Travel Guides & Tips in this video
- Tip 1Consider exploring Indian tailor shops or workshops in Shanghai to understand cross-cultural craft exchange. (00:05)
- Tip 2If traveling between China and India, note visa openness has varied; check current policies and plan ahead. (02:25)
- Tip 3At Canton Fair, expect a heavy Indian presence; buyer-seller dynamics across borders are strong in manufacturing hubs. (05:21)
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—
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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.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Is Shanghai more open than Mumbai for social life?
- A: Tony notes that Shanghai feels more open and comfortable for talking to strangers, including women, compared with Mumbai.
