem was TOO SHORT, and now I have stains on my dress. I took my dress and left, I needed it for a wedding that week, I was able to get most of the stains out (or at least to where they were not as noticeable). $80 for the "alterations" $45 worth of cab rides A half of day's pay lost at work A horrible altered and stained dress PLEASE TRUST ME AND GO ELSEWHERE!!!! read more

I recently bought a suit from the J Crew Men's Shop in SoHo. Unfortunately, J. Crew didn't have my size so they suggested that I get it tailored at Rene. The place isn't flashy and Rene doesn't speak english very well, but the tailoring is excellent. At first I was a little worried because Rene wan't very reassuring that he understood exactly what I wanted. But, this man knows his stuff! The suit turned out perfect and was exactly what I wanted. If you want a really "nice" looking tailor shop, or a place with SoHo-esque customer service, this isn't the place for you. But, if you need an excellent, no-frills tailor, Rene is your man! read more

No one can do what Rene does as quickly as he does it, just make sure to give very clear instructions with sketches and swatches attached. He can make anything, from leather moto jackets to silk chiffon dresses. read more

I had heard such great things about this tailor, and I have never had more problems with one. He tells me "come back sunday" I come Sunday, item hasn't been worked on. He tells me he was "confused, his fault." I say ok, call back 3 days later, he says it is done. I trek all the way there, and he can't find my expensive item. He then finds it, crumpled in a corner, STILL NOT WORKED ON. Not a stitch, not a seam. He says give me an hour. I'm never coming back again. read more

There are two main problems at Rene's. Language and memory. A simple request to "take in" a batch of shirts resulted in them being "taken up" instead, despite three clarifying requests upfront. All the shirts are now unwearable, costing me more than $1,100. Avoid at all costs. read more

RENE = WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME Rene estimated a week for my suit and took a month to make one that does not fit and is not the style of suit I asked for. I provided five photos with the fabric on day one, and still he put the wrong lapels on the jacket. He wouldn't even admit that the lapel was nothing like the photo until one of his own tailors stepped in to admit to their mistake. After three visits the jacket still does not fit properly. So I just spent $600 for a suit that doesn't fit right and isn't the style I wanted, I've missed 3 days of work (because I came in for scheduled fittings for which he had literally done NO work on the suit and did not call to let me know), and by the way this is my WEDDING SUIT. That's Rene's Tailor Shop. read more

This place is a joke. Went in to get suits fitted and they butchered all of them. They tell me they took in the arms on my suit, but I asked them to take in the waist (not the arms!). I asked them to tailor the back of the suit and took them three tries to get it right and, when it was done, it caused other areas of the suit to suffer --- no attention to detail and I honestly think I was taken. I would have been better off not getting my suits tailored at all. read more

Just got back from Rene's. I also came here on a recommendation from SuitSupply for a non-SuitSupply suit. I was reluctant given the reviews here, but I got over it in part because Stanton was closed. They did a phenomenal job, and will likely replace Stanton for me. I bought a relatively cheap suit off the rack, now it looks like a relatively expensive suit made for me. They took the jacket (way) in, hemmed and tapered the pants. I looked so swell that I may have to have Rene make me a shirt or even a suit. We'll see. I'm noticing that all the negative reviews are more than a year old, perhaps there's been a recent change resulting in higher quality? read more

Absolutely the worse tailor I have ever met. I brought in a 3/4 trench to have the lining redone with the collar; not only did I buy my own lining and felt (for the collar) but I was recommended by Pablo from around the corner (Stanton Tailor Shop). The cost of doing the lining was $125, but since they were highly recommended I decided to pay it. In the intial discussion I indicated I wanted everything changed, especially the pockets, its all in the details. To be consise, they added a pocket on the inside (from the lining) and did not change the actual pockets on the outside. Needless to say I argued with them and told them to lower the price, after not even budging I left with my coat determined to tell everyone how unreasonable they were. They even indicated they gave me a discount since I'm Colombian, bunch of thieves is what they are! read more

charged well over $100 for some pretty simple alterations on two suits. when i got them back, one coat had a side that was longer than the other and then i spent a while listening to him try to convince me that the sides WEREN'T uneven. he did not fix the coat and i ended up leaving with it the way it was. other suit looked good but he just did the pants and brought in the waist a bit. i thought it was very expensive and disappointing. read more