Bangkok mixes global fashion with Thai style. In a single day you can visit international brands in air-conditioned malls, buy wholesale basics in Pratunam and look for vintage pieces among thousands of market stalls.
Mall and market hours, boat fares and card offers below were checked in September 2026. Confirm them with the mall, market or card issuer before you go.
Fashion in Thailand Today
Bangkok follows the same streetwear, minimalist and vintage looks as other big cities, adapted to the heat with loose cuts and light fabrics. What is different is how often traditional craft appears in modern clothes.
Traditional Elements in Modern Clothes
- Thai silk. Hand-woven silk appears in modern dresses, shirts, scarves and bags, not only in formal wear.
- Mudmee. A traditional ikat weave: the threads are tied and dyed before weaving, so the edges of the pattern look slightly blurred.
- Lotus and temple motifs. Lotus flowers and temple roof shapes appear as prints and embroidery.
- Elephant prints. These range from simple tourist trousers to fine printed fabrics.
For Thai silk, visit the Jim Thompson House museum at 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road, near BTS National Stadium (Exit 1). It opens daily 10:00–17:00, adult admission is 250 THB, and the main house is visited only with a guide.
Where to Shop for Fashion in Bangkok
Siam: Malls and Tourist Discounts
The Siam area is the centre of mall shopping. Siam Paragon, with the Paragon Department Store, opens daily 10:00–22:00. Before you shop, register for the free ONESIAM Global Visitor Card online or in the ONESIAM app. It gives "up to 5%" at department stores and "up to 6% VAT refund" at Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, ICONSIAM, Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok and ICS. Siam Paragon's Tourist Information Counter is on the G floor; its 2026 tourist offers require a foreign passport.
Central Group's The 1 Tourist Card (Central department stores, CentralWorld) has offered a 5% discount plus a VAT refund of up to 6%, with a minimum spend per receipt. Its conditions change, so ask at the Central customer service counter before you pay.
Pratunam and Platinum Fashion Mall
Pratunam is Bangkok's wholesale clothing district. Its best-known building is Platinum Fashion Mall at 222 Petchaburi Road, Ratchathewi, open 09:00–20:00. It is good for affordable everyday clothes, bags and accessories. Ask the seller whether there is a wholesale price and how many pieces you need to buy to get it. Know your measurements in centimetres, because sizes differ between brands, and carry cash in small notes.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Chatuchak is the place for vintage clothes and casual fashion. It has more than 15,000 stalls in 27 numbered sections, with large clothing areas, and about 200,000 visitors each weekend. Pick up a map at the market.
- Opening times: the whole market opens Saturday and Sunday 09:00–18:00. On Friday 18:00–24:00 a smaller night session runs, mainly for wholesale buyers. On Wednesday and Thursday only the plant section opens.
- Getting there: MRT Kamphaeng Phet (west end, near the plant sections), MRT Chatuchak Park (east end) or BTS Mo Chit.
- Paying: most stalls take cash only, and some modern stalls accept QR payment. Carry small notes (20, 50 and 100 THB).
- Timing: arrive soon after 09:00 on Saturday or Sunday, before the heat and the crowds.
Terminal 21 Asok: A Trip Around the World
Each floor of Terminal 21 Asok is designed like a different city. LG is the Caribbean, G is Rome, M is Paris, 1 is Tokyo, 2 is London, 3 is Istanbul, 4–5 are San Francisco and 6 is Hollywood. The mall is at 88 Soi Sukhumvit 19, opens 10:00–22:00, and connects to BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit.
ICONSIAM and SookSiam
ICONSIAM stands on the river at 299 Charoen Nakhon Soi 5, Khlong San, and opens daily 10:00–22:00. On its G floor, SookSiam is an indoor, air-conditioned zone in the style of a floating market, with food, snacks and crafts from Thailand's 77 provinces.
By boat, take the shuttle boat from Sathorn Pier (BTS Saphan Taksin). The free service ended on 1 May 2023; in 2026 the boat costs 12 THB per person one way and runs about 09:00–22:50, every 15–20 minutes. By rail, take the BTS Silom Line to Krung Thon Buri, change to the Gold Line and ride one stop to Charoen Nakhon station, which connects to the mall.
Dressing for Thailand's Climate
Bangkok is hot and humid for most of the year, so choose clothes that breathe.
- Fabrics: cotton and linen are the most comfortable; heavy denim is not.
- Layers: malls and trains are strongly air-conditioned, so carry a light shirt or scarf.
- Rain: in the rainy season, pack quick-dry clothes and a small umbrella.
What to Wear to Temples
If your shopping day includes a temple, cover your shoulders and knees: no tank tops or short shorts. Carry a light scarf or sarong to put on at the temple gate. Buddha images are sacred: treat them with respect, and do not buy Buddha heads as decoration.
Tailor-Made Clothes
If you want a shirt, suit or dress made to measure:
- Choose the shop yourself. If a stranger or a driver offers to take you to a "special" tailor or gem shop, say no.
- Bring photos of the style you want and feel the fabric samples before you choose.
- Agree the price and the number of fittings first, and get a written receipt with your measurements.
- Leave time for a fitting; do not order on your last day.
The VAT Refund for Tourists
Thailand charges 7% VAT, and tourists can claim it back on goods bought at shops that show the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign.
- Spend at least 2,000 THB, including VAT, in one shop on one day.
- Show your original passport when you pay, and ask for the P.P.10 form with the original tax invoice at the till. You cannot get it later. Keep both.
- The goods must leave Thailand with you within 60 days of purchase. You claim the refund on your departure day at one of 10 international airports, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai and Phuket.
- If your VAT-refund goods total 20,000 THB or more, have them inspected by customs before check-in.
- Luxury items worth 40,000 THB or more each (for example handbags, wallets, belts, watches and jewellery) must go in your hand luggage. Show them again to Revenue officers at the VAT Refund office after passport control.
- A processing fee is deducted, so you get back less than 7%. Malls advertise "up to 6%".
- Refunds up to 30,000 THB can be paid in cash (THB) or to Alipay or WeChat Pay. Larger refunds go to a credit card only.
Bargaining and Paying
Bargain only at markets and street stalls; in malls and shops with marked prices, the price is fixed. Ask politely, smile and stay calm. Once you agree a price, buy the item; do not walk away after the seller has said yes. For scams or problems with a shop, call the Tourist Police on 1155.
These Thai phrases help at a clothes stall:
- "Mee size M mai?" (มีไซส์ M ไหม): Do you have size M?
- "Long dai mai?" (ลองได้ไหม): Can I try it on?
- "Mee see uen mai?" (มีสีอื่นไหม): Do you have other colours?
- "Lot dai mai?" (ลดได้ไหม): Can you lower the price?
Getting Around With Your Shopping
Smile Taxi Service fares are fixed per vehicle, not per person, with expressway tolls included and no meter. Between Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport the fare is 600 THB by sedan, 800 THB by SUV and 1,100 THB by van, in either direction. A sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 2 bags, an SUV up to 5 passengers and 4 bags, and a van up to 7 passengers and 5 bags, so choose a bigger car if you fly home with extra luggage. Book a sedan from Bangkok to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Extra stops on a transfer, for example at a mall on the way, cost 250 THB per hour. Pickups or drop-offs west of the Chao Phraya (the Thonburi side, where ICONSIAM stands) cost 100–200 THB extra.
For a full shopping day, the Bangkok Tour gives you a car and driver for up to 10 hours: 2,700 THB (sedan), 3,000 THB (SUV), 3,700 THB (van) or 4,000 THB (VIP van). See all tours and day trips.
If you continue to the beach, the fare from Bangkok to Pattaya is 1,500 THB (sedan), 1,700 THB (SUV) or 2,000 THB (van): book a sedan from Bangkok to Pattaya, or read how to get from Bangkok to Pattaya.
You pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip; there is no online payment or deposit. If you can only pay by card, message the team for a PayPal payment link (a 5% fee is added). Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. All fares are on the price list.
FAQ
Where is wholesale fashion in Bangkok? Platinum Fashion Mall in Pratunam, open 09:00–20:00, and the Friday night session at Chatuchak (18:00–24:00), which is aimed at wholesale buyers.
Is Chatuchak good for vintage clothes? Yes. It has more than 15,000 stalls in 27 numbered sections, with large clothing areas. Pick up a map at the market.
What should I wear to shop and visit temples on the same day? Light clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, or carry a light scarf or sarong to put on at the temple.
Can I get the VAT back on clothes? Yes, at shops with the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign, when you spend at least 2,000 THB in one shop on one day. Show your passport and ask for the P.P.10 form when you pay.
To move between malls and markets with your bags, message Smile Taxi Service on WhatsApp or LINE and book your car.