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What it’s like being Indian in China for 21 years
Life in Shanghai for an Indian Expat: Tony the Tailor and跨文化
I travelled to Shanghai to meet Tony, a celebrity tailor from India who has made suits for Hollywood stars and top politicians. At 16 he left India, lived in Hong Kong, and has now been in China for 22 years. Tony shared the biggest differences between daily life in Shanghai and Mumbai, whether India...
Max Chernov travels to Shanghai to meet Tony, a celebrity tailor from India who has spent over two decades in China. Tony shares the biggest differences between daily life in Shanghai and Mumbai, discusses whether India and China can be long-term friends, and explains how women’s freedom in Shanghai can surprise many Indians. The conversation covers Tony’s tailoring workshop, how the two cultures compare in daily living, and what it feels like to be Indian in China. The episode also reflects on life back in India, the allure of Shanghai’s lifestyle, and Tony’s journey into tailoring, including moments of regret and thoughts on aging. The host helps bridge understanding between locals and foreigners, emphasizing cultural exchange and mutual appreciation across Asia.
Max Chernov hosts a thoughtful interview in Shanghai with Tony, a celebrity tailor who left India at 16, lived in Hong Kong, and has spent over two decades in China. The conversation navigates whether Indians and Chinese share similarities, and Tony’s workspace reveals the precision and artistry behind high-end tailoring. They compare daily life in Mumbai and Shanghai, and discuss whether Indians are increasingly coming to China for work or travel. Max also shares his best travel hack and notes how Indians’ dependence or independence on China shapes perceptions. The dialogue deepens into cultural contrasts, including how women’s freedom in Shanghai can surprise many Indians, and what it feels like for Tony and Max to navigate their identities as Indians abroad. The talk moves toward how Tony’s career evolved, why Shanghai’s lifestyle is appealing, and what would make leaving Shanghai difficult. A reflective arc closes with Tony’s regrets, his thoughts on aging, and the evolving sense
Max Chernov travels to Shanghai to meet Tony, a celebrity tailor from India who has spent over two decades in China. Tony shares the biggest differences between daily life in Shanghai and Mumbai, discusses whether India and China can be long-term friends, and explains how women’s freedom in Shanghai can surprise many Indians. The conversation covers Tony’s tailoring workshop, how the two cultures compare in daily living, and what it feels like to be Indian in China. The episode also reflects on life back in India, the allure of Shanghai’s lifestyle, and Tony’s journey into tailoring, including moments of regret and thoughts on aging. The host helps bridge understanding between locals and foreigners, emphasizing cultural exchange and mutual appreciation across Asia.
Max Chernov travels to Shanghai to meet Tony, a celebrity tailor from India who has spent over two decades in China. Tony shares the biggest differences between daily life in Shanghai and Mumbai, discusses whether India and China can be long term friends, and explains how women’s freedom in Shanghai can surprise many Indians. In Tony’s small office and workshop, the two discuss culture, independence, and the realities of living abroad. They compare family dynamics, the pace of life, and the openness of social interactions in Shanghai versus Mumbai. Tony demonstrates tailoring tools and describes the workflow between his cutting by hand and his Chinese team handling sewing. The conversation shifts to the broader geopolitical backdrop, including trade, visas, and the Canton Fair, and how Indians and Chinese approach business and personal decisions. Throughout, Max’s curiosity anchors a candid exchange about belonging, nostalgia for Indian street food, and the comfort of home found in Shanghai after many years abroad. Tony reflects on aging, karma, and how his identity as an Indian living in China shapes his worldview, his humor, and his sense of purpose as a craftsman and bridge-builder between two large cultures. He names his past ambitions, current routines, and the steady rhythm of a life spent stitching connections more tightly than fabric. The episode closes with a sense of belonging in Shanghai, even as India remains a vivid, cherished memory and source of inspiration.
Max Chernov travels to Shanghai to meet Tony, a celebrity Indian tailor who has spent over two decades in China. Tony shares how daily life in Shanghai compares to Mumbai, the evolving ties between India and China, and how women’s freedom in Shanghai can surprise many Indians. In a workshop filled with fabric, measurements, and tales of Bollywood fashion, Tony explains the craft of tailoring, with cutting as the crucial step that defines fit, while sewing is done by a trusted team of Chinese workers he’s worked with for years. The conversation drifts from the practicality of living in Shanghai to deeper reflections on belonging, family, and the sense of home. Tony speaks candidly about the differences in independence between Chinese and Indian youths, the comforts and challenges of expat life, and the surprising ease with which old ties to India reappear when he visits Mumbai. The episode weaves memories of India’s hospitality, the allure of Shanghai’s open culture, and Tony’s journey—
Max Chernov visits Shanghai to talk with Tony, an Indian tailor who’s lived in China for 22 years. They compare life in Shanghai and Mumbai, discuss India-China
Shanghai life through an Indian tailor’s eyes: culture, independence,
00:05 Consider exploring Indian tailor shops or workshops in Shanghai to understand cross-cultural craft exchange.
02:25 If traveling between China and India, note visa openness has varied; check current policies and plan ahead.
05:21 At Canton Fair, expect a heavy Indian presence; buyer-seller dynamics across borders are strong in manufacturing hubs.
00:05 Consider exploring Indian tailor shops or workshops in Shanghai to understand cross-cultural craft exchange.
02:25 If traveling between China and India, note visa openness has varied; check current policies and plan ahead.
05:21 At Canton Fair, expect a heavy Indian presence; buyer-seller dynamics across borders are strong in manufacturing hubs.
00:01 Intro to Tony and Shanghai interview
01:29 Cultural differences between Shanghai and Mumbai
04:01 Trade and visa exchanges China-India
07:00 Independence and family in two cultures
08:07 Tailoring process and workshop roles
10:14 Indian food vs Chinese food now
00:31 Are Indians and Chinese Similar?
01:03 Inside Tony’s Tailoring Workspace
02:26 Comparing Mumbai and Shanghai
03:29 Are Chinese People Coming to India
04:12 My Best Travel Hack + €3 for My Viewers
05:16 Do Indians Depend on China?
06:51 Comparing Indians and Chinese People
07:50 Tailoring Process and Workspace
08:52 Being Indian in China
10:12 How It Feels to Come Back to India
11:44 Why the Lifestyle Is Much Better in India than in China
12:48 Why It Would Be Hard to Leave Shanghai Now
14:24 How Tony Became a Tailor
15:08 Regrets in Life
16:15 How Does It Feel to Be 60+?
max chernovtravel Chinaindia chinacultural exchangeex patriot lifetailoring workshopindian cultureshanghai lifestyleIs Shanghai more open than Mumbai for social life?
Tony notes that Shanghai feels more open and comfortable for talking to strangers, including women, compared with Mumbai.
