Having clothes tailor-made in Asia

One of the benefits of being an expatriate in or having a business trip to Asia is the availability and cost effectiveness of having clothes custom tailored rather than buying off the rack. This is especially true if your trip takes you to Bangkok, Hong Kong and increasingly mainland China. However, with so many tailors to choose from, finding a reputable tailor who will tailor you a new set of clothes that won’t fall apart after the first dry cleaning or wash is always easier said than done.

Hence, here are some of the pitfalls to avoid and some tips to follow when choosing a tailor on your next business trip to Asia:

• First of all, do not just walk into the first tailor shop (especially in tourist districts) you see as their owners and sales people are adept at spotting and seducing foreign tourists.
• Furthermore, NEVER use a tailor recommended by a taxi cab or tuk tuk driver or even a tour guide or hotel staff as they no doubt are receiving a commission on the referral.
• Instead, do research, research, and more research before you arrive. A good source of information for reputable tailors are up-to-date upscale travel magazines that recommend specific shops to visit.
• Furthermore, reputable blogs and travel sites on the internet with customer reviews posted are another helpful source of information. However, many of these sites or customer reviews may be no better than asking that tuk tuk or taxi driver for advice.
• Hence, your best source of accurate and up-to-date information would be to ask where other expats (who are long term residents in your destination) or local business acquaintances as to where they have their clothes tailored (and be sure to drop their names when you go visit the shop so the tailor knows you are not just another visiting tourist).
• Also, completely avoid the shops that are offering deals that just seem to good to be true. Most likely, they are using fabrics that are poor in quality and the quality of the overall tailoring will be low.
• And once you have selected a tailor, be sure that you have enough time on your trip to have alterations made if you are not completely satisfied with the results. A reputable tailor who wants you business (and referrals) in the future will be more than happy to make the necessary alterations to your satisfaction.

And remember: If you are female, choosing the right tailor in Asia can be more daunting as many tailors (in Bangkok for example) are more accustomed to tailoring business attire for men rather than for women. A reputable tailor will turn away your business while a not so reputable one will be more than happy to tailor you that new blouse or outfit but you may not be completely satisfied with the style or fit. Hence, it would be a good idea to ask local female expats where they go to have their blouses and business attire tailored.

Keeping the above tips and pitfalls in mind will greatly aid you when selecting a tailor on your next business trip to Asia.