Customized tailoring in Bangkok
 

Any advice as to where, how and if it's worth it?

it is worth it...sports jackets are about $100..i get 6 shirts for $80-100 and they are fantastic...

i use jack at monet il sarto, and many fodorites have had good luck with him...if you stay at the peninsula it is a 5-10 minute taxi ride..

he is located on the 2nd level of the mini mall attached to the marriott resort and spa which is just down the river from the penn on the same side of the river ....you can also go by boat...take the penn boat to the pier at the skytrain and switch to the marriott boat...the shop overlooks the mall parking lot...

he does women's clothing also...

there are hundreds of tailors in bkk...some do package deals but generally these are inferior...

most of the suit fabric is quite lite weight so be aware of this....i like the heavy silks for blazers...

You can get clothing made for less than off the rack prices in the US. There are hundred (probably thousands) of reputable tailors in Bangkok. It is most important to have at least three fittings for a suit. The places that advertise 24 hour turnaround will disappoint you in terms of fit and quality of tailoring. The good tailors all have extensive arrays of fabrics. As Bob says, you'll find lovely wools but they will all be tropical weight.

I don't remember what your itinerary looks like, but plan on at least three full days in Bangkok if you want to have suits made.

I can strongly recommend Raja's Fashions, on soi Nana directly across the street from the Nana Hotel. This is where Mr. Bobby runs things, and he does an excellent job.

Maybe because many of his clients are ex-pats or regular travelers, he has a good selection of non-tropical fabrics, as well as washable cottons (for slacks).

rizzuto wore a really nice pair of jeans to the boston GTG last week that he had made in bkk....i had never seen any jeans custom made there and they were great...i think he said they cost about $35....that is fantastic...the more fittings you have the better the finished product will be!!!

i think the very best buy is shirts...

most tailors will have some style books available but it is best to know exactly what you want and like and they will do it....the difference is in the details...you can bring pics or a sample and they will copy it...
we have even brought some fabric of our own...

for your new wife a great place for her is cotton house which is on the ground floor of OP Place, which is directly behind the oriental hotel...they do amazing work...silks and cottons and linen mostly...

Thanks, Bob. I actually had the jeans made at Dema Fashions (a/k/a Ravi's) in the Bel-Aire Hotel, which is on Soi 5 (a stone's throw from Raja's).

Raja's is excellent for most clothing, but he doesn't carry jeans fabrics.

I have been a client of Bobby's in the past and his brother, Jesse, as well.

I really believe that Jesse and Victor (Rajawongse adjacent to the Landmark hotel) provide the best value of any purchases I have ever made in any country. In fact, I just got back from Thailand yesterday and will write a full trip report for the board...but suffice to say I completely revamped my wardrobe and, as always, could not have been happier with the quality of the tailoring at Jesse and Victor's. Below is a link to a USA Today article that describes their boutique.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2...9-tailor_x.htm

Shade

Guys, do you think if i'm spending 3 days in Bangkok that's going to be enough time to tailor a couple of suites?

i think you mean suits not suites...a suite would take a long time to decorate?? haha

3 days is not long...if you went upon arrival and had a fitting later that day and the next day and a final one on your last day you might squeek it out....i usually go early, have a fitting or two and then plan to pick things up on my next to last day 2 weeks hence or so...you want to allow max flexibility to avoid disappointment with quality issues...some can do things in 24 hours, but as often noted here, the workmanship and details and fit are not often good...you could just waste your money...

don't you have a couple of days in bkk at the beginning and then at least one day at the end of your trip?? if so that would work well...

Thank you for the spelling lesson.
I guess I can pick it up when I’m returning from Koh Samui to Bangkok.

You'll want an initial fitting, a second fitting, and then a few days for the tailor to make final adjustments. Expect 3-4 days each between order --> initial fitting --> second fitting and then a day or two for the final adjustments. Finally, if you're like me, each time you go in for a fitting you'll find more suits or shirts that you want to add.

Shade

My husband had 5 shirts made at Raja's. We're not too happy. Even though the tailor took his measurements, it seems like he's already got the shirt patterns pre-made (S-M-L-XL). The shirts just don't fit right, definitely not custom-tailored.

And the shirt collars bubbled after 3 wash.

Yes, it's cheap, but that's what you'll get: cheap shirts.

I'd rather go to Meticulous at Siam Square. It's more expensive, but much better quality.

prissy, did your husband have fittings? That's the time when you ask for modifications to be made. Fittings are perhaps the most important thing to do when having clothing custom made. Otherwise, you'll get an approximation rather than truly custom clothing.

Given that this is <b>prissy_princess</b>'s first post on Fodors', given that many other posters have used Raja's and certainly not had anything similar to the experience that prissy_princess described, and given that prissy_princess provided a plug for some other tailor ... I'd really wonder if prissy_princess is a legitimate poster or if s/he has a relationship to the outfit that s/he touts.

Back to facts. It has been my experience on 3 trips and several friends on multiple trips as well who had shirts made as well, that while the price sounds good it is not the Best Buy in the long run. Slacks, Sport Jackets and Suits (not overcoats) are your best bet at 1/3 or less the US price. But, as I have said before without 3 fittings on sport jackets or suits do not expect a quality job. On slacks 2 fittings &quot;might&quot; do. I like Monet Sarto and the owner Jack though others like one or both of the Raja brothers. But when I can get Super 140 wool Canali or Boss fabric mill slacks for $75 at Monet Sarto and Sport Jacks of the same quality for $140-$160 vs. $450+ in the US how can you go wrong. Oh yes, suits of same quality fabric are $275-$300 if you buy 1 but ~10% less if you buy 2.The suits in US would be $1200-$1400. Shipping home is best. Just request a ship date being the day you leave Asia and it will arrive in 7-10 days. Monet Sarto will split the cost of shipping on orders of $700-$800+. I think I paid $50 or $60 on my last order in April.Hope this helps.

Though I don't know Raja's (the one related to Jesse and Victor of Rajawongse, the shop I know and swear by for men's clothing) I've been following the web forums on BKK tailor recommendations closely, and I have never read any complaint about them like prissy_princess's. There are several unrelated tailors that have &quot;Raja's&quot; in their name, and but the one on soi Nana gets good reports, both in this forum and on similar sites. Perhaps you were at one of the other &quot;Raja's&quot;? Or picked a cheap polyester fabric, thinking to save some money?

Or, given that this was a dead thread - over a year old - perhaps rizzuto's analysis is correct. If so, it is an
unfortunate use of the forum. As with anything on the web, caveat lector (if I remember my Latin correctly)!

Agree and disagree. Hardly do you see a complaint about Raja's, (only once in a while) but again, highly suspicious that the thread was jumped after nearly a year. Anyways, on a side note, I get my clothes tailored at Crowns in soi 8, although I sometimes go to Rajawongse for a few different shirt fabrics.

Nope, I'm not promoting any particular tailor. I'm browsing Fodor's to find out about tours to Ayuthaya and around Bangkok.

We decided to get the shirts made at Raja's because we know that many expats from US embassy haves their shirts made there. That's why we were very disappointed when they didn't come out great.

Prissy, did your husband have fittings? Without fittings, a &quot;custom-made&quot; shirt is just a guess.

The fitting went like this: We ordered 5 shirts; for the fitting, he had 1 shirt made. We didn't like the collar, the interfacing was too stiff (like cardboard) and the back collar was a bit too wide so it wrinkled the shirt. He insisted that the collar will get softer after 1 wash (it did, after 3 wash, but then it bubbled), and that will solve the problem of the wrinkle part (nope, still wrinkled!). We asked whether he can change the shape of the collar a bit, because it look too small proportionally. He said no, because the tailor might have had cut the fabric already. So much for fitting...

So there was no fitting.

Fittings happen BEFORE a garment is made, with pieces pinned or basted together, and adjusted for size while you are wearing it. Shirts are relatively simple, and custom shirts my husband has had made came out very well with one fitting like I describe. If there was no fitting, the shirt is not custom made.

In some places that would be called a fitting actually. Except that if you have problems, they should have offered to fix it, then you come back for another fitting to see if it was fixed. That is partially your fault and partially the tailors fault. They should have known better then to give customers a bad shirt and you should have known better then to accept it!

I'll agree with prissy_princess that the collar of the Raja shirt is way too stiff. I haven't had the same bubbling problem that she describes, but I would not have additional shirts made with the same collar.

bookmark.

Can I suggest that the problem with buckling in collars / cuffs on shirts and in jackets generally , after a time , especially after washing or dry - cleaning is the use of iron on inter - facing in suits and collars .Ask the tailor what sort of inter - facing they are intending to use and specify just in case that you do not want 'iron on ' .It may make the garment more expensive but is worth it . True bespoke / custom tailoring never uses it .

I guess maybe we should just be asking for what we want. If we dont want a stiff collar, just let them know. Afterall they're tailors. We go to them to pick what we want. They should do what we want. True?

watts, you are absolutely right. Ask for exactly what you want. A tailor is glad to accommodate your wishes.

Another perspective on tailoring in BKK.

We had 5 days in 4.5 days in Bangkok towards the end of a 2 week Thailand swing. My husband is in a line of business where it makes sense for him to wear well-tailored clothing. Since we were going to be at the shop anyway (we used Crown Tailors), I decided to have a few things made.

Thus far all of our product thas been fine (nothing falling apart) and we were happy with the final look and fit of all the parts and pieces.

However, it did take a lot of time/effort to get the product. We had appointments with the tailor every day we were there. I think it was necessary for us to obtain the end product, and the tailor was very good at working with our somewhat picky habits. It was just a lot of work. And, if you're going to Bangkok with &quot;things to do&quot; besides have clothes made, it becomes a nuisance.

What started out as fun became something very taxing by the end of our short stay in Bangkok. Especially when each visit was hours long (we had many pieces made).

Perhaps getting things made over a longer time period would have helped, but really, I think it would hardly dilute the experience.

It might. More time means less headache to come in and time clothes over short span. But in the long run its sure worth it. I for instance never have to buy off the rack again. And for only $250 I get myself an excellent body fitted suit made just for me. I wont complain :)

Check out the tailor at the shops at the new Millenium Hilton. I am wearing one of his suits right now. It is great. I wanted something trendy and slim fitting - it is right on.

I bought 6 shirts a few weeks ago from Raja and can report no problems to date. I had two fittings for the shirts. I selected button down collars so perhaps which collar you pick might make a difference?

Perhaps tailors in BKK have some shortcomings and every once in a while are guilty of imperfection (I'll find out next month when I visit Monet il Sarto and Rajas). But given my experience with Hickey Freeman right here in NYC, who ended up custom tailoring me a half sleeved suit after several &quot;fittings&quot;, I doubt those humble souls in BKK can do worse.
As some have said, if you tell them exactly what you want, you should get a decent outcome, unless you're dealing with Hickey Freeman whose second attempt at my suit had one sleeve that was 4&quot; too long. I won't even bother to comment &amp; compare the prices. Hence, I do believe that the guys in BKK are worth a shot. Will report back in January.

Johnfitz, what kind of interfacing should I ask from the tailor that would not cause any bubbling?

Just logged on again from Melbourne so sorry for a delay in responding Prissy Princess. Ensure that interfacing is not ironed on or ' glued '. It is how it is secured under the outer fabric that is the issue on a mens or ladies suit jacket. True bespoke tailoring has you measured and then a partial suit such as a sleave and shoulder with some front of jacket made from calico ( I cannot recall the right name for it ) then a second fitting with fabric cut but allowing for all the adjustments to be made so it is then decided about button holes , sleeve lengths darts etc and a third fitting where it is all stitched / and then finished off with final adjustmments . Most cheap tailoring involves 2 fittings - the first being measurement and then second they present a suit and you hope it fits and if it does not adjustments are made until it does .So to answer your question the interfacing is cut so that the fabric lies over it and is stitched at the seams . Feel a good jacket you own and you ought to feel a certain stiffness of fabric between outer fabric and the lining .That is the interfacing . Oh and by the way 2 button jackets require 4 cuff buttons for men and the cuff button holes ought to be hand stitched and able to be openned . It is a certain subtlety in these finishes that denote really good tailoring. But you generally get what you pay for and cannot necessarily expect all this detailing as a matter of course. But ask and see what they say . I have had various quality made over the years the best being in Hong Kong .

Prissy, the collars you had trouble with were fused. Ask for collars where the interfacing is not fused to teh fabric. If you send shirts out to be laundered, they can press them so the bubbling is not evident.

Thats why you should make sure you tell your tailor everything before they make your clothes. Thats what we go to them for.

Don't trust watts and by extension Crown Tailors. He's just a tout tailor with a decent command of the english language and a computer with internet connection

If you want proof, read Gordy's post (the first one) below:
http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/f...560&amp;page=2

Never take anybody's review (especially when it's a very positive one) at face value.

How about a suggestion for a ladies' tailor (not dressmaker)? I want to take an Armani jacket and have one made with my own silk lining (that I bought in China). Many thanks.

try cotton house in the OP Place which is directly behind the oriental hotel

Can't get my husband in a suit, no matter how hard I try. But the 2005 post about jeans caught my eye. Now that it's 2008, any new suggestions for custom jeans that look like the real deal, but fit better. We've got nine days in Bangkok and will be at the Penn and then Adelphi Suites, near Nana BTS.