Where to buy luxury brand clothes in Chiang Mai? (2016)

[danish84]

Hi,

I need to pickup some clothes or a bag or something for my wife back home. Perhaps also some clothes for my brother. I'm looking for some "high-end" brands or whatever you call it. Stuff like Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Lacoste, Gucci, Prada, Armani that kind of thing.

It shouldn't be counterfeit, but rather should be the real deal.

I've googled it, but wasn't able to find much. The results mainly gave me night bazaar which only has all the knock-offs and then local thai designer stuff or at best some Levis shop. There was one page that referenced a place called "Punna @ Nimman" or something like that, which claimed to be a shopping center with these kinds of shops. The website seems to have been taken down however.

Anybody know where I could go in CM for brands like the above? Thanks a lot for any hints!

Edited January 20, 2016 by danish84

[naboo]

Lacoste have a store 100yds south of Pantip Plaza on Chan Klan Road. Most high end designer stuff is in Central Festival.

Not sure why you would buy it here though, prices considerably higher than back home.

[Oscar2]

buy it at home. as said you will pay considerably more - i mean a lot more than in Europe, America, etc.

[danish84]

Wow really, the prices are higher? I don't shop much of this kind of stuff, but I thought with tax refund the prices would be at least comparable to Europe if not a bit cheaper.

Anyways cheers for the tip mate, I wasn't aware of Central festival. I'll check it out for sure and I anyway need to visit Pantip, so I'll probably drop into the Lacoste shop as well.

[sharktooth]

Luxury goods are priced ridiculously here... from handbags, to golf clubs, you will get humped. Cheaper at home, wherever on the planet our home may be.

[alfieconn]

Wow really, the prices are higher? I don't shop much of this kind of stuff, but I thought with tax refund the prices would be at least comparable to Europe if not a bit cheaper.

Anyways cheers for the tip mate, I wasn't aware of Central festival. I'll check it out for sure and I anyway need to visit Pantip, so I'll probably drop into the Lacoste shop as well.

In Robinson they have an Armani dept.

[MESmith]

I guess the tax refund for tourists is just the VAT, not the import tax

[true blue]

there is at least a 50% mark up on clothes imported to los.not actually designer shop but went to marks and sparks in festival last week bought a fleece 60quid went on there web site 30 quid same fleece in uk

Edited January 20, 2016 by true blue

[danish84]

Just came back from Central Festival. Holy shit you guys weren't kidding, pricing was absolutely ridiculous. A potential tax refund in Bangkok would only be like 5% or something in VAT, so for sure not even close to being worth it.

I'll take the advice and skip the fashion purchases until back home. Thanks a lot for all the answers! Take care.

[Hugh Jarse]

Just came back from Central Festival. Holy shit you guys weren't kidding, pricing was absolutely ridiculous. A potential tax refund in Bangkok would only be like 5% or something in VAT, so for sure not even close to being worth it.

I'll take the advice and skip the fashion purchases until back home. Thanks a lot for all the answers! Take care.

Better still, give wifey an envelope stuffed with some £50's!

[NancyL]

Instead bring them some fine handcrafted Thai products.

[true blue]

not as nice as a pair of Armani jeans though.

[richard_smith237]

Apple products are cheaper than EU....

[cyberfarang]

buy it at home. as said you will pay considerably more - i mean a lot more than in Europe, America, etc.

A friend recently came over on holiday from England. He was amazed to find how much more expensive clothes are in Thailand compared to the UK.

There are cheap clothes to be had here, from the markets and bigger stores, but these are usually of substandard quality, after one or two washes the dye fades, they shrink or they go out of shape. Actually living in Thailand I can get away with wearing a pair of shorts and a wife beater vest on most days that I don`t go out, but I wouldn`t even consider buying high branded clothing in Thailand.

[Ricardo]

Or just go for the counterfeits & knock-offs, at least you won't have blown much money on them ?

I recall having a Thai street-trader assure me, giving every sign of believing it, that 'Crocodile of Thailand' was the real brand-name, and Lacoste was just a foreign counterfeit of it !

[alfieconn]

buy it at home. as said you will pay considerably more - i mean a lot more than in Europe, America, etc.

A friend recently came over on holiday from England. He was amazed to find how much more expensive clothes are in Thailand compared to the UK.

There are cheap clothes to be had here, from the markets and bigger stores, but these are usually of substandard quality, after one or two washes the dye fades, they shrink or they go out of shape. Actually living in Thailand I can get away with wearing a pair of shorts and a wife beater vest on most days that I don`t go out, but I wouldn`t even consider buying high branded clothing in Thailand.

Was that a designer one ?