Can I cure both my wanderlust and wardrobe inadequacy in one fell swoop?

January 17, 2006 11:11 AM

I would like to travel and I recently realized that my wardrobe leaves much to be desired. I have read here that it is possible for a man to travel to an Asian country such as India or Thailand and have a suit of reasonable quality tailored for but a fraction of what an equivalent in the United States would cost. If it is indeed possible, how should I go about doing this?

For example, how can I find a tailor in another country? Provided I am able to find one, what should I do to prepare? What would be some good locations or times to consider? Would my inability to speak any language other than English make this impractical?

posted by davidriley to travel & transportation (13 comments total)

I wouldn't bother. In my experience, the work seems great at the time, back back at home it doesn't seem quite as good. Also, I'd say that requires a fair amount of familiarity with the place you're traveling - language, knowledge of local tailors, knowledge of local markets, etc. It could become a big hassle. Better to just enjoy the vacation.

If you do decide to do this, I'd say word of mouth is the best method of finding a local tailor. And be careful whose judgment you trust - do they know clothing themselves? Do they own nice suits they've had handmade?

You might consider bringing a suit you like already, and having it copied in other fabrics. Or you could bring photographs/catalogue clippings of suits you'd like to have made.

You'd need to get fabric. Part of the cost-saving would be buying it overseas - for that you'd need to go to the markets, or fabric shops, or you could have someone buy it for you, but then you'd spend more money and possibly get questionable quality. In India you would want to barter - not sure if that's true for other parts. Bartering would be hard without local language, but not impossible. Wherever you go, you could ask around and find out what the typical markup is in a particular market/shop for people like you. Then calculate what the price should be, and use bartering skills to try to get the price lowered to that amount. You may need to barter with the tailor too - depends where you are, I'd imagine, and the tailor's typical clientele. You might want to bring fabric with you - especially if you want heavier weight wool, for example. Don't get linen - wrinkles too much - or polyester - tacky looking. Could get some sort of a blend.

Sorry to be such a downer. I think having clothing made can be lots of fun, but it seems best to do if you're living in the country and have some ease getting around.
posted by Amizu at 11:25 AM on January 17, 2006

You don't have to necessarily travel for this. Search here for 'bespoke' or follow the link from the article when I wrote about it.
posted by phearlez at 11:38 AM on January 17, 2006

Hong Kong tailors can come to you. You go there and get measured for a true bespoke suit and receive it in the mail when it is ready.
posted by Cool Alex at 11:47 AM on January 17, 2006

This is a bit of a random response, but something that came to mind as I was reading your post. If you're traveling for enough time that diet changes cause you to lose some weight, be very careful about the sizes of clothing you buy. I basically purchased a new wardrobe when I was in India, only to find out upon returning that none of the shirts would ever fit me again.
posted by VulcanMike at 11:47 AM on January 17, 2006

doh! phearlez beat me to it
posted by Cool Alex at 11:48 AM on January 17, 2006

I just came back from a trip to SE Asia - and believe me, there are tailors *everywhere* in the centre of Saigon keen for your business. The hotel had one, the place next door to the hotel had one... I was quoted $200 for a made-to-measure suit, ready in 48 hours. Which doesn't seem bad.

Until you go to Hong Kong. Grab a tourist map from the airport tourism counter, and it's littered with adverts from tailors promising even cheaper prices.

I wouldn't necessarily travel all the way out there *just* to get a suit, but hey, if you happen to be out there...
posted by badlydubbedboy at 11:54 AM on January 17, 2006

Same experience as badlydubbedboy but in Bombay; I got two suits (two pants each), a sport jacket and five shirts, all tailor made for about 300 pounds.

I've never had a tailor made suit before, and it fits you like a glove! I didn't realise that off the rack jackets tugged at my shoulders like they do.

My tailor got the suits done in 48 hours. He could do 24 and 2 hour service as well, for increasing premiums. Since I was in Bombay for about three weeks (nice, long holiday) I went for standard service.

Best of all, they've kept my measurements and I've made arrangements to get a couple shirts, etc every month until I replace my business wardrobe.

My guy had a big book of styles, and I got to pick out both the material and the lining. I'd say shop around, get a few quotes on cost / time and go for it! I won't go back to off the rack.
posted by Mutant at 12:09 PM on January 17, 2006

I would also recommend getting a suit tailored on vacation, as it is a fantastic way to remember a trip.
posted by dobie at 12:22 PM on January 17, 2006

My brother had a suit made at this place in Bangkok and was very pleased with the results. He got a suit, trousers and 5 shirts for GBP250, which is not cheap but the quality is apparently good.

There's also a USA Today article about them.
posted by ciaron at 1:53 PM on January 17, 2006 [1 favorite]

I had a silk suit made in Thailand. It cost about $100, was shiny, and seemed to impress everybody.
posted by Astro Zombie at 3:48 PM on January 17, 2006 [1 favorite]

I am surprised anyone is suggesting you don't get a suit made! While I am sure they don't measure up to a Saville Row bespoke suit the suits I have had made on three separate occasions in Banhkok have been of excellent quality, much better than an off-the-rack suit from a department store in Australia. They had little features like multiple inside pockets, a coin pocket in the trousers, full lining and other details that seem to have disappered from average suits in the stores.
As for prices, it has been three or four years but I was paying about $75 a suit with 2 pairs of trousers.
There is no need to barter or haggle in a marketplace, the tailors I used all had hundreds of bolts of cloth in their fitting rooms, with a range that included Italian and English pinstripe wools through to hideous microfibre.
I just turned up, asking to get done in 72 hours and it wasn't a problem. If you are organised, bring some magazine clippings or similar of styles you like, but the tailor will have fashion magazines and similar for you to look through. I was measured when I walked in, returned the next morning for a fitting, the the next morning for a final fitting and any alterations and to pick up the suit.
For this repeated visiting I would suggest choosing someone near your accomodation, but even so it only takes 15mins a visit.
Also, consider the added weight and bulk of a few suits, and don't get them till you are on your way home. I can also recommend handmade shirts, but caution you against the neck-ties. These are too seasonal to get something in fashion.
The tailors I used promised to keep my measurements on file should I wish to order more by mail-order, but I haven't done so. The only one whose name I can remember is Munich tailors in Bangkok, and only because they stitched a label in my jackets, but I had no issue with the other tailors either.
If you need to wear suits I reckon the savings pay for a week's stopover at an Asian destination.
posted by bystander at 4:02 PM on January 17, 2006 [1 favorite]

Hong Kong is the best in terms of quality and knocking off designer fashions to a T. If you're going elsewhere look for ads, ask your hotel concierge, etc. Make sure you scope out a couple of places first. While the quality is generally good and the prices are cheap, you'll have the thing for a long time and you want to get the best possible everything.
posted by b_thinky at 5:51 PM on January 17, 2006

My dad and brother got phenomenal bespoke suits here in Seoul, and I got one myself not long ago. At about $300 per (with zegna fabric or somesuch) they are cheap and very well made. My second fitting was so impressive - a dude with 40 yrs experience and a signed thank you from Walter Cronkite on the wall was all over every seam, giving literally millimeter tweaks. The suite wears very well.

So a vote for Corea.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 4:24 AM on January 18, 2006