Job Discussion Forums

ajktony · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 6

Not sure if this has been covered or not, but while I was studying in Thailand last year I noticed a whole bunch of Tailor shops. However, due to my limited budget and the fact I was still a student, I didnt see the need for it at the time, I never stopped in.

My question would be for someone who is around 6'5 (195 cm) and about 220, I cant normally find good suits back here in Canada, let alone in Thailand unless I go to big n tall shops, or Tailors. How are the Tailors in Thailand, and what kind of quality do you get? Also what should I expect to pay for a decent suit?

I am hoping to buy at least 3-5 suits the next time I go to Thailand, so any info I can get would be great.

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 7:31 am Post subject:

There are people who swear by them - but I doubt that they have bought good quality off-the-rack suits before. If you go to a suit outlet store (in major western countries) you will find US$600++ suits in ALL sizes - (yours too - my brother is 6'6" and shops at these kinds of places) and should pay only about 1/3 of the department store price. Usually last year's model - who cares! A good suit should last you years.

I have had the tailors make a suit for me - looked GREAT at first but didn't wear well. After a year I was embarrassed to wear it. Now, if you are talking about a first class tailor and expect to pay US$1000 up - then yes, you can find a good suit. But they are never cheap.

Just my opinion.

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

The tailoring done in Bangkok is top quality stuff so long as you don't shoot for some jerk on Silom or Khao San Road.

Jesse at Rajawongse Clothier is the big gun in the industry (his son Victor works in the store too), having outfitted both Bushes and pratically every celebrity that comes through town. His suits average about US 250 and are made from top quality material. Egyptian cotton dress shirts run US 20 a piece and are completely up to date. If you're new to Bangkok ask a taxi driver to take you to The Landmark Hotel and look about six doors east of the hotel's entrance. If you're not new to Bangkok, the shop is damn near Nana.

Raja's, right around the corner, is operated by extended family of the folks of Rajawonse and has a similar client list.

Button popper suits go for as low as US 50, and it's hard to not find someone who wants to sell you one.

Wildcat · Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 9 Location: Phuket, Thailand

The prices in Phuket are cheaper. Shirts (Egyptian cotton or silk) are 500 Baht, pants (any style) 1000 baht and suits are 3000-5000.

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

If you opt for Egyptian cotton for your shirts be sure it's imported (usually through Japan). It's admittedly hard to check this, but often if the suits are much cheaper than at Rajawongse the reason is that the material is a reproduction of Egytpian (or whatever) made locally.

Not that I have anything against local materials, but it's hard to find a place anywhere in Thailand that actually gives you what you paid for so long as you personally can't tell the difference.