Seoul has three tailoring districts, and they serve different people. Pick the district first, then the shop.
Gangnam and Cheongdam: the bespoke houses
South of the river is where the serious hand-tailoring is. Prices are higher, cloth books are deeper, and most houses draft a paper pattern for you rather than adjusting a block.
- B&Tailor (Gangnam). The most internationally known Korean house, written up by Permanent Style, with a soft, distinctly Korean take on Neapolitan tailoring. Full handmade. Suits from around KRW 4,000,000 and a wait to match. If you have the budget and the time, this is the benchmark.
- Buttons & Bows (Gangnam, that's us). Smaller house, tailors on site, made-to-measure from USD 700 and bespoke from USD 1,200, planned around a visitor's flight dates. Vitale Barberis Canonico, Loro Piana and Dormeuil cloth. English, Japanese and Korean. About half our clients fly in from abroad. How a one-week visit works.
- Classy M (Cheongdam). A bespoke house with its own workshop on site, popular with Korean celebrities. Expect top-tier pricing and a more fashion-forward silhouette.
- Suitsupply Cheongdam. Not a tailor but worth knowing: a reliable made-to-measure programme (around USD 770, 3 to 4 weeks) for someone who wants a known fit without the bespoke process.
Itaewon: the classic foreigner tailors
Itaewon grew up around the old US garrison, so its tailors have been fitting Western bodies and speaking English for forty years. Styles lean traditional and American; prices are generally lower than Gangnam; turnaround is fast.
- Dayton Custom Tailor. English-speaking, operating since 1983, well reviewed on TripAdvisor for flexible hours and private fittings.
- Dynasty Bespoke Tailor. Since 1989, also English-first, with a loyal expat and military clientele.
Most Itaewon shops describe their work as bespoke. Ask whether they draft a paper pattern for you or adjust a block, and whether the jacket is canvassed or fused. Both answers are fine; you just want to know what you are paying for.
Pyeongtaek and Osan: the base tailors
Search for "Kang Tailor" and you will find the shops around Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Base. They exist for service members: quick, inexpensive, used to military measurements and uniform-style cuts. If you are a tourist in Seoul they are an hour away and not aimed at you.
How to choose in one afternoon
- Ask what you are buying. "Is the pattern drafted for me, or adjusted from a block?" and "Canvassed or fused?" A good shop answers in one sentence.
- Look at a finished jacket on a hanger, inside out. Hand-padded lapels, a clean inner facing and a floating chest tell you more than any sales talk.
- Count the fittings against your dates. No fitting is MTM. One fitting is the minimum for bespoke. If you leave in six days, say so on day one.
- Ask who does the alterations later. The right answer is "we do, and it's free."
- Ignore the word "bespoke" on the sign. Judge the pattern, the canvas and the fittings instead. See bespoke vs made-to-measure if the terms are new.
A note on this list
We left out shops we do not know well enough to describe fairly, and we have not been paid by anyone on it. If a detail is out of date, tell us and we will fix it. Prices are from the shops' own publications and reputable reviews as of 2026; please confirm directly.
Questions people ask
Who is the best tailor in Seoul?+
It depends on budget and time. For full handmade bespoke with a long wait, B&Tailor in Gangnam is the benchmark. For bespoke or made-to-measure finished within a one-week visit, Gangnam houses like Buttons & Bows plan around your flight. For a quick, English-first, traditional cut, Itaewon's long-running shops are the classic choice.
Where do foreigners get suits made in Seoul?+
Historically Itaewon, because its tailors have served the expat and military community since the 1980s. Increasingly Gangnam and Cheongdam, where the bespoke houses are, as more visitors come specifically for Korean tailoring.
Is Itaewon or Gangnam better for a suit?+
Itaewon is faster, cheaper and more traditional in cut. Gangnam is where the paper-pattern bespoke houses and the deeper cloth selections are. Decide by what you want the suit to be, not by the neighbourhood.
How many days do I need in Seoul for a tailored suit?+
Three days for made-to-measure without a fitting, seven to ten days with one fitting, two to three weeks for full bespoke. Many houses, ours included, will finish after you leave and ship.