I don't wear suits, but a friend of mine now here would like some made.
Any suggestions on where to go in Pattaya?
I know these shops are everywhere, but my impression is the quality is low and the styles often bizarre.

I always wonder why about every tailer you see is an Indian (or however you name someone from India)   ,  you will find plenty of them in Pattaya.
Can't help you with good shops though, I'm more a white sock sandal, T-Shirt short trouser guy  8)

Thaiquila wrote:

I don't wear suits, but a friend of mine now here would like some made.
Any suggestions on where to go in Pattaya?
I know these shops are everywhere, but my impression is the quality is low and the styles often bizarre.

Quality varies: cheap you buy, cheap you get.  Those, "Suit, two shirts and a tie!  All for 400 baht!"  deals are a perfect example of, "if it sounds to good to be true, it is."  Stuff in the windows usually looks like rejects, things customers ordered when drunk--And ran away screaming when they saw the result.  Funnier can be to see farang preening in clown-suits they actually took delivery of!  One night we were having a sandwich at La Café Royal when a farang paraded past in black-and-white polka-dot pants and white-and black polka dot shirt.  Num looked, eyes got big, shook his head and said, "farang ting-tong!"  Well, they say, 'You can't get laid wearing Dockers--But 'they' haven't been to Pattaya.
  
You might bring a suit he likes and have it copied: for size &/or style.  A good one* can copy from a photo, best if you have pics of both front and back.  They will have catalogs for you to look through but catalogs are often out-of- date out-house fodder from low-end, cut rate--six-piece lounge suit includes matching coat, vest, shirt, tie, long-pants and hot pants, suitable for all occassions at your council flat--schlock-houses.

*Frankly I've tried a few and saw things friends bought (Had to bite my tongue.) and would recommend no one.
I've told friends who asked it's a bad idea: one important reason; the friend won't be there for measurement and fittings.  Even if we wore the same size 38 long, I think it's not a good idea.  But don't mind me; if you must:
Especially avoid those on Walking Street.
Shop around, compare prices.
Get a swatch of the material, lining material and a button--Don't accept substitutes (When you return.)
If they tell you, "Ready in three days," think, "Ten."
Be wary of those that want a large payment in advance; after you do that it's take it or leave it.
If it's a zonk, there's always Halloween.

PS: My first trip to Thailand, most tailor shops were (still) Chinese owned; now all owners seem to be Indian.
Via the Indian grapevine, Indian people target a business and buy up all they can, usually things the wife can run while doctor husband is busy in the ER.  Examples: small motels, service stations, laundrettes.  Franchises like Dunkin' Doughnuts, Radio Shack, Subway, Pizza Slut.
The tailors are still Thai, work--Cottage Industry--from home and paid sweat-shop wages.  Walk around Day-Night at night, look in the windows or look directly across the soi when dining at Poo Pot; you will see them sewing and ironing away.

I had two suits made a couple of years ago. I brought an expensive suit for them to copy. The results are bearable, but really not worth all the trouble.

The main reason I chose the tailor was because he was hunky and cute, with a killer smile!!

TrickyRich wrote:

The main reason I chose the tailor was because he was hunky and cute, with a killer smile!!

I think I know him!  I stopped in just to have him measure my inside leg!

I'm not one for made-to-measure clothes myself but I have a friend who is and he's very fussy with it.  I once saw him give an Indian tailor in Chiang Mai a fearful dressing down (for dressing up my friend so incompetently).  He is very satisfied with the results he has had from Jim's International, Central Shopping Arcade, Second Road (opp. Mike Shopping Mall).  They sometimes advertise in Sticky Rice, but one look at the bizarre outfits displayed in the ad would probably prevent you from going anywhere near the place.  My friend  says the ad is misleading and, since he keeps going back to order more shirts, trousers and suits, I presume he means it.

I just had a suit made in Bangkok after doing a very extensive study of the best tailors.  My conclusion, from reading numerous reviews on the internet and talking with many people, Farang and Thai and visiting many tailors) was that all of the Indian tailors will not produce the beautiful custom made suit you may envision.  In order to get a quality custom made suit, you must go to a Chinese tailor, of which there are only a few left in Bangkok.  These suits will be very expensive compared to the ones at the Indian tailors, but will still cost about 35 percent less than in the US or London.