OMG shopping in Bangkok is clothes heaven!

[Appalonia]

I've been in Bangkok the last week and it's been amazing! There are about TEN huge, airconditioned shopping malls as well as a plethora of street markets. I've literally shopped till I've dropped. And so cheap! Also makeup, beauty products, bags and shoes. It's so vibrant, fun and lively, a real joy.

I'm not saying this to make pp jealous, but there's been a lot of threads on here these past few years bemoaning how difficult it is to buy decent clothes, especially in the high street and the contrast has got me wondering WHY is it so different Here and why can't the UK create what Bangkok has?

Other obvious differences that may help explain it is the cost of Labour is so much cheaper, there's no social security so pp have to work, they still mainly use cash and I don't think internet shopping has taken off in the same way. Also, because of the extreme weather, huge airconditioned malls make a lot of sense, and you can get a massage, beauty treatments, play games, eat and go to the cinema in them.

Just makes me sad, how much we've lost in the UK, and seeing how another country is doing it so much better, why can't we do it in the UK?

Here's an article with more info.

www.wanderwithjo.com/bangkok-shopping-guide/

You’ve answered your own question. Also transport costs - UK is mainly a service economy so our goods are imported and there’s a cost to that.

Are you buying lots of erm, 'copies' for handbags t/shirts etc. and market street clothes which are more for the tourist market.

I find Bangkok whilst having a big selection of malls etc. to be on the expensive side compared to what it used to be, the high street brands can be so much more than what we pay (and dependant on exchange rate). If your wanting say decent shoes in leather, your paying a lot for half decent products

But if your happy with your haul, hey why not. Is this your first visit?

Have you been to Chatuchak Market yet?

If not that may be a place for you to go to, easy on the BTS, check for whats being sold on what days. Sat & Sunday are the general days.

I have to say I found a lot of cheap tat and and copies with the exception of Jim Thompsan and hotel shops in resorts.

Jim Thompson*

yes @FancyLimePoet there are some lovely items in JT, expensive but well made.

When we were there (albeit years ago), we found the clothes tiny, so the trick was to buy accessories rather than actual clothes.

China is cashless and very cheap. So that’s definitely not the factor.

It is all the cheap labour cost. We need to accept no social care, NHS or pension if we want that level of cheap stuff.

If you are UK size 4-8, it’s probably easier to shop in Bangkok. I haven’t been there since I was a teen. But shopping in Hong Kong, I am UK size 8 and I buy Uniqlo medium. DD 14 is size 6 and a small. They only stock size S, M and L. That might be another reason their clothes shop have a wider range of clothes. They have very few sizes, unlike here.

I don’t think I want the UK to create what Bangkok has if this requires poor labour laws, low wages and no social security - I’ll just buy less stuff thanks.

because child labour is illegal in the UK and its not in other countries so they can keep their costs down?

I went to Bangkok back in 1986. My only memory of clothes shops then was the clothes were tiny! Maybe they are more au fait now with western sizes 😁.
I still have some lovely hand made brooms I bought from a little hardware shop- the shope people were sitting outside making them. And a paper painted kite - there was a kite festival going on in a big park.
The brooms were similar to this.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126721769547?_ul=GB&rb_itemId=126721769547&rb_pgeo=GB&ff=11&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5339059258&toolid=10044&customid=Cj0KCQjwoNzABhDbARIsALfY8VP7W2T8LOLFhiOnF78LaHNsGEZR9ZyGcQ3uJ_eKChR6KPg_VBKUQAoaAlVjEALw_wcB&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoNzABhDbARIsALfY8VP7W2T8LOLFhiOnF78LaHNsGEZR9ZyGcQ3uJ_eKChR6KPg_VBKUQAoaAlVjEALw_wcB&wbraid=Cj8KCQjw_dbABhCvARIuAOIx1dSQ_YJBtZPOsviSI1zkckwDAcHBHTVty3AymUymk0gi3Rwn0NfSknz8dRoCnTg&gbraid=0AAAAADA7Q_IsiGonrcCwR78Op491-HbQt&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20506529270

How do you think the cheap tat in Primark, and probably other stores are made...?

If your after the 'fishermans' trousers or skirts and harem trousers with elephants printed on as well as cheap flip flips (that will last as long as your holiday) along with erm, pashmina wraps and assorted 'designer' bags and tops and trainers, there are other places in SE Asia that are cheaper.

I went back to Bangkok a few months ago (I used to live there) and was shocked by even the tourist tat prices.

Well, of course it's going to look cheap when you seem to be excluding the purchasing power you have coming from the UK.

Also that you are shopping in the wealthier areas of the capital city is like going shopping in W1 and saying English people have a nice life.

https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/compare/thailand/united-kingdom

Pp seem to have fixated on the cheapness of things, but really it was more about the variety and comparing it to how dismal our high streets are. My city centre used to have a Debenhams, a Co-op which sold clothes, TJ Hughes and British Home Stores ( none particularly high end shops). As well as Next and Monsoon. All gone!

Bangkok is the most visited city worldwide so of course they are going to have a huge choice for shopping. What's cheap for you certainly won't be cheap for the locals.

Yes its a shame the UK high streets have really been decimated and so many shops closing down.

But really you cannot compare a huge major Asian capital city with a local UK city centre.

As for the clothes being small - I have never been but saw on you tube loads of shops saying things like fatty fatty!!!

Yesterday I was at a bus stop and some youngsters were telling each other where they got their clothes from One of the guys got a £2 shirt from Thailand!!!

my sister was called "too big" when she was looking for shorts. She is 5ft 10 and weighed about 8 stone then! 😆

Haha yes. I lived there for 7 years as a U.K. size 16 and was always told (in the markets) “ohh madam, your size no have.” Was always offered a seat on the train though, as apparently I looked pregnant at that size, too.

That’s because she’s 5ft 10! The clothes will be cut for someone much shorter.

They were also making wide gestures but she bought some shorts that did fit!

Not good for shopping if you’re above a size 10.

I'm a size 14 - 16 and found loads of stuff. It helps that most of the trousers have elasticated waists!😂