Custom made clothes are known to be a better bargain in the Philippines than anywhere else in the world. This claim is not proven though especially with the prevalence of Chinese tailors. Philippine Labor is inexpensive, yet the couture is well done. Another disadvantage in Philippine tailoring is the limited collection fabrics. Due to the very competitive pricing of Chinese fabric manufacturers, many of Philippine fabric manufacturers lost their businesses. Today, research shows that custom tailored clothing is preferred over off the rack collections. For instance, it is hard to find men’s suits in department stores in Manila, and they are normally expensive, even though they are usually not made of the best material. It may sound illogical, but in Manila a tailored suit is less expensive than one bought off the rack. This is due to the very high rentals in department store shops and the branding.
There are excellent materials available at reasonable prices. Most tailors have a large stock with all kinds of qualities and colors. A first rate Cashmere fabric costs around 700-900 pesos a yard, Merino wool about 600-800, and a blend containing 30% or 40% synthetic can come as low as 300. A two-piece suit re-quires approximately 3-4 yards of material, and a three piece needs maybe one yard more. The material can also be bought at a store or market, where it costs 5%-15% less.
Good custom tailors can be found all over the city. There are a few excellent ones along Escolta St in Quiapo, who charge as little as 1,200 pesos for a two-piece suit. Those in vogue, most of them with shops in Makati, may charge twice that, but the couture is, of course, superb. A large number of foreigners are customers of Carmen Buniel Heiss (5003 Badajos cor Burgos St, Makati, Tel 85-64-62). She tailors quality fashion for men and women and offers tailor-made suits and Barongs with hand-sewn button holes and hems giving gen-erous seams for alterations. In the tourist belt Basa (Suite 12, North SyQuia Apartments, 1991 Del Pilar, Malate, Tel 58-67-14) continues in the more than half a century family tradition of fine couture for men and women. Basa is renowned in the ex-pat community for good workmanship and value as well as a classic approach to men’s and women’s clothing.
Most shirts offered at department stores have only three or four sizes, small, medium, large and maybe extra large. For a real snug fit, a tailor again is the best answer. An alternative is to buy a real good label such as Wall Street, and have it fitted at a tailor for as little as 25 pesos.
The traditional Filipino garment for men, the Barong, which can be worn to any occasion no matter how formal, is almost always tailored, often of some genuinely fine and elaborate barong materials which can seldom be found with ready-made shirts. A tailored barong, including fabric and labor, can cost as little as 350 pesos.
Very elegant barong’s are tailored in the boutique of Edgardo M. Aquino at 1651-59 Mabini St corner Quintos St, Malate, open Mon-Sat 10:00-19:00, Tel 521-97-73, 521-97-74 and 521-98-91; he also has outlets at the Manila Hotel (Men’s Boutique, daily 7:30-21:00) and the Philippine Plaza Hotel (Archipelago, daily 8:00-21:00). Edgardo Aquino uses traditional materials such as pineapple and banana fibers for his barongs. For those in a hurry, barongs, and also shirts, suits and pants can be made within 24 hours.
Source:
http://www.asiatour.com/philippines/e-03mani/ep-man16_e.htm
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