Guide to buying tailored clothes in Pattaya
buying tailored clothes in Pattaya
Skilled Thais are known for their excellent craftsmanship, and this includes tailoring. If you’re looking for a wardrobe full of brand new clothes, then Pattaya has a lot to offer where tailor-made clothes can be made within 24 hours at extremely competitive prices. You can design your own items, or select from a brochure, and choose from an extensive range of fabrics.
Prices and quality vary and it pays to spend time looking around. If you have time to spare, try having one item made initially and if you are happy with the result, then go back for more. Walking Street is the most famous area for tailors in Pattaya and it contains a number of high quality establishments, though many of them are on the pricey side.
South Pattaya’s Second Road, and Beach Road, also have several decent tailors capable of recreating any style you choose. It is quite common to have a set of three suits, two silk shirts and ties, or the equivalent, made for around 8,000 baht (about £170). As a general rule, the longer you can wait and the more money you have to spend, the better the results. Insist on having fittings - at least two for the best results. That way you can view the clothes as they are created, and will be able to instruct the tailor regarding exactly how you want the pieces to look.
Though tempting, it is usually best to avoid tailors who offer fantastically low prices, as they have been known to produce shoddy work. If you’re willing to spend a decent amount of money, you can get some spectacular clothes, but be prepared to bargain. You do not need to overspend, but have a look in a few places to get an idea of what the going rates are before committing. Expect prices for a top quality tailor-made suit to start at 4,500 baht (about £90), and prices for a slightly lower quality suit to be around 3,000 baht (about £60).
When trying clothes on, be sure to pay attention. It is easy to look at yourself in the mirror, declare that the clothes look great from the front, and then hurry out of the shop after paying, only to find the rear looking dodgy later on. Check that the stitching is straight, pinstripes meet where they should, and observe the overall quality of the item. If you are not entirely satisfied with the work, speak up.
The fact is that all of the tailors in Pattaya use the same group of people to put their clothes together. The series of shophouses where the orders from the various tailor shops are taken are situated in South Pattaya, not far from the Tukcom computer and electronics centre. What this means is that shoppers should indeed get a series of quotes from a variety of tailor shops and compare the deals.
At the southern end of Beach Road (within 200m of the entrance to Walking Street) there is a gauntlet of tailor touts who ask anyone if they want a suit or something similar. These people should be avoided. It is far better to inspect places that do not employ touts. For example, AMA Fashion on Central Pattaya Road (near the junction with Second Road) has been in business for many years, does not use touts, and comes recommended from a variety of travellers.
