Korean Job Discussion Forums

Viaje · Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Location: Indebted, USA

How much does it cost to get shirts, pants and suits custom made? I would rather not travel with a big load, and have always wanted to custom make some things? Is it expensive, how is the quality of work? Should it be done in a smaller place than Seoul?

Phant0m · Joined: 15 May 2008 Location: in your mind~

I got a custom made 3-piece suit made for about W300,000 - W400,000 in Itaewon. I don't remember the exact price at the moment, so I'll edit this post if I can find the receipt.

Goku · Joined: 10 Dec 2008

Anyone have any informaiton on pricing of "semi-formal" work clothes?

Not full blow suit. Just pants and shirts.

sobriquet · Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Location: Nakatomi Plaza

shirts at Hamilton shirts - 35-48k

Cotton pants 55k

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

If you have a little bit of time before you leave, hit up EBay for some brand name dress shirts at 9-15 bucks a pop and cheap shipping. Go to a discount store like Marshalls or TJ Max for a couple of off-the-rack decent brand suits at 100-250 bucks. All-in-all, you'll get better quality than the 'taylored' stuff you get here.

Those clothes won't take up much room in your suitcases. No worries. If you're teaching adults, it's always better to look the part here. While you're at it, a couple of sport coats and a couple pair of dress pants, too. Hell, why not? If you're coming for a year, what's one or two suitcases?

Viaje · Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Location: Indebted, USA

You make sense, thanks for the tips, Pragic

mnhnhyouh · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom

I disagree. I had a suit and two shirts made in Itaewon in my first year here. The suit is very well made, and fits me beautifully, as do the shirts.

Sure they cost more, but I thought it worth it.

Cost? I think I paid 300,000, but a big factor is the material you select. Some is more expensive than others.

h

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Maybe for the novelty of it, sure. I've had a few suits and shirts made here over the years (or received them as gifts). The expensive ones have been nice, I admit, but for the price, I could have gotten a lot more back in the States. 300 won't get you much here on the quality scale here.

To each their own. Just putting in my 2 cents.

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

I had a suit made in the 'won (two pairs of pants). This was four years ago. Good material, the suit and pants wear well. 350,000 Korean won.

For that price your going to get some cheap looking off-the-rack looking suit back home. I couldn't be more happier with getting a suit made in the won, but you have to know a bit about material and styles.

mnhnhyouh · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom

I agree. Do some reading and looking at styles before you go....

h

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

I completely disagree, but, hey, that's what a board like this is for. If you live near an outlet, or know what to look for and when, you'll get great suits in N. America and Europe for great prices. As the old saying goes, 'Retail is for suckers.'

And as far as dress shirts go, no competition. Buy there and bring them over. People coming over for the first time should know in advance that Korea isn't the place for steals and deals that it was even 10 years ago. 15-20 years ago, you could get a lot for your money here; not so now. If you're small enough to fit into Korean sizes, you can buy cheap suits and coats at Korean stores, but, then again, there's a reason they're cheap.

So to each their own. Drive on. My best advice is to bring a suit or two, and maybe a jacket and pants, and then (for the hell of it) get something made here. Compare what you get and be your own judge. I've made up my mind.

sobriquet · Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Location: Nakatomi Plaza

Prices are not bad if you are paying in money from back home

20 quid for a tailored shirt is about as cheap as any place n Bangkok with better customer service.

I normally just buy off the shelf shirts in Bangkok from the department stores, but since Sterlings demise the 10-15 quid shirts are now 20 -30

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Shanghi has some cheap taylors, too. Bangkok? Not renowned for its quality.

Come to think of it, there is a shirt shot in Itaewon that sells everthing for 8,000 won. Think it's still there. It's hit and miss, but if you have a 'regular' size, you can get the export quality dress shirts (or some of freak show variety) on the cheap. If you're a teacher, why be paying USD 30-40 for a shirt? 200-300 for a suit? Who are you trying to impress? Waste of coin.

samcheokguy · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Location: Samcheok G-do

110's from Indian cost like $40 a pop. The $15 one's from homeplus do the job just as well.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Now you're talkin. I get back to the States every year or two. I get on EBay a few months before hand and get Ralph Lauren, Boss, Marks & Spencer, better Nautica, Banana Republic...whatever the name, doesn't really matter as long as it's decent, at 10-25 bucks a pop with free or cheap shipping sent to my address there to pick up. These are $50-90.00 shirts retail. I have a tough size to find, too, so it saves a lot of time and it's even cheaper than the prices at the outlet mall. Can't go wrong.

Same for dress pants. Get em for 10-15 bucks a pair brand new with tags. Brand name jackets? No more than 40 bucks. And how many do I need? Not many. I'm a professor, not a banker. I don't even wear a suit and tie all that often, although I did have to when I was in a business school. With the summer weather here, though, it's easy to peal through dress shirts.