375

...I'm in Bangladesh now and wondering whether I should pick up a $250 Italian suit. Argh...

That sounds like a contradictionary... Italian suit in Bangladesh doesnt sound like a smart choice.

376

I've been following this thread for a while, and am finally getting a chance to go to Bangkok at the end of May. I have decided to have a few pieces made for me at Milan.

Does anyone know if (a) Milan is still in business and (b) what the turnaround rate and prices are for a five suits and twenty shirts? I know the prices depend on the material, but I was hoping someone could ballpark it for me. Thanks.

377

Yup he was open as of December 2010. Shirts costs about $40 but I dont know enough to tell you about your own material.

378

It doesnt sound smart to go all-in on the first try.

Normally you get a suit made, and find out small things that need to be adjusted. That process will take some months.

The next time you go back and order a second suit and explain what you want differently.

This goes on for a few suits till its perfect.

If you order 5 suits at once, you get 5 times a "first suit".

379

I made the same mistake many, many moons ago in Korea. .. You would have thought, that I was getting the most perfect suit ever.

Measured me umpteen times......Still was a heap of crap ...would not hold a crease at all ..

As they say...Let the buyer beware............You get what you pay for ......

380

Firstly excellent thread - good to see some people who actually know what they are talking about with suits...

I am going to be in Phuket for a week and was wondering if anyone had any specific recommendations there? I am not going anywhere else in Thailand.

I keep seeing very positive reviews about one place on tripadvisor, Instyle Fashion Bespoke Tailors at Patong beach, but I think most people giving the positive reviews don't really wear suits much and don't know the first thing about suits. I checked out Instyle's website, they seem to know what they're talking about, but it's hard to tell.

I am realistic and not after the the equivalent of a $3000 Zegna suit, but I work in the city and wear a suit every day and can tell the difference between a cheap thai piece of rubbish and a good quality suit with good fit, finishes, etc. I'm willing to pay say up to AUD $500-$600 if it's good enough.

Thanks

381

TO GSHAP
If you go to a reputable tailor, you can rest assured that you will get quality tailoring and a reasonably good fabric. But if you're still at home, best bet would be to go to a fabric store in your hometown and select a quality fabric. You'll need about 3 1/2 meters of fabric for a 2 piece suit and if you're a big guy and want a 3 piece suit maybe 4 meters. The fabric will be much cheaper than anything you could purchase in Thailand and you have less chance of getting scammed at home. Then, when you arrive in Thailand find the reputable tailor. 3 that have good reputations are Narin Couture and Tanika, both on Sukhumvit near Asoke BTS, and Perry on Silom near Sala Daeng BTS. Bear in mind that they are not cheap and they are not 72 hour turn-around tailors. You will need several fittings and allow about 3 weeks. But you will have a suit with genuine fabric (because you supplied it) and quality workmanship. This is a suit that should last 10 years or more.

382

That's very good advice.

383

Thanks for your suggestion - I am still at home and will look into bringing my own fabric

Unfortunately I am flying direct into Phuket and won't get to Bangkok - does anyone have any suggestions for Phuket? And has anyone been to Instyle Thailors?

Otherwise I may bring along a suit to be copied (along with fabric)

Thanks

384

GSHAP

A. SONG tailor, Charoenkrung, about soi 38 will charge 6,000 baht to measure and sew suit with your fabric. They are reputable and do a good job. Sorry don't know enough about tailor's in Phuket to advise but if you only have a few days to spend, don't expect too much from any suit made in such a short turn around.

385

From what I've been able to read in about half of the 26 pages in this thread, there are a lot of great comments and discussions about tailors for men's suits. Does anyone have a good recommendation for a good tailor for women's wear? I will be in Bangkok and Phuket in a few months' time and am seriously considering an evening dress and a skirt suit, but obviously a fantastic men's tailor is not necessarily going to make a decent women's tailor....

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks,

386

Try Queen Thai Silk, in the lobby of the Ruamchitt Plaza at Sukhumvit Soi 15. The young lady there is an accomplished seamstress and made several garments including a suit (skirt and jacket) for my wife. She's very happy with them. They have beautiful fabrics in the shop.

387

Hello all,

My experiences from last month's Bangkok visit (after thoroughly reading this thread):

Narin Couture is very expensive. Starting from 45.000 Thai baht. Acts professionally.
Bought two suits with extra pants at Tanika (Sukhumvit Road, BTS station ASOK ) 32.000 Thai baht in total (fused of course).
Bought five shirts at Milan Suits (100 meters from Tanika), 6.000 Thai baht.

I would not do this again. Because:
1) Communications were difficult with Tanika. Email contact to make appointments does not really work.
2) Two fittings in three weeks is not enough time, especially when you have to catch a plane and you're 'trapped'.
3) Tanika advertises with matching stripes. But the stripes don't match. The reason they give is that bodies are not symmetrical. BS to me ... Then please advertise that stripes only match with symmetrical people. BS ...
4) The jackets should be 'exact' copies. They are not.
5) The cloth of the first (test) shirt with Milan Suits is different from the cloth of the next three shirts. Maybe not a problem, but not mentioned by Mr. Kiet.

Altogether a disappointing experience.

My advise:
1) If you do not have enough TIME allowing for enough fittings and alterations: don't do it.
2) Ask for one striped jacket first (and 'bespoke' same cloth allowing for two pants) to get an idea of the craughtmanship of the tailor (matching stripes) and the way he or she communicates and deals with alterations (shoulders!!!).

388

I've been posting into this once excellent thread for a few years now and find of late, the experience is frustrating.

Time and again we have posts from people who claim to have read through the pages and then reject the advice and go off to some Sukhumvit tailor only to complain of the results.

Last year someone went to Narin, found him too expensive, so ended up further up Sukhumvit Rd (near Emporium) where they got poor quality and poor customer service.

Narin is expensive by Bangkok standards, but he is one of the best. If the prices quoted in the above post are accurate, then I figure you might as well buy a ticket to Hong Kong and have a suit made by WW Chan.

Banhkok is filled with tailors who do a roaring trade (as is Hong Kong by the way) based on the ignorance of the men buying the merchandise. Shops like Versaces in Bangkok and Rahja's in Hong Kong produce crap using rubbish materials and they get away with it because the men buying don't know any different.

Kevin began this thread with these men in mind; do your research and spend your money wisely.

For the record, good tailors in HK and experts elsewhere, have told me that matching stripes being the hallmark of a quality tailor is just plain wrong.

What the tailor told you is correct. There's more to fine tailoring than matching up the stripes.
Chan for instance tells customers this at the beginning.

389

Hello all,

Here my reaction on NeilHK´s comments:

I've been posting into this once excellent thread for a few years now and find of late, the experience is frustrating.
@ IMHO this thread is also about sharing experiences.

Time and again we have posts from people who claim to have read through the pages and then reject the advice and go off to some Sukhumvit tailor only to complain of the results.
@ Both Tanika en Milan Suits ar recommended by Kevin. That's why I went there. Not everybody is interested in just going to Narin with starting prices from 45.000 (mind you: fused, not canvassed!) and 'testing' suits which can be thrown away. People with enough money don't even bother buying clothes in Thailand. They will probably have a 'personal' tailor on Savile Row (yes, with one 'L')

Last year someone went to Narin, found him too expensive, so ended up further up Sukhumvit Rd (near Emporium) where they got poor quality and poor customer service.
@ ...

Narin is expensive by Bangkok standards, but he is one of the best. If the prices quoted in the above post are accurate, then I figure you might as well buy a ticket to Hong Kong and have a suit made by WW Chan.
@ of course the prices quoted above are accurate; people like to know this

Banhkok is filled with tailors who do a roaring trade (as is Hong Kong by the way) based on the ignorance of the men buying the merchandise. Shops like Versaces in Bangkok and Rahja's in Hong Kong produce crap using rubbish materials and they get away with it because the men buying don't know any different.
@ buying suits from a Hong Kong tailor for more than 15 years now ...

Kevin began this thread with these men in mind; do your research and spend your money wisely.

For the record, good tailors in HK and experts elsewhere, have told me that matching stripes being the hallmark of a quality tailor is just plain wrong.
@ Could be. But why advertise with this and living up to that promise? Please take a look at http://www.englishcut.com/ Details seem te matter there ...

What the tailor told you is correct. There's more to fine tailoring than matching up the stripes.
Chan for instance tells customers this at the beginning.
@ Fine with me. Tanika didn't. They advertise with it and then explain why it is not possible ...

In conclusion: I am actually satisfied enough with the suits and shirts but would like to share my experiences and advise people to take enough TIME for fittings and allowing for alterations.

I felt 'trapped' and had not expected this by choosing Tanika after thoroughly reading this thread. That's why I would not do this again in this way.