Yes, character is important, very important. I only work with people who have excellent character. Most makers seem to exhibit a certain steadiness, I dont think anyone wants too much "flava" in their tailor. Getting something nice made isnt a time when you really want to experience anxiety or stress or conflict.

I had a very talented tailor once who was simply too erratic. Although it could have been worse, Ive seen talentless makers with volatile tempers too.

It's key to find a tailor who is psychologically, and financially stable, who is happy with himself and his customers, and who enjoys his work.  Many do not fit this profile, which can lead to bad results.  Check out that Esquire magazine profile of a couple New York tailors, which was so depressing, I'd never want to have anything to do with them.   You never want to be in the hands of a depressed doctor, dentist, or tailor.

Probably the worst thing that ive ever experienced is I took a good friend to a tailor, my friend ordered 5 suits. I dropped by to check on my suits a week or so later to see a stack of uncut fabrics. When for conversation's sake I asked him about them, he told me they were my friend's fabrics. But they werent the ones he ordered, they were substitutes!

My friend would never know and most people wouldnt notice but for a person like myself who has fabric books on his coffee tables and in his drawers at work, I noticed. I also called him on it, rather upsettedly. The tailor begged me to not tell my friend but though i wrestled with the ups and downs (for one thing really having spoken for this tailor, I felt it would make me look like a fool) I finally told my friend about it. My friend is something of a Grandee and didnt really care and took the suits anyway but that tailor was history for me. Now I only recommend people I am certain about. People make mistakes of course but that was sleazy. Character is everything.

At least one London tailor, likely more, using a local New York alterations tailor during fittings with NYC clients, saving him from shlepping the garments back and forth to and from London.