Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK… IS NOT ENOUGH TO HAVE A SUIT MADE
Many tourists arrive in Bangkok with the notion of getting clothes custom-tailored at a bargain price, which is en-
tirely possible. Prices are almost always lower than what you'd pay at home, but common scams ranging from
commission-hungry túk-túk
(dúk dúk)
drivers to shoddy workmanship and inferior fabrics make bespoke tailoring
in Bangkok a potentially disappointing investment. To maximise your chances of walking away feeling (and
looking) good, read on…
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You get what you pay for
If you sign up for a suit, two pants, two shirts and a tie, with silk sarong thrown in
for US$169 (a very popular offer in Bangkok), the chances are it will look and fit like a sub-US$200 wardrobe.
And although an offer may seem great on the surface, the price may fluctuate significantly depending on the fab-
ric you choose.
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Have a good idea of what you want
If it's a suit you're after, should it be single- or double-breasted? How
many buttons? What style trousers? Of course, if you have no idea then the tailor will be more than happy to ad-
vise. Alternatively, bring a favourite garment from home and have it copied.
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Set aside a week to get clothes tailored
Shirts and trousers can often be turned around in 48 hours or less with
only one fitting, but no matter what a tailor may tell you, it takes more than one and often more than two fittings
to create a good suit. Most reliable tailors will ask for two to five sittings. Any tailor who can sew your order in
less than 24 hours should be treated with caution.
Reputable tailors include:
10am-7pm Mon-Sat; Phloen Chit exits 2 & 4) Custom-made shirts and suit jackets have been Mr Pinky's
speciality for more than 35 years. Located behind the Mahatun Building.
9am-7pm; Si Lom exit 2, Sala Daeng exit 4) Tailor to Thailand's royalty and elite alike, the suits here
don't come cheap and the cuts can be somewhat conservative, but the quality is unsurpassed.
2) Dealing solely in men's suits, this longstanding and reliable tailor has a wide selection of banker-sensibility
wools and cottons.
10am-7pm; Phrom Phong exit 1) High-quality Italian fabics and experienced tailors make Duly one of the
best places in Bangkok to commission a sharp shirt.
Sukhumvit; 10am-8pm Mon-Sat; Nana exit 4) One of Bangkok's more famous tailors, Raja's gets a
mixed bag of reviews, but the majority swear by the service and quality.
mark Hotel, 138 Th Sukhumvit; 10am-8.30pm Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sun; Nana exit 2) Corporate ladies
rave about Nickermann's tailor-made power suits: pants and jackets that suit curves and busts. Formal ball gowns
are another area of expertise.
