2021 Thailand travel update: Are Bangkok wholesale clothing markets still open?
Welcome to Thailand! Sawasdee kha!
You arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport and are welcomed by smiling faces in travel posters while hearing that familiar Thai greeting. Then you go through Thai immigration, present your documents, and get whisked away by staff from the hotel where you’ll be spending 14 days in quarantine. Then you realise nothing about this is familiar.
14 days later, provided you test negative for COVID, you could almost taste the freedom. You check out of the hotel and work your way through Bangkok’s busy streets, the smell of street food wafting through the air and the lively sound of tuk tuks whizzing past, then it dawns on you. You finally made it.
Caution is in the air
Obvious as this sounds, these are not normal times. While the Thai capital is still bustling with energy, caution is in the air, face masks the norm, and this atmosphere is reflected in many small businesses across the country. If you’re used to the almost-endless options when you visit Bangkok’s wholesale clothing markets, expect a more pared down version this time around.
Are wholesale clothing markets in Bangkok still open?
At the time of writing, here’s the situation in Bangkok’s wholesale clothing markets. Take this as soft guidance, not hard rules, as things can change very quickly and could go in either direction. I’d say the best way to check if they’re open or partially open is to give them a call. Phone numbers are shared below for your convenience.
BOBAE MARKET
Open hours:
Monday
12am–3pm
Tuesday
7pm–12am
Wednesday - Sunday
12am–3pm, 7pm–12am
Phone number: +66 954815450
Address: 488 Damrongrak Road | Bobae Tower, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Top tip: For unbeatable deals, go for the early morning trade from 3:00 to 5:00am. Note that the market closes at 3pm so be there early.
Bobae Market is undoubtedly one of the best wholesale garment markets in Bangkok. This 30 year-old market sources a lot of its clothing and garments from China but a majority of the garments are locally produced. Many wholesalers from around Southeast Asia buy their stocks of clothing from Bobae market because of its wholesale price that is offered upon purchase of three items and more. With more than 700 stalls and shops that have all types of clothes, including t-shirts, shirts, dress shirts, skirts, bags, jeans, it's one of the most important wholesale garment markets in the city. As it is a wholesale market, the bigger the bulk you buy, the cheaper it gets. Note that this is a day market, but for better deals try the early morning trade.
PRATUNAM MARKET
Open hours:
Monday - Sunday
8:30am–6pm
Phone number: +66 814223446
Address: Intersection of Ratchaprop and Petchburi roads to Ratchaprararop Soi 3.
Top tip: Opens 24 hours (for wholesalers get the best bargains in the early morning before 10:00am)
Make no mistake, Pratunam market is ground zero for buying clothing in bulk! Clothes, shoes and fashion accessories are available here in the largest wholesale market in Bangkok. It's the scale, variety, and price that Pratunam market has become my absolute personal favourite for wholesale clothing. Most shops offer big discounts especially for bulk purchases and anecdotally, some of them are even selling at the same price as their purchase. It is an open-air clothing market and displays pretty much every kind of clothes including the T- shirts, skirts, formal suits, winter jackets, fancy dresses as well as embroidered costumes. Like Bobae market, it is also known as a day market, so come early for the morning trade.
CHATUCHAK MARKET
Open hours:
Monday - Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday - Thursday
7am-6pm (Plant section only)
Friday
6pm-12pm (Wholesale only)
Saturday - Sunday
9am-6pm (Whole market is open)
Email: info@chatuchakmarket.org
Website: http://www.chatuchakmarket.org/
Chatuchak market is the biggest outdoor market in Bangkok selling pretty much everything. I mean, everything. Shame really that the clothing and garments section of the market is only open on weekends. But I guess that's where its novelty comes from. They've really dialled up the scarcity principle here, the less accessible the market is, the more it makes people want to go!
Wholesalers, as this is open only on weekends, plan your trip accordingly. With the scale and variety of clothing options available, it's easy to understand why many consider this the best wholesale garments market in Bangkok.
Wholesalers can get every type and style of ready-to-wear clothing and stunning garments at very cheap prices. Not all items are stylish, but who am I to talk about what's fashionable and what's not? Some are definitely quirky. Means you can get pretty much any style and design. When it comes to bulk purchases, some older stocks are sold at bargain prices. Bangkok’s Chatuchak weekend market presents a pretty impressive array of shoes, dresses from casual to semi-casual, plants, seeds, utensils, crockery, a few electronic items and plastic wares.
Address: Kamphaeng Phet Road | Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
PLATINUM MALL
Open hours
Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday
8am–8pm
All other days
9am-8pm
Phone number: +6621218000
Address: 222 Phetchaburi Rd, Thanon Phetchaburi, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Platinum Mall is a six-storey fully air conditioned shopping complex, most likely to be voted as the ‘most trendy’ and very popular among younger age groups. It specialises in wholesale fashion clothing and accessories all packed in its 1,500 shops.
The clothes in Platinum Mall are not cheap. In fact, it’s a little more on the higher side when compared to the other clothing markets on this list. But haggling is still very much expected. It’s part of the fun so haggle you should!
If you come to Platinum Market, it's easier to navigate through the endless myriad of stores. Unlike many shopping complexes where it's easy to get lost, Platinum Mall is fairly well-marked with signals. It also helps that it’s fully air conditioned. However, there is not much of a planned concept here. In all six floors, you can go to each and they all have a fairly even mix of men's and women's clothing.
The range of styles and availability is even more impressive. Find everything from children’s wear, teen's clothing, jeans, casual and evening dresses, underwear, oversized clothing to accessories like wigs, belts, shoes, handbags, hats and cosmetics. There are plenty of specialty shops here too, with imported clothing and accessories from South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, China, India, as well as plus size clothing, fashion for the older generation (OK, boomer), summer dresses, costumes, and more.
If you can imagine it, Platinum Mall most likely will have it!
SAMPAENG MARKET
Open hours
Daily
8am–5pm
Phone number: +66958914442
Address: Chakkrawat, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Located in Chinatown, Sampeng Market sums up the whole experience of Chinatown and the surrounding Old City. Imagine very busy and crowded streets during the day that often become even more chaotic as night time approaches. Get ready to be faced with non-stop pedestrian traffic, worn-out carts, and the occasional truck bringing in fresh produce from the provinces all the way down to this part of Bangkok.
This is Sampeng Market and so much more. It’s one of the cheapest places for clothes shopping in Bangkok – take advantage of impressive discounts when you buy in bulk (i.e 10 or more items). Be on the lookout for some of the most popular items, including dresses, silk sarongs, jewellery, women’s shoes, home decors, handicrafts, and many more.
KRUNG THONG PLAZA
Open hours
Daily
8am–6pm
Address: 813/8, Petchaburi Rd, | Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Krung Thong Plaza sits across Platinum Mall and whilst it doesn't have the same trendy vibe as its neighbour, this wholesale clothing market boasts floors and floors of commercial space dedicated to wholesale clothing.
This wholesale shopping haven is great for plus size clothing for men and women. It's strongly building a reputation as the place for plus size clothing so if this is what you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. They can even give you wholesale prices when you just buy two!
There is a footbridge that connects Krung Thong Plaza to Platinum Mall so I suggest starting at Krung Thong Plaza for the bargains, then make your way to Platinum Mall for the trends.
