Hello everyone, and welcome to another of my reviews. In this article, I’ll review a new suit commission from the Bangkok tailor Bangrak Bespoke Tailor.
As its name suggests, Bangrak Bespoke Tailor is located in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district, home to iconic hotels such as Mandarin Oriental and Shangri-La, and just a stone’s throw from the bustling Silom area. The tailor came recommended by several friends and readers, including AIA insurance agents and doctors who have had their suits made here. Intrigued by their recommendations and a perfect Google rating backed by over 300 reviews, I decided it was time to see what the fuss was about. Does Bangrak Bespoke Tailor live up to the hype? Let’s find out.
Bangrak Bespoke Tailor – the Video
For hands-on footage of my experience with Bangrak Bespoke Tailor, do watch the YouTube video below:
Bangrak Bespoke Tailor – the Experience
As mentioned earlier, Bangrak Bespoke Tailor is situated in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district, towards the end of Silom Road. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Saphan Taksin BTS station, though I’d recommend taking a GrabBike for convenience, especially if you’re coming from nearby attractions such as ICONSIAM or Talat Noi.
Situated at a busy intersection, the shop is easy to spot thanks to its wood-panelled facade, prominently emblazoned with the words “Bangrak Bespoke” in bold lettering.
The first thing that caught my eye was the collection of airline stickers plastered across the store’s entrance. Later, I asked Ram, the owner of Bangrak Bespoke Tailor, about their story. He explained that when he first started the business, European pilots on layovers in Bangkok would drop by to have suits made. Word of mouth soon spread from one airline to another, and to this day, pilots from more than six airlines have commissioned garments from Bangrak Bespoke Tailor.
Step inside, and you’ll find a well-renovated, contemporary space that strikes a balance between cosy and upscale. As with many Bangkok tailors, the showroom is lined from floor to ceiling with rolls of fabric in a wide variety of colours, textures and patterns.
If you still can’t find something you like among the fabric rolls, Bangrak Bespoke Tailor also offers an extensive range of fabric books.
Upon entering the shop, I was warmly greeted by Ram, who oversees operations at Bangrak Bespoke Tailor. While the current premises are relatively new, Ram has been running the brand for over 15 years, backed by more than two decades of experience in the tailoring industry. Interestingly, he began our consultation by presenting some of his most premium fabric books, featuring Italian mills such as VBC, Marzoni and Drago.
However, these premium fabrics start at 20,000 THB. Since this was my first commission with Bangrak Bespoke Tailor, I wanted to explore more wallet-friendly options. Ram promptly introduced me to a selection of stretch-wool blends from Lord & Taylor, with the pinstripe collection immediately catching my eye. Starting at 12,000 THB (approximately S$458), these fabrics offer a more accessible entry point without breaking the bank.
Given the relatively accessible price point, Bangrak Bespoke Tailor keeps these fabrics in full rolls at the store. Sensing my interest in the pinstripe collection, Ram promptly brought down two rolls for me (one in charcoal grey and another in navy) to examine up close.
To help me visualise how each fabric would look when worn, Ram draped both options over my shoulders. After comparing the two, I found myself gravitating towards the navy pinstripe, as the charcoal grey felt a little too mature for my taste. I also suggested turning the navy fabric into a double-breasted suit, a direction Ram readily agreed with.
With the suiting fabric settled, we moved on to the shirting options. Bangrak Bespoke Tailor stocks an extensive selection of shirting fabrics in full rolls, with even more choices available in its fabric books.
Given our decision to go with a navy pinstripe double-breasted suit, Ram recommended a classic white shirt to complement the look. It was a straightforward choice, and one I readily agreed with.
Next, Ram turned his attention to the lining, gesturing towards an extensive selection of rolls displayed along the wall. He mentioned that even more options were available in the lining books, though the variety on display was already more than sufficient to choose from.
Most of the lining rolls were polyester, so I asked Ram if he had anything more premium up his sleeve. He promptly brought out a roll of grey paisley Bemberg lining — the first time I’d encountered Bemberg offered in a full roll. For the uninitiated, Bemberg is the proprietary name for a type of cupro fabric produced by Japanese manufacturer Asahi Kasei. Renowned for its breathability, durability and silky-smooth hand feel, it is widely regarded as a premium lining material used by luxury labels such as Boss, Armani and Zegna. Personally, Bemberg is a fabric I typically associate with higher-end tailoring houses, so finding it at Bangrak Bespoke Tailor was a pleasant surprise. Needless to say, the grey paisley lining was an easy choice.
With the fabrics settled, it was time to turn our attention to the buttons. Much like its fabric selection, Bangrak Bespoke Tailor offers an extensive range of buttons in various shades, finishes and materials. Ram suggested opting for horn buttons for a classic, understated look, or metal buttons for something a little more distinctive. Having already commissioned several pinstripe double-breasted suits, I wanted this piece to have its own character. After some deliberation, I settled on an aged metal button (BB6 in the photo above), which struck the right balance between visual interest and restraint. I briefly toyed with the idea of gold buttons for a full-on “Sanji” look, but ultimately decided that the aged finish would offer greater versatility.
For the shirt buttons, I opted for grey mother-of-pearl buttons to complement the greyish metal buttons for the suit.
With the buttons settled, Jyothi, Ram’s sister, took over the remainder of the consultation. To my surprise, she brought out an iPad featuring a handy visual guide to the various suit customisations, covering everything from fit and vents to pocket styles. Having visited countless tailors in Bangkok, I found this a first for me. While these details might be second nature to seasoned tailoring enthusiasts, they can be overwhelming for first-time customers. The visual guide makes it easier to understand the available options and make informed decisions. It’s a thoughtful touch that demonstrates Bangrak Bespoke Tailor’s commitment to enhancing the customer experience, and one I certainly appreciated.
As a seasoned tailoring customer, I was familiar with most of the customisation options, so we breezed through this part of the consultation. For the suit, I opted for a classic British cut with a traditional 6×2 double-breasted configuration. To complement the double-breasted silhouette, I went with wider peak lapels, functional sleeve buttons and double vents at the back. For the trousers, I stuck with my usual preference for side-adjusters, but opted to go without pleats or turn-ups this time. The result would be a cleaner, more contemporary look to balance the suit’s otherwise classic British styling.
With the customisation details finalised, Ram stepped in to take my measurements, relying primarily on the traditional measuring tape. As the process was fairly straightforward and typical of custom tailoring, I’ll spare you the finer details here.
That said, Ram’s experience was evident from the outset. Having likely measured thousands of clients over the years, he approached the process with a quiet confidence and assured precision that spoke volumes about his decades in the tailoring industry.
The next day, I returned to Bangrak Bespoke Tailor for the basted fitting. For those unfamiliar with the process, a basted fitting involves trying on a skeletal version of the jacket, held together with temporary white basting stitches. To learn more about the basted fitting, read this educational article here. Personally, I believe that a basted fitting is essential to a true tailoring experience. To quote a line from the article mentioned above: “It’s the difference between flying first class and flying on a private jet.
My first impressions of the basted fitting jacket were encouraging. The shoulders sat cleanly with good structure, an especially important consideration for a double-breasted suit, while the tapered silhouette created a flattering V-shaped torso. Both the jacket and shirt lengths were also spot on from the outset. I was particularly pleased with the wide peak lapels, which lent the jacket a stronger presence and nicely complemented its double-breasted styling.
Thereafter, Ram attached the sleeves to the basted jacket—a common practice among Thai tailors that allows the sleeve pitch to be fine-tuned for optimal fit and balance.
As seen in the photo above, this approach allowed Ram to fine-tune the sleeve pitch from the very first fitting. The jacket also draped reasonably well across the back, especially for an initial fitting. However, Ram noticed some slight pulling around the waist and assured me that he would let out the area to improve the fit.
Ram also recommended taking in the trousers slightly for a slimmer, more contemporary silhouette. After giving it some thought, I decided to follow his advice. Given the suit’s bold double-breasted design and distinctive metal buttons, I felt a trimmer cut would better complement its more striking, casual character.
I was particularly impressed by how well the jacket fit at the first fitting. Even the back, which is typically a problem area for me, draped relatively cleanly right from the outset. What makes this all the more remarkable is that the basted fitting jacket was completed in under 24 hours. This speaks volumes about Ram’s expertise during the initial measurements, where he not only took precise measurements but also identified the nuances of my physique and communicated them to his tailors. It was an encouraging first showing of both his technical proficiency and attention to detail.
The next day, I returned to Bangrak Bespoke Tailor to try on the finished suit. As you can see from the photo above, the suit turned out well, and I didn’t feel any further adjustments were necessary. I relayed my thanks to Ram and Jyothi, and promptly collected the suit.
Bangrak Bespoke Tailor – Suit Review
Now that I’m back in Singapore, let’s take a closer look at the suit’s fit and finish.
From the front, the jacket fits well, with cleanly seated shoulders and minimal wrinkling throughout. Notably, there’s no visible bunching beneath the shoulders, suggesting that the team at Bangrak Bespoke Tailor accounted for my naturally sloped shoulders during the cutting process. The waist is also nicely tapered, creating a refined, cinched silhouette without looking overly tight. As for the jacket length, it’s spot on, ending just below the thumb bone for a well-proportioned finish.
The sleeve pitch is also well executed, with the sleeves falling naturally from the shoulders while allowing a comfortable range of motion. Even when bending my arms, there’s no noticeable pulling or restriction. The only minor gripe is that the shirt sleeves appear slightly too short, leaving little to no cuff peeking out beneath the jacket sleeves. It’s a small detail, but one that would have added a more polished finish to the overall look.
However, the back’s drape is well executed, especially given my arched back.
While this mixed-wool Lord & Taylor fabric doesn’t quite match the luxurious hand feel of branded, all-wool Italian fabrics, it remains comfortable against the skin and is a noticeable step up from the bargain-basement polyester offerings commonly found at Bangkok tailors. The fabric’s natural stretch also adds a welcome degree of comfort, particularly for a double-breasted suit, which can sometimes feel restrictive.
I’m also pleased with the suit’s sartorial details. Pick stitching along the lapels and pockets adds a touch of refinement, while the built-in pocket square offers a practical flourish. You can also see how Bangrak Bespoke Tailor took the time and effort to align the pinstripes, showcasing attention to detail.
The addition of a ticket pocket, meanwhile, lends the suit a subtle retro character that complements its classic British styling. Again, one can tell that effort has been made to align the pinstripes as best as possible.
The jacket also features functional sleeve buttonholes, commonly known as surgeon cuffs, a hallmark of quality tailoring. The aged metal buttons, meanwhile, feature a three-lion motif commonly associated with English heraldry and the national football team. They add a distinctive touch that contrasts nicely with the navy pinstripe fabric, enhancing the suit’s British character without veering into ostentatious territory.
Inside, the grey paisley Bemberg lining pairs beautifully with the suit’s aged metal buttons, tying the overall aesthetic together. I also appreciate the white piping along the lining’s edges, which echoes the pinstripes on the exterior for a subtle, cohesive touch. To round things off, I opted for a simple monogram of my name, adding a personal touch without overdoing it.
To complete the look, I also opted for grey mother-of-pearl buttons on the shirt, which complement the suit’s aged metal buttons beautifully and tie the overall aesthetic together.
As usual, I opted for side-adjusters over belt loops to maintain a cleaner silhouette. The addition of a tab to the side adjusters was a particularly nice touch, lending them a more refined, sophisticated finish.
In terms of cut, this double-breasted suit is quintessentially British, delivering exactly the silhouette I had in mind. The shoulders are structured and well-padded, with a defined shape and subtle roping that work particularly well with the double-breasted configuration. Relatively high lapels further reinforce its classic British character, while the heavily suppressed waist and padded chest create a more commanding presence.
The result is a structured, architectural silhouette that exudes authority without looking overly stuffy. Combined with the wide peak lapels and navy pinstripe fabric, the suit boasts clean, sharp lines that give it a distinctly sartorial edge.
Conclusion – so Bangrak Bespoke Tailor “shiok” or not?
Overall, I came away highly impressed with Bangrak Bespoke Tailor. From the tastefully renovated showroom to thoughtful touches such as the visual tailoring guide on the iPad, it’s clear that the team has put considerable effort into making the customer experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible. At 12,000 THB (approximately S$458) and with just 48 hours from measurements to completion, the finished suit exceeded my expectations. The fabric was comfortable, the sartorial details added plenty of character, and, most importantly, Ram and his team delivered the classic British cut I had envisioned. Having commissioned several double-breasted suits over the years, I’m no stranger to this particular style. Yet, this piece from Bangrak Bespoke Tailor has managed to distinguish itself from the many suits already hanging in my wardrobe. It strikes the right balance between classic British tailoring and distinctive detailing, and I can see myself reaching for it regularly. For anyone seeking an affordable, well-executed double-breasted suit in Bangkok, Bangrak Bespoke Tailor is certainly worth considering.
Suits at Bangrak Bespoke Tailor start from 7,000 THB (~S$268), while shirts start from 1,200 THB (~S$45). My particular double-breasted suit (from the stretchy, mixed-wool Lord & Taylor fabric series) came in at 12,000 THB (~S$458).
If you’re interested in commissioning a suit or shirt, simply quote the promo code ‘WAHSOSHIOK’ or show this post in-store to enjoy 10% off your total purchase. That brings the starting price of a suit down to just 6,300 THB (~S$230). While the entry-level options are certainly affordable, I’d recommend considering some of Bangrak Bespoke Tailor’s higher-quality fabrics—their selection is particularly impressive, especially if you’re looking for Italian fabrics.
Book your appointment with Bangrak Bespoke Tailor here.
Bangrak Bespoke Tailor’s Location: 1346 Charoen Krung 42 Alley, Suriya Wong, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
P.S. Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
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