Hello everyone, and welcome to another of my reviews. In this article, I’ll review a new suit commission from the Bangkok tailor Jacob Bespoke Tailor.
I travel to Bangkok at least twice a year, and on each visit I make it a point to try a new tailor—particularly those with consistently strong Google reviews. On this trip, I came across Jacob Bespoke Tailor, who boasts a perfect 5.0 rating across more than 300 Google reviews. Naturally, I was curious to see if it lived up to the hype, so here’s how my experience went.
Jacob Bespoke Tailor – Video
If you’re interested in seeing some hands-on footage of my experience with Jacob Bespoke Tailors, do watch the YouTube video below:
Jacob Bespoke Tailor – the Experience
Jacob Bespoke Tailor is located along Sukhumvit Road, about an 8-minute walk from Phrom Phong BTS station (where you can also find popular malls such as EmSphere, EmQuartier, and Emporium).
The store has a rather large facade, so it’s quite hard to miss.
The showroom is spacious—among the largest I’ve visited in Bangkok—with two dedicated seating areas that comfortably accommodate separate groups of guests. It’s a stark contrast to the shoebox-sized showrooms of some of the more affordable Bangkok tailors I’ve reviewed previously.
One of the first things I noticed was the number of garments hanging around the shop, awaiting either basted fittings or final collection. This suggests an established, regular clientele, which is always reassuring.
Beyond the fabric rolls lining the walls, I also noticed a substantial selection of fabric books—another reassuring indication of the breadth of fabrics available at Jacob Bespoke Tailor.
Upon entering the store, I was warmly greeted by Navin, who assisted me throughout the visit. As this was my first commission with Jacob Bespoke Tailor, I explained that I was looking for a relatively affordable fabric (under THB 10,000) in a safe, versatile colour. In response, Navin brought over several fabric options, including a textured medium-grey cloth.
Having commissioned more than a few grey suits in the past, I asked Navin to show me additional options. He responded by bringing out several fabric books, including Vitale Barberis Canonico (VBC). Not all Bangkok tailors carry VBC, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it offered at a relatively affordable tailor like Jacob Bespoke.
As I wasn’t intending to spend more than THB 10,000 on my first suit with Jacob Bespoke, I directed my attention to their more affordable fabric books, where a brown birdseye fabric caught my eye.
Noticing my interest, Navin mentioned that he had the full roll of the fabric available—and added that brown is very much in vogue at the moment—before draping it over me to help visualise the finished suit. I was immediately taken by its retro, vintage character, which felt refreshingly distinct from the safer navy or grey suits I typically commission at more affordable tailors.
With the suiting fabric decided, we moved on to the shirting. Rather than relying on small swatches from fabric books, David brought out full shirting rolls—in shades of pink, blue, and purple—and placed them alongside the brown suiting cloth, making it far easier to visualise the final pairing.
I ultimately settled on a light pink shirting fabric, which I felt would keep the brown birdseye suit from leaning too mature or overly retro.
To give the suit an extra touch of character, I selected a playful lining featuring illuminated colonial buildings under a starry night sky.
With all the selections finalised, we moved on to measurements. From the outset, it was clear that Navin was highly experienced—something he later confirmed, sharing that he has been in the industry for over a decade.
The measurement process at Jacob Bespoke is straightforward and traditional, carried out with a simple measuring tape under Navin’s watchful eye. There’s no reliance on fancy technology—just the time-tested method of manual measurement.
That said, Navin’s approach was notably meticulous and consultative—I observed that he took more measurements than usual and was attentive to my personal preferences throughout the process.
After taking the initial measurements, Navin double-checked the customisation details with me, sketching out elements such as side adjusters, trouser cuffs, and notch lapels. It was a thoughtful, analogue touch that nicely complements the inherently anachronistic nature of bespoke tailoring.
After two days, I returned to Jacob Bespoke for my 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.”
This time, I was joined by Ganesh, who oversaw the basted fitting. This division of roles is fairly common among Bangkok tailors, with one person handling the initial consultation and another specialising in fittings. Here, Ganesh can be seen attaching the sleeve to the jacket separately during the basted fitting, allowing him to fine-tune the sleeve pitch for the best possible result.
That said, Navin did not step aside entirely. He remained involved throughout the basted fitting, drawing on his familiarity with my initial measurements to help Ganesh pinpoint areas that required adjustment.
In my case, the familiar issue was my arched back. The Jacob Bespoke team addressed this by carefully pinning the back of the jacket and working methodically to achieve the cleanest, smoothest drape possible.
Two days later, I returned to Jacob Bespoke to collect the finished suit. Notably, it features a half-lined construction—an ideal choice for the humid climates of Bangkok and Singapore.
I tried on the finished suit and, satisfied with the fit, told Navin that I was happy to collect it and bring it back to Singapore.
Jacob Bespoke Tailors – Suit Review
Now that I’m back in Singapore, let’s take a closer look at the suit.
The jacket fits impeccably from the front, with shoulders that sit cleanly and free of wrinkles. Notably, there are no creases beneath the shoulder line—a testament to Jacob Bespoke’s precise accommodation of my naturally sloping shoulders. The suit drapes effortlessly, presenting a clean front with minimal creasing. The waist is subtly tapered for a refined, cinched silhouette, while the jacket length is spot on, finishing just below the thumb bone.
The sleeve pitch is well-tailored, letting the sleeves hang smoothly with minimal creasing. The length is precise, revealing just half an inch of the shirt cuff (and the cuff monogram).
The drape of the back is good, though admittedly not perfect, as there are still some visible wrinkles along the right upper back.
Turning to the fabric, the brown mixed-wool birdseye cloth is striking, balancing retro vintage charm with visual impact. The subtle birdseye pattern, paired with the wide notch lapels, lends the suit a distinctive sophistication. Thoughtful details, such as the integrated pocket square, further highlight the suit’s practical yet considered approach.
For the buttons, we kept things understated, choosing brown for a subtle, tone-on-tone effect. The only drawback is that the cuffs aren’t functional, which is a slight disappointment.
However, the buttons are shanked, which enhances their durability—usually an indication of quality craftsmanship.
Inside, the playful, fantasy-inspired lining injects a whimsical touch into an otherwise mature suit. Subtle piping along the edges also serves as a quiet nod to careful craftsmanship. To complete the look, I chose a restrained interior monogram in contrasting yellow, adding a personalised yet understated detail.
As always, I opted for side adjusters on my trousers for a cleaner look.
Overall, I’m impressed with the brown birdseye suit I commissioned from Jacob Bespoke—it feels like something straight out of a Mad Men episode. The restrained retro aesthetic is a refreshing departure from the cookie-cutter styles often offered by more affordable Thai tailors, while thoughtful details, such as the whimsical lining, keep the look from feeling dated. It’s a suit full of character—something rarely found at this price point.
As for Jacob Bespoke’s house style, I would say that it leans more British, similar to that of Narry Bespoke Tailors which I’ve just reviewed. The cut is classic, with a silhouette that provides enough comfort without looking like a sack suit.
Conclusion – so Jacob Bespoke Tailors “shiok” or not?
While the team (namely Navin and Ganesh) brings decades of experience to the table, Jacob Bespoke is a relatively young brand that was established less than a year ago. For such a newcomer, it’s impressive to see a clear sense of style and a confident command of fit—especially at such an accessible price point. In fact, while wearing the suit, someone approached me to ask if it was a Loro Piana piece, noting that the shortened, wide-notch lapels echoed the Italian atelier’s signature aesthetic. That compliment perfectly sums up Jacob Bespoke: a brand that punches well above its price point and delivers suits that, to put it simply, don’t look cheap.
Suits at Jacob Bespoke Tailor start at 7,000 THB (~S$285), while shirts start at 1,000 THB (~S$41). This particular mixed wool birdseye suit costs 10,000 THB (~S$410). Those interested in commissioning a suit from Jacob Bespoke Tailors can quote the promo code “WAHSOSHIOK” or flash this post at their appointment to receive a free shirt with every suit purchase, as well as a 10% discount off the final purchase price. This dual promotion is only valid till the end of July 2026, so I highly suggest taking advantage of this deal during your next trip to Bangkok.
Book an appointment with Jacob Bespoke Tailors here.
Jacob Bespoke Tailors Location: 748 Soi 30/1 Khlong Tan, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
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P.P.P.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.
