Designer Clothes

[sieb]

Hi, wondering if anyone can help me? There are a few of us coming to Thailand for the new year.

Does anyone know the best places to go in Bkk for designer clothing ie lacoste/armani/burberry/hugo boss etc.

What kind of price would i be looking to pay for a pair of jeans and a shirt for example from a lacoste shop?

I done a search on this site and read that the prices in Thailand are the same as in the west? Iv spoken o a few people who have been before and they assure me Thailand is MUCH cheaper for designer clothing.

Could anyone give me example prices for some of the designers i have metioned please?

Any info is greatly appreciated, cheers.

[Jockstar]

Why dont you save your money and buy great quality fakes? If you want to buy real stuff. Then i think The Emporium is your best bet. But i might be wrong.

[Bizz]

Why dont you save your money and buy great quality fakes? If you want to buy real stuff. Then i think The Emporium is your best bet. But i might be wrong.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Buy the fakes sell them and buy the real thing, thats the way to save money

Lacoste shirt 150tbart sell $15 or 10€ thats some profit.

40-50 shirts thats $450 thats what i call preofit.

[sieb]

Is the good quality fake gear really good then?

Whats the difference in price between really good fake gear and real gear?

[Jockstar]

Alot. An example my friends bought a Luis Vitton(spelling) bag for 3000 baht for copy, Grade A. Real one in shops with toursit discount 27000 baht. Big difference and the quality was excellent.. Other things differ. You just got to shop around

[Bizz]

Is the good quality fake gear really good then?

Whats the difference in price between really good fake gear and real gear?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tshirts great there is a sunday market in bkk cant remember the name or where GF talked to taxi driver, great for fakes.

Sun glasses break but look the real thing belts buy only leather and Lacoste 150tbart

[Jockstar]

Tshirts great there is a sunday market in bkk cant remember the name or where GF talked to taxi driver

There a weekend market near Mo Chit BTS. Its called Chatachak Market. you can get copies of just about anything there. KHao San rd can also be good for some fake stuff. But i reckon Chatachak is way better for choice.

[PeaceBlondie]

Let's assume the quality is worse when the price is 20% of the real designer label. If it's the kind of fashion design that goes out of style in a year or two, it doesn't matter. A good men's suit that will never be out of style (black, pin striped, etc.) - yeah, go ahead and pay US$1,800 for it, and then get the Lamborghini Murcielago to match it, and then everybody will know for sure that you're not old money.

[PvtDick]

Let's assume the quality is worse when the price is 20% of the real designer label.  If it's the kind of fashion design that goes out of style in a year or two, it doesn't matter.  A good men's suit that will never be out of style (black, pin striped, etc.) - yeah, go ahead and pay US$1,800 for it, and then get the Lamborghini Murcielago to match it, and then everybody will know for sure that you're not old money.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I may be biased, but the fake designer stuff is very fake. I can spot a fake Lacoste at twenty paces. A genuine Lacoste shirt here is about $30. Much cheaper than in Europe. The fakes are about $4, and about 80% worse quality. Take your pick.

[sieb]

so will I find good quality gear in the shopping malls or just head for the markets?

for good quality gear then its about 150 baht for a shirt?

and the same shirt, but a real one would cost how much?

Just trying to get an idea of prices so I know how much to budget for clothes!

thanks again.

[dugdig]

Jinny Leather in Silom Village used to have top quality leather copies but did not put labels in them....good leather, good construction, no label.

[sieb]

I may be biased, but the fake designer stuff is very fake.  I can spot a fake Lacoste at twenty paces.  A genuine Lacoste shirt here is about $30.  Much cheaper than in Europe.  The fakes are about $4, and about 80% worse quality.  Take your pick.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So you think about US$30 for a genuine lacoste shirt? If thats all its gonna cost I wouldnt even think about buying fake stuff.

and how much for a pair of lacoste/armani jeans for example?

Thanks again, as i said earlier, I am just trying to get a grasp of how much I will spend on clothes.

[PvtDick]

I may be biased, but the fake designer stuff is very fake.  I can spot a fake Lacoste at twenty paces.  A genuine Lacoste shirt here is about $30.  Much cheaper than in Europe.  The fakes are about $4, and about 80% worse quality.  Take your pick.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So you think about US$30 for a genuine lacoste shirt? If thats all its gonna cost I wouldnt even think about buying fake stuff.

and how much for a pair of lacoste/armani jeans for example?

Thanks again, as i said earlier, I am just trying to get a grasp of how much I will spend on clothes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, $30 for a genuine polo shirt at any Lacoste boutique (there's one in the Emporium, and one at Siam Discovery, for example) or major department store (Central, etc.). I don't know how much for Lacoste jeans -- never seen them, to tell you the truth. There is an Armani A/X shop at Siam Discovery, but I'm not sure what the prices are there.

[sieb]

Thats fine then, thanks for your help!

[ProfessorFart]

My missus reckoned that some of the fake stuff she got a Chatuchak was indistinguishable from the real thing.

I also heard from a fairly reliable source that a lot of this designer gear (most of which is made in Asia) finds its way out of the back door and into markets.

Personally I wouldn't know a Lacoste from a lump of shit and don't care! I think anyone who pays silly money for clothing just for a label is a fool.

[PvtDick]

My missus reckoned that some of the fake stuff she got a Chatuchak was indistinguishable from the real thing.

I also heard from a fairly reliable source that a lot of this designer gear (most of which is made in Asia) finds its way out of the back door and into markets.

Personally I wouldn't know a Lacoste from a lump of shit and don't care! I think anyone who pays silly money for clothing just for a label is a fool.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you don't care about labels, why are you out there looking for fake Lacoste? Why not buy a no-name shirt, or one with a local brand?

And the "back door" theory is an urban legend. The fake stuff on the streets is 100% fake, from sweatshops employing 14 year-old kids.

[ProfessorFart]

If you don't care about labels, why are you out there looking for fake Lacoste? Why not buy a no-name shirt, or one with a local brand?

You can't be much of a private dick if you can't even read a sentence properly.

Where did I say I went looking for fake Lacoste?

And the "back door" theory is an urban legend. The fake stuff on the streets is 100% fake, from sweatshops employing 14 year-old kids.

Nonsense! Its all made in so called sweatshops!

The chance of merchandise finding its way out of the back door hepled by an unscrupulous factory owner would seem a high one.

[PvtDick]

If you don't care about labels, why are you out there looking for fake Lacoste? Why not buy a no-name shirt, or one with a local brand?

You can't be much of a private dick if you can't even read a sentence properly.

Where did I say I went looking for fake Lacoste?

And the "back door" theory is an urban legend. The fake stuff on the streets is 100% fake, from sweatshops employing 14 year-old kids.

Nonsense! Its all made in so called sweatshops!

The chance of merchandise finding its way out of the back door hepled by an unscrupulous factory owner would seem a high one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I apologize. You must know better than I -- someone who has spent the better part of the last 20 years doing this stuff -- do.

[ProfessorFart]

I apologize. You must know better than I -- someone who has spent the better part of the last 20 years doing this stuff -- do.

Doing what stuff exactly? Hanging around every 'sweatshop' in South East Asia making sure nothings being lifted?

[HarryHacker]

So...Mr. Pvt Dick, who makes the branded garments? Do the brands actually own factories here in Thailand or do they sub the work out to independent factories? What happens to the extras, known as cabbage?

I have noticed sometimes you really speak nonsense at times.

You can not say ALL copies are crap and ALL the real stuff is better. You know jacksh*t about clothing, all you are is a grass and leech.

[PvtDick]

I apologize. You must know better than I -- someone who has spent the better part of the last 20 years doing this stuff -- do.

Doing what stuff exactly? Hanging around every 'sweatshop' in South East Asia making sure nothings being lifted?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Investigating the source of counterfeit products that appear on the streets of Asia.

There are, of course, cases of back door leaks, over-production, and B-grades. But you will not find those products in Chatuchak market for 150 baht -- that's below the production cost for a real item. It's impossible. You might find them sold as genuine at places like Export Shop or Factory Outlet, for perhaps 50% under genuine retail. But not on a street stall or in a market in Bangkok for 90% under retail.

[PvtDick]

So...Mr. Pvt Dick, who makes the branded garments? Do the brands actually own factories here in Thailand or do they sub the work out to independent factories? What happens to the extras, known as cabbage?

I have noticed sometimes you really speak nonsense at times.

You can not say ALL copies are crap and ALL the real stuff is better. You know jacksh*t about clothing, all you are is a grass and leech.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was actually going to respond to your post, until you unnecessarily insulted me in the last sentence.

[HarryHacker]

So...Mr. Pvt Dick, who makes the branded garments? Do the brands actually own factories here in Thailand or do they sub the work out to independent factories? What happens to the extras, known as cabbage?

I have noticed sometimes you really speak nonsense at times.

You can not say ALL copies are crap and ALL the real stuff is better. You know jacksh*t about clothing, all you are is a grass and leech.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was actually going to respond to your post, until you unnecessarily insulted me in the last sentence.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Up 2 U sweetheart!

[ProfessorFart]

But you will not find those products in Chatuchak market for 150 baht -- that's below the production cost for a real item. It's impossible. You might find them sold as genuine at places like Export Shop or Factory Outlet, for perhaps 50% under genuine retail. But not on a street stall or in a market in Bangkok for 90% under retail.

How is it under production cost for the real item? Three points here;

1) Surely the whole reason for using factories in Asia is to make these things cheaply and sell for vast profit in the west?

2) Surely the main contractor, and not the manufacturer, pays for materials; therefore the only cost he incurs is for his labour, which can be no different to him in cost be they making diamond studded shirts of crap 1$ tee shirts?

3) What is the scale of difference in quality of material between a fake and the real McCoy? I'd hazard a guess at not that much.

[HarryHacker]

Hey Pvt Dick, I apologise....not really talking about you specifically, but people like you.

[PvtDick]

"People like me"? What exactly is meant by that?

Anyway, Professor -- production costs include a lot more than cloth, thread, buttons, and labels. Take into account labor costs, factory overheads, tax...and don't forget profit. If you're talking about only labor costs, and not taking into account anyone making any profit, yes -- you could produce a very high quality facsimile for a few bucks or less.

But in the real world, you have to buy the raw materials, machinery, premises, electricity, and transport, and of course pay taxes. Then, each set of hands the item passes through has to make a profit.

If an item is on sale at a stall for 150 baht, chances are it has been marked up between 30 - 50% from the vendor's purchase price from the wholesaler. The wholesaler has in turn marked up 10-20% on the factory price. And the factory owner is looking at 5-10% minimum on his investment as well.

Add it all up, and the production cost of an item being sold on the street for 150 baht is closer to 50 baht. There's no way a legitimate manufacturer -- i.e., one that might be contracted or licensed by a designer -- is going to fool around making fakes for that kind of money.

Sweatshops can do it of course, but then again they use inferior materials, pay their workers less than minimum wages, utilize sub-standard, unsafe facilities, and don't pay taxes.

[Khutan]

Let me add something here, since I do this every day, after you have paid a few thousand to a designer, only to find they have 90% copied a design (rip-off, fake ?? who knows) and you select export material etc etc get your own accessories made and of course pay your own QC crew, a run of 5000 jeans, you will be lucky to land them in Farang Lang for less than $15-

Of course you will find "Domestic" quality clothing for lots less, I can get a $400- usd pair of jeans copied and landed for less than $2-, but particularlyin fashion, you will ruin your name in no time.

[PvtDick]

So, mattnich, as someone in the apparel business, how would you rate the quality of the fake famous-brand clothing you see for sale on the streets of Thailand? I mean, in comparison to the genuine article.

Is the snob factor unduly influencing me when I think I can discern a significant difference in quality between a genuine Lacoste polo shirt and a 150 baht Bangkok knock-off? How about those awful fake polyester footbal jerseys that many farangs seem to love? Or the "Armani" jeans?

[LaoPo]

LaCoste, or any other brand......

I have never understood why anyone would like to walk around with

an OBVIOUS brand on his chest and pay a lot of money for it...

for a product which is made in China, Bangladesh, Indonesia for really peanuts...

and than pay a lot of money in any other country.

AND......at the same time you look like a fool...because you'r not paid to walk around making promotion for the "very rich owners" of these products!

Who's laughing here?

Now, please, use your brain.

Instead buy another product without such a brand, fake or not, locally made, so at least you help the locals, even if it is just a little.

[HarryHacker]

"People like me"?  What exactly is meant by that?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"people like me"? In this instance, people who come to Thailand, take the moral high ground and profit out of other peoples misery. People who will go to a bar and eardrop a private conversation, people who snoop, people who snitch, people that will try to find a vendor selling fake garments doing no one any harm at all. People and American Law firms who PRETEND to be working with the brands but in fact are working hand in hand with the police to make money out of manufacturers, retailers and I dare say the odd farang trying to export some of this stuff, using bully boy tactics.

Very few of these cases end up in the court at Phayathai as a CASH settlement has been accepted between the parties concerned, none of the money goes back to the brand owner.

So, if not you, people like you are nothing more than modern day bounty hunters, which IMHO spoil Thailand.