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Here is a selection of the most commonly asked questions we are asked by customers. We hope you find this useful. |
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Why has having clothes made in Bangkok become so popular? |
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Custom-made clothing is a luxury in the West. The cost of labour, shop rentals and operating expenses means that even clothes made at an ordinary high street tailor's shop will be beyond most people's budget. In London's Savile Row, 2-piece gent's suits are casually quoted at costing 'from' US $3000 (approx baht 120,000) and taking 'two to three months' to complete. In Bangkok, a top quality suit in can be crafted for less than US$600 (approx baht 24,000) and finished in less than a week. The expensive labels and the shopping charisma of course will be absent, as will the opulent fitting rooms and eloquent sales people, but the cash will still be in your pocket, and few people will be able to tell the difference. Skilled, dedicated craftsmen are available here at a fraction of the labour costs in the West, which combined with the availability of top class imported fabrics, make custom-made clothes one of Thailand's best buys. |
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We have beard the saying: 'made in 24 hours, unmade in 24 days'. Is this true? |
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Yes, sometimes! Just like any other business, there are tailors here who only want to make fast money, and they go for high volume sales and low quality products. If you sell a customer an inferior quality fabric and combine it with the cheapest, quickest labour available, things are likely to become undone, literally. |
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How do you choose a reputable tailor shop amongst so many? |
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Personal recommendation is best, either from fellow tourists or local residents in the know, but definitely not taxi drivers or street touts, whose generous commission will be added to your bill. Some tailors hover outside their shop door trying to coax you inside, rather like spiders waiting for prey. This is unlikely to be a professional business. |
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How can some tailor shops afford very expensive advertisements in international publications? |
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The reality is that a quality tailor cannot afford expensive advertising unless the business is geared to high profits and high turnover in a mass market. This type of shop is not everybody's preference. For many people, tailoring is a personal business. |
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We've seen some unbelievable 'package deals' advertised offering three suits, four shirts, two trousers etc., for next to nothing. Are they genuine? |
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The old adage of 'You get what you pay for' applies here. Most of these offers are to lure you into the shop, and sell you something a lot more expensive. |
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Can suits really be made in 24 hours? |
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In practical terms yes, but the results are likely to be unsatisfactory. |
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Do you have to bargain? |
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Not in respected, reputable tailors. |
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What is the 'average price' for a good quality suit or a jacket? |
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Much depends on the quality of the fabric. As a guide: For a jacket or blazer: Baht 8,850 Lounge Suit Baht 10,500 Tuxedo Baht 13,500 |
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Is Cashmere the most expensive cloth? |
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No, this title belongs to Vicuna, which comes from the fleece of small wild animals of the same name. They belong to the llama family, and roam the high slopes in the central Andes, mostly above 5000 metres. Vicuna is the finest, softest animal fibre in the world, and the most expensive. |
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