Not every Phuket tailor order needs to be a suit. Some of our best-value work is on custom casuals, linen shirts, silk camp collars, cotton chinos, bermuda shorts that actually fit your legs. Here’s what’s available and what it costs.
Custom shirts, the hidden best value
A custom shirt from Patong is genuinely hard to beat on price-to-quality. You choose:
- Collar style, point, spread, button-down, camp, banded.
- Cuff style, single, double (French), convertible.
- Fabric, cotton poplin, cotton twill, linen, silk-cotton blend, seersucker.
- Placket style, regular, hidden, covered.
- Back pleat, none, single, two side pleats.
- Monogram, yes or no, position, colour.
- Buttons, mother-of-pearl, horn, metal.
Turnaround: 3-4 days for two fittings and proper finishing. 2 days for single-fitting.
Price range: THB 2,500-6,500 per shirt depending on fabric.
- Basic cotton poplin: ~THB 2,500
- Premium Italian cotton: ~THB 3,500-4,500
- Linen: ~THB 3,500-5,000
- Silk-cotton blend: ~THB 4,500-6,500
Volume discount: 5+ shirts at once typically drops ~10% per shirt.
Linen shirts for tropical heat
Linen is the king of hot-weather shirting. Custom linen shirt choices:
Camp collar (open collar)
Classic tropical shirt. Button-down with notched collar, short or long sleeves. Worn open at the neck. Popular for beach dinners, Phuket evening walks, outdoor weddings as guest wear.
Classic button-down
More formal. Point or spread collar. Works with chinos or linen trousers.
Guayabera-style
Four-pocket embroidered front, popular in Philippines and Cuba. We don’t do these as standard but can make to order.
Linen colours that work for tropical:
- Natural / oatmeal / ecru (most versatile).
- Pale blue or pale pink (for lighter evening looks).
- Sage green or dusty olive (currently trendy, photograph well).
- White (classic, requires more frequent cleaning).
Bermuda shorts that actually fit
Patong tailors don’t advertise bermuda shorts much, but they’re one of our most satisfying custom products. Off-the-rack shorts rarely fit properly, rise is either too low (for older customers) or too baggy (for younger). Custom bermudas solve this.
Specifications
- Rise, custom to your preference (low, mid, high).
- Length, above knee, at knee, below knee.
- Waist construction, belt loops, side adjusters, or drawstring.
- Pocket configuration, slash pocket, welt pocket, back patch, back welt.
- Fabric, cotton twill, linen, cotton-linen blend, chambray.
Price: THB 2,200-4,500 depending on fabric and detail.
Turnaround: 2-3 days.
Custom chinos
Chinos are a specialist category for Patong tailors. Off-the-rack chinos are size-specific but proportion-standard. Custom ones are cut to your inseam, your rise, your taper.
Options:
- Classic fit (straight leg, traditional rise).
- Slim fit (tapered from thigh to ankle).
- Wide leg (full drape, softer aesthetic).
- Pleated or flat front.
- Cuffed or uncuffed hem.
Fabric:
- Cotton twill (classic heavyweight).
- Linen-cotton blend (lighter, tropical).
- Cotton-rayon blend (drapier).
Price: THB 3,500-7,000.
Turnaround: 3-4 days with two fittings.
Travel-ready casual wardrobe
A realistic order for a week-long Phuket trip with custom casuals:
| Piece | Fabric | Qty | Price each | Total | |—|—|—|—|—| | Linen camp collar shirt | Irish linen | 2 | THB 3,500 | 7,000 | | Cotton poplin dress shirt | Italian cotton | 2 | THB 3,500 | 7,000 | | Linen-cotton chinos | Blend, ecru | 1 | THB 4,500 | 4,500 | | Cotton twill bermudas | Navy, knee length | 1 | THB 3,000 | 3,000 | | Silk-cotton pool shirt | Aqua print | 1 | THB 5,500 | 5,500 |
Total: ~THB 27,000 for a 7-piece casual wardrobe that fits properly, built to your exact measurements. Equivalent quality at UK/US retail: £900, £1,500.
Timing for casual orders
Casual pieces turn around faster than suits. Practical sequence:
Day 1: Consultation for everything. Measurements (single set works for all pieces). Fabric selection for each item.
Day 3 or 4: Fittings for each piece, staggered through the day. Shirts are near-complete at first fitting; chinos and bermudas benefit from two fittings.
Day 5 or 6: Pickup for all finished casuals. Some shirts may arrive earlier (day 3-4) if you want to wear one during your trip.
Pairing casuals with a suit
Many customers combine a suit order with casual pieces, it’s the most efficient Patong trip. Same consultation, same measurement session, same fabric room visit. You save time and we save cutting-table switching.
Combined order typical timing (7-day trip):
- Day 1: Consultation for all pieces.
- Day 3: First fitting on suit + shirts near-ready.
- Day 4: Second fitting on suit + final fitting on shirts + fitting on chinos/bermudas.
- Day 6: Final suit fitting + pickup.
- Day 7: Buffer day + confirmation of last-minute fixes.
Fabric sourcing notes
Patong tailors source casuals from different mills than formalwear:
- Italian cotton, Albini, Thomas Mason, Soktas.
- Irish linen, Baird McNutt, Ulster Weavers.
- Thai mill cotton, excellent for price-conscious orders.
- Silk-cotton blends, usually from Italian mills.
Our fabric room has ~300 shirt-specific cloths and ~100 trouser-specific cloths in active stock.
Washing and care for casuals
Unlike wool suits, cotton and linen casuals can be washed at home:
- Cotton shirts: Machine wash cool, hang dry, iron or steam. Straightforward.
- Linen shirts: Machine wash gentle, air dry flat, steam. Wrinkles are part of the look.
- Cotton chinos: Machine wash cool, hang dry, iron for crispness.
- Silk-cotton: Hand wash or gentle cycle, air dry, steam (don’t iron directly).
Cotton casuals last 5-10 years with regular wear. Linen shirts soften beautifully over time; linen at year 3 is better than linen at year 1.