Practical advice for visitors getting suits made in Thailand
Thailand is famous for its skilled tailors and affordable bespoke suits, a surely tempting combo for any traveler who wants to leave with something custom made. But while the process can be rewarding, it’s also easy to fall into a few common traps. Here are five mistakes tourists often make when getting clothes tailored in Thailand, and tips on how to avoid them.
1. Rushing the Process
Many travelers only have a few days in Thailand and try to squeeze in a custom suit between their tours and beach days. The problem? A quality suit takes time, typically 2 fittings are required but the more the better. It’s not uncommon to find a tailor that can make your suit within 24 hours and you would leave with a decent suit. But allow more time if you can manage.
Tip: Select a tailor near your hotel. This creates time for you to enjoy the day and come back for a fitting on the evenings without disrupting your plan.
2. Choosing the Cheapest Shop
It’s tempting to follow the signs that read 2 Suits + 5 Shirts for $99. But cheap offers like this often mean poor-quality fabrics, rushed stitching, and unprofessional service and fittings
Tip: Doing a little research can go a long way. Ask friends who have been to Thailand.
3. Tuk Tuk’s, Tour operators, and Taxi Traps
Unfortunately it’s quite common to find Tuktuk’s and taxis taking you for a detour around town. Lots of time wasted and you’ll end up wasting a whole day on this. It’s not easily avoidable if you hail a random taxi or tuk tuk or even from the hotel. They are capable of lying and saying the place you want to go to is closed or doesn’t exist.
Tip: Download the application Grab. It’s the uber of Thailand. They will not mess around and will take you directly to your desired location without any detours.
4. Skipping the Fabric Check
Not all fabrics labeled Super 140’s or 150’s are what they claim to be. Such labels are common but does not mean they are cheap, just unauthentic.
Tip: Feel the fabric. Ask for a quick burn test. Pure wool will crumble easily and will have a potent smell of burning hair. Cotton will burn like tissue paper. Any black smokes and you can be sure the fabric is blended.
5. Ignoring Fit Detail
Even if the suit looks great on the hanger, small details such as sleeve length, shoulder width, trouser break can give you the best result
Tip: Try everything on carefully and be honest with your feedback. A good tailor should be honest, accept your opinion and adjust it correctly.