Roshan Melwani is the grandson of Naraindas Melwani, the man who opened Sam's Tailor in 1957. Since then the tailor's shop has become one of Hong Kong's most famous businesses, with a client list that includes the likes of Kylie Minogue, Naomi Campbell, former United States president George Bush and Pierce Brosnan. Roshan's father Manu Melwani (who began running the business a decade ago) and his uncle Sham have continued the legacy of offering personalised service and astonishingly fast turnaround times, operating out of a small space in Nathan Road's Burlington Arcade. The brothers, who are both known as Sam, have 55 tailors who can whip up outfits in an afternoon.
Despite the success, there is no desire to expand. However, with the new generation comes a gregarious new branch of the family tree: a 1.9-metre, 25-year-old son named Roshan. He is pioneering a new direction with his work in the company. For a start, he isn't known as Sam.
We meet in the rowdy hub of the ultimate chic spot and another Hong Kong institution, California's in Lan Kwai Fong. Roshan represents the generation that can be seen milling in the bars and clubs of the SAR - the one that demands an individual identity.
'I'm not dissing the business,' Roshan says as he sits down and explains why he isn't called Sam. 'I want to become known for my own legacy.'
He is a smooth-talking salesman and a natural socialiser. Born and bred in Hong Kong, Roshan studied finance and economics at New York University, then moved to London where he worked in information technology. He returned to Hong Kong three years ago, for an inevitable move into the family business.
'I was under immense pressure from the beginning,' he admits, 'but I never fought against it.'
Wholeheartedly entering the business, he brought in his own ideas, to initial resistance from his father. 'I wasn't interested in standing behind the counter selling clothes. I wanted to bring in new people and really create a vibe in my own way.'
Roshan set to work by upgrading the company's records and creating an online database where clients can order from anywhere in the world; there's even a graph which makes allowances for weight gain or loss. He travels on 'roadshows' to New York in spring and London twice a year; a feature in The Times in August has lifted his profile. He sees 'around 17 people a day'. To further spread the family seal, he goes clubbing every night.
Roshan has engineered a new direction born from a collaboration with the team of Hong Kong party organisers called Glide And Swerve (Roshan has been making their flamboyant outfits for every club night). This is Tailor Made Club Wear, or more specifically 'SAMS - Style Accentuates Your Movement To Sound'.
Instead of shopping for a party frock, Roshan says you should get one made. 'You've a party on Saturday night, you can come in Saturday morning with the description of an outfit you've seen somewhere - maybe Armani or Gucci - and we'll have it ready by Saturday night,' he promises.
'I've got material that would blow your mind. Velvet, lycra, denim, corduroy, silk ? '
Half of the material, he says, comes from Britain, and the rest from other parts of Europe.
He firmly believes the future of tailoring is not limited to business suits. 'Our 55 tailors are used to dealing with rock stars. They create costumes for concerts here, most recently Jamiroquai and Blondie earlier this year.' It seems natural, he says, to extend this service to Hong Kongers.
Having said that, he is leaving his fans this week, flying off for a dose of partying in Barcelona and then a skiing holiday in the Pyrenees. But he says souls without a New Year's Eve outfit should make haste to Burlington Arcade.
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