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Here both in hotels themselves and in the beach resorts.
One of the best-known in Thailand, however, is Mr Singh's, who now
has the recently opened Mr Singh's Fashion Gallery in Patong.
Situated at the northern end of Patong's Rat-Uthit Road, the gallery
is bright, spacious and airy. On display is a huge range of cloth
(linen, cotton and cashmere to name a few) plus ready-made shirts,
blouses, jackets, ties, scarves and much more.
The congenial Mr Singh, as he is universally known, began business
in Bangkok in the early 1970s and his first shop is still on the
same premises on Rangnam Road. He gradually opened many more shops,
scattered around Bangkok. After over two decades of great success,
Mr Singh decided to head south and he opened his first shop in Patong,
Phuket, in 1999.
After searching for the appropriate site, he opted for the Rat-Uthit
location, away from the hustle and bustle of Patong's Beach Road
and Soi Bangla. The Fashion Gallery stands out along the road lined
with European guesthouses, hotels, bars and restaurants. Set slightly
back from the road, the brightly lit array of clothes in the large
window certainly attracts the eye. Once inside, staff will gladly
be of immediate assistance or leave you to browse, advising you
on cloth selection as you wish.
Displayed items are generally priced (discounts negotiable). The
high-quality cloth comes from all over the world: from Thai silk
to English wool, Italian wool and Swiss cotton (although the range
amazingly extends to over 20,000 different fabrics and colours).
Mr Singh was born in Thailand and lives here. His main customers
in Phuket are tourists, although in Bangkok he is very popular with
locals who need well-made, attractive suits and clothes for the
workplace. The Fashion Gallery offers many options for the buyer,
including bargain packages from suits, shirts and ties, to dresses,
skirts, blouses and scarves. Individual requirements can be catered
for easily. Off-the-peg items are also available, as are leather
jackets and a great variety of Thai-silk ties and scarves.
The best-selling items are suits: for many people outside of Thailand,
it can be a costly exercise to buy a suit (even from a department
store). What Mister Singh can offer is a hand-made, high-quality,
made-to-measure, fitted suit in a fine fabric for a fraction of
the cost back home. The time taken for measurements and fittings
can also be tailored to most needs and the staff speak seven languages.
According to Mister Singh, "the market is booming" and
the Phuket shop, opened less than a year, has achieved "a success
rate beyond all expectations". He believes that "expansion
is on the cards" and that the excellent service provided here
in Phuket can only help to improve the confidence of tourists in
buying tailored clothing here in Thailand.
So, for a friendly welcome and a few bargains, take a trip to Mister
Singh's and treat yourself to a new wardrobe (you may have to buy
a new suitcase to fit it all in, though).
Mister Singh's Fashion Gallery: 26/2
Rat-Uthit Road, Patong.
Tel: (66 76) 345 037. E-mail:
fashiongallery@hotmail.com
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