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 "things to do" 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 "fittings", 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" too long. I won't even bother to comment & 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&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.