Buying suits in LOS

[Chief_B 1]

I have been thinking of ordering a couple of suits to be made. What are your experiences with this? Some of the tailors seem pretty pushy but is it good value for money?

 

Chief B

[Myrrh 0]

You can get a decent suit in Pattaya from a number of places for around 4000 baht. Bangkok will cost you double this.

 

I don't see the point in paying much more than this e.g. by paying for better quality fabrics or going to a fancier shop. At the end of the day a suit is a suit is a suit and most people can't tell the difference between tailor made and off-the-peg.

 

If the suit is hanging off you like a sack then that is obvious but other than that most off-the-peg suits in the west fit pretty much OK.

 

The fashion these days is for a more relaxed fit and if you have a suit that is too tailored then in a couple years time when you change weight then it won't fit.

 

It is just that in Thailand you can get a made to measure suit for less than the price of an off the peg suit in the West.

[ServiceMan78 0]

I've had nothing but decent expereinces with the tailors here in pattaya. Of course considering you have enough time to have one properyly attired. In other words a couple of fittings to make sure. otherwise no complaints.

[roomak 0]

I have been thinking of ordering a couple of suits to be made. What are your experiences with this? Some of the tailors seem pretty pushy but is it good value for money?

 

Chief B

 

Have a look at this post. This lady can act as a go between with fabric merchants and factories. No pressure and no rediculous price mark ups as the Indians do. They work exactly the same way, sitting in their airconditioned shops like spiders in the net just waiting to pounce on victims.

http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=44944

[Chief_B 1]

Thanks Roomak, I did a search for 'suits' but must have missed your earlier post. I will be back in Pattaya next month and definitely will give Par a look. I don't know much about fabrics but my thought is that polyester is too bloody hot for Thailand. I was in BKK for a meeting a couple of months ago and sweat my butt off in the MRT.

 

Chief B

[roomak 0]

Thanks Roomak, I did a search for 'suits' but must have missed your earlier post. I will be back in Pattaya next month and definitely will give Par a look. I don't know much about fabrics but my thought is that polyester is too bloody hot for Thailand. I was in BKK for a meeting a couple of months ago and sweat my butt off in the MRT.

 

Chief B

 

Not beeing an expert myself, I can only recommend from experience Linen on lightweight cotton. Polyester sucks, hot in summer and cold in winter but its the favorite of Indian Tailors: Buy 3 for 100 $

[BigDUSA 71]

One of our BM was very pleased with the tailor next to the FLB. He wears a lot of suits for work and he said they were the best made suits he's ever bought.

[carbine 0]

If you are to spend some time in Bangkok, you could try Gulati, Cnr Sukhumvit Rd. and Soi 3.

 

I have purchased suits nowhere else during the last 10 years.

[GONBUST 0]

I had a suit made in Phuket for 6000 baht a few years ago, paid extra for Versage lining, shirt and designer belt. The suit was well made and fitted perfect. If i ever need a suit again i would get one made in Thailand.

As far as i know they all get made in the same place, some Indian sweet shop somewhere.

[Samsonite 181]

If you are to spend some time in Bangkok, you could try Gulati, Cnr Sukhumvit Rd. and Soi 3.

 

I have purchased suits nowhere else during the last 10 years.

Agreed!

Edited November 9, 2009 by Samsonite

[Sailfast 503]

http://www.siamintertailor.com/

 

Purchase suits and shirts from these guys for 5-6 years running. Very reasonable if you know how to bargain and an I feel he is a very honest business man. He has shipped me things as well.

 

PM me if you need more info.

[Baritone47 78]

Six of the suits in my closet have been made in Thailand.

 

From 4 different shops.

 

There's nothing like a custom-fitted suit unless you happen to have a physique that fills out an off the rack suit perfectly, and that's not many of us.

Alterations on a store-bought suit, more than the length of trousers or sleeves and perhaps the waist, can leave the suit looking and feeling off. Yes, tailors can take in the legs and the jacket sides, etc, but every part of the suit has been cut to a pattern and when you change only one part, the remainder isn't the same.

 

This being said, not one of the suits I've had made were correct even after several fittings, and I had to allow time for these corrections before accepting the suit. If you're in a hurry or the delivery date coincides with the day you're leaving, you run a risk of taking away a suit with things left to adjust. (and look closely, for example a good suit sleeve should have a sleeve that appears to be able to open - their fancy demo models will even have real button holes - but if you aren't careful they'll give you a jacket with a straight sleeve, no slit, they'll pop the buttons on top, all to save themselves time and money.

 

The model suits they show you - the fancy workmanship, the various pockets inside the jacket and fancy lining and special under-pinnings - usually some of these goodies won't appear on your suit. If you want them, insist on them, and don't walk away without them. (real button-holes on the sleeves, for example)

 

And you should have a good eye or feel for fabrics. Don't trust what they tell you, all the inexpensive suits will be made with polyester fabrics or poly-wool blends, these will look fine but won't have the elegance of a fine wool or silk suit.

 

And negotiate - you have to figure in order for them to afford these high visibility shops and have a hundred shops on each major street, they must be making a handsome profit with every suit. So beat them up a bit and get a better price.

 

Every one of my suits is superior in fit to anything I can buy off the rack, but I've yet to find a shop that doesn't try to up-sell me or deliver a perfect suit the first time. Know what to expect, be patient and firm, leave time for corrections, and you can come away with something good.