Why has having clothes made in Thailand become so popular?
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 Thailand, a top quality Handmade 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.
