Lots of people want a suit made while they’re travelling but only have a few days. That’s doable, and a few tailors will even finish one in 24 hours. Timing still matters, though. When you first walk into a bangkok tailor decides how many fittings you’ll get before your flight, and fittings are what make the suit fit.
How Long Does It Actually Take?
Depends on the shop and how busy it is. Same-day and next-day suits exist, and they’re handy in a pinch. One to three days from measuring to collection is more usual, with at least one fitting in between.
More days generally means more chances to get it right. A suit tried on twice will usually beat one checked once on the way out of the door.
Go Early in the Trip
Easiest way to get a better suit: go on day one or two, not the afternoon before you leave. That leaves room for measuring, a first fitting, changes, maybe a second fitting, and a bit of slack if something’s off.
Leave it till the end and the tailor has to rush everything, with no time to fix mistakes.
Choosing Styles Without Wasting Time
The first appointment can drag on, because there’s a lot to pick: cloth, colour, lapels, buttons, pockets, how slim or relaxed the fit should be. Turn up with two or three photos of suits you like and a rough idea of how formal it needs to be, and things move much faster.
You can also just ask what they’d suggest. Experienced tailors have a sensible default for a first suit, and it saves agonising over every option.
Fittings at the Hotel and Delivery Home
Some tailors will come to you. After the first visit for measuring and choosing fabric, fittings can sometimes happen back at the hotel at a time that suits. A few will post the finished suit home if you’ve run out of days.
If you’re on a tight schedule, ask any bangkok tailor you’re considering whether they do hotel fittings or delivery, and what shipping costs if it comes to that.
What to Bring
Bring a jacket that already fits you well, since it gives the tailor something to work from. Wear or bring the shoes you’ll wear with the suit, so the trouser length comes out right. And know what it’s for. A wedding suit, a work suit and something for a business trip can lead to quite different choices.
If Time Runs Short
Flights change and plans get squeezed. If it looks like you’ll miss the last fitting, tell them early. They might finish the jacket first, offer to ship it, or suggest you order fewer pieces now and the rest next time. Small tweaks like sleeve length can be done by a tailor at home if needed, but don’t count on it.