Job Discussion Forums

[gochubandit]

spending some time in thailand, vietnam, laos, and cambodia. want to pick up a few things while on vacation, but need some quick advice:

1) where can i pick up designer goods (North Face, Armani, polo, etc. etc.) at near factory price? or are the only available things knock-off, low quality designer stuff??

2) tailors - any recommendations on good tailors that you have developed a relationship with and would recommend others for quality work? i hear there are good and bad ones around, so i'm doin a little research before i go. also, what do i need to bring for a proper fitting? samples of clothes/fabrics/patterns i want? or would pictures suffice?

any help would be appreciated.

[laben18]

Designer stuff is cheaper in the west.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

laben18 is right.


There's a hefty tax on luxury imports.

My dad was in Bangkok a few weeks ago

& was shocked at the sticker-price of a BMW;

roughly 30% more than he would pay in the USA.


Looking on the bright side, there are plenty of bargains to be had.

Try MBK Center and Chatuchak Weekend Market for starters;

allow 3 hours for Chatuchak - it's amazing and HUGE.


Can't help much with tailors; I buy off the rack.







Thailand teaching and travel resources available here :: The Master Index Thailand ::

[White_Elephant]

gochubandit, why are you stuck on designer stuff? Bangkok is a shopper's paradise! You can shop till you drop every day! Personally, I like the custom hand tailored suits made of beautiful Thai silk. Tailors are everywhere hawking their business to tourists. Best thing to do is head over to the Oriental Hotel and ask the concierge at the desk for a good tailor.

If you are looking for top quality, I strongly suggest you head over to Siam Paragon. This is a classy mall for sophisticated people who have money to burn on such things as designer suites, jewelry etc. I can't give you any idea on prices as I personally don't shop for men's suits or designer clothes.

If you want to buy at near factory prices for designer goods, you'll most likely need to buy in bulk. There is a night wholesale market but I can't remember the name. This is where the buyers go. I got stuck over there one night trying to catch a taxi back to Kho San Road.... FUN!

[gochubandit]

white L, can you recommend any good tailors? i just wanna get a few dress shirts tailored for me. pretty much about it. and maybe have a guy make a pair of cool boots for me or something.

so if you're against the whole designer bit, where can you get some cool lookin clothes? i was thinkin about gettin some off-the-wall type clothing, if the designer stuff-for-cheap idea didn't work out.

[gypsywoman]

I find the funkiest gear around Siam Square, theres a few young designers down that way and you can be sure and find some unique gear.
There are some fabulous local designers here, so if you want different, try them out. Check out some of the local magazines for ideas on shops.
If you go to big named shops you pay bigger prices, same as home, the more expensive the rent, the dearer the clothes. Some of the smaller shopping areas have similar clothes for less. Central Chidlom for instance, even robinsons dept store. Just need to shop around. Go into Bed Supper club on Wed nights for Model night and ask some of the male models, whos doing some nice stuff this season.