Gangnam, Seoul · Since 2023
Bespoke suits,
cut in Seoul
Buttons & Bows is a tailoring house in Gangnam. Our tailors measure, cut and fit on site, and we run our own workshop, so a made-to-measure suit can be ready in as little as 3 days.
- Made-to-measure from
- USD 700
- Fastest turnaround
- 3 days
- Spoken in the shop
- 7 languages
- After you fly home
- Ships worldwide
Prices & timelines
What it costs, and how long it takes
Prices are for a two-piece suit in 100% wool. The cloth you choose moves the price more than anything else, and we lay the swatches out so you can compare before deciding.
Made-to-measure
no fitting
USD 700
from 3 days
Measured in the shop, made from an existing pattern adjusted to your body.
Made-to-measure
with one fitting
USD 700
7–10 days
The same, plus one fitting halfway to correct what a tape measure can't see.
Full bespoke
fittings along the way
USD 1,200
2–3 weeks
A paper pattern drafted for you alone, cut by hand, with fittings until it's right.
Prices are set in Korean won, so dollar figures move slightly with the exchange rate. Cloth from mills including Loro Piana, Vitale Barberis Canonico and Dormeuil.
The process
Four steps, start to finish
Made-to-measure and bespoke follow the same order. Bespoke spends longer on the pattern and adds fittings.
-
STEP 01
Consultation & measuring
Tell us where you'll wear it. We take your measurements and note your posture and how you like a jacket to sit.
-
STEP 02
Choosing the cloth
Weight, weave and colour from the swatch books, matched to your climate and the occasion.
-
STEP 03
Fitting
You try the suit while it's still adjustable. We pin, mark and correct. Bespoke usually has more than one.
-
STEP 04
Collection or shipping
Pick it up in Gangnam, or we send it to you abroad once it's finished.
Visiting Seoul
Getting a suit made on a short trip
Most of our international clients are here for a week or two. Come in early and tell us your flight date; we plan the fittings backwards from it.
Example · made-to-measure with a fitting
- Day 1
Measure & choose cloth
About an hour in the shop. Bring the shoes you'll wear with the suit.
- Day 4–5
Fitting
Try it on and we adjust. Around 30 minutes.
- Day 7–10
Collect
Final check and pick-up. Leaving sooner? We ship it after you.
Timings vary with the cloth and the season. We confirm your dates at the first visit.
Book ahead in spring and autumn
Wedding season in Korea fills the calendar.
Bring your shoes
Trouser length is decided by them.
Tell us your return date first
It sets the whole schedule.
Not sure on colour?
Many tailors say navy for a first suit. We often suggest charcoal: it works for weddings, funerals and meetings, and the trousers pair easily with tweed or camel jackets later.
Can't stay for the last fitting?
We ship finished garments abroad.
The atelier
Who makes your suit
Qualified tailors work in the shop every day, alongside our own workshop. The people who measure you are the people who cut and fit your suit.
We've made clothes for members of a British orchestra, for film and stage productions, and for actors and musicians who now wear them far from Seoul. We've also made suits for former U.S. President George W. Bush, been invited to Pitti Uomo in Florence, and been introduced by Hugo Jacomet of Parisian Gentleman as one of two noted tailoring houses in Korea.
We mention this so you know the hands that cut your cloth have done this before.
From the workroom
Visit
Finding the shop
We're on a quiet street near Gangnam-gu Office Station, between Cheongdam and Seolleung. Visits are by appointment.
B1, 4 Seolleung-ro 133-gil,
Gangnam-gu, Seoul
For your taxi driver
서울 강남구 선릉로133길 4 지하1층
Show this to the driver, or paste it into Kakao T or Uber.
- Hours
- Daily 11:00–20:00 · Closed Tuesdays
- Booking
- By appointment
- Languages
- English, Italiano, Deutsch, Español, Français, 日本語, 한국어. Other languages with live translation.
By subway
Gangnam-gu Office Station (Line 7 and Suin-Bundang Line), then a short walk.
From Gimpo Airport
Line 9 express to Seonjeongneung, then the Suin-Bundang Line one stop to Gangnam-gu Office. A taxi is quicker outside rush hour.
From Incheon Airport
AREX to Gimpo Airport, then the Gimpo route above. A taxi or airport limousine bus goes direct to Gangnam.
By car
Parking is limited. Let us know if you're driving.
Nearby, a short taxi ride away
Seolleung & Jeongneung
Joseon royal tombs, a UNESCO site, in a wooded park.
Cheongdam
Seoul's luxury flagship street and galleries.
Bongeunsa Temple
A thousand-year-old Buddhist temple in the middle of Gangnam.
Starfield Library, COEX
The two-storey wall of books across the road from Bongeunsa.
FAQ
Questions we're asked most
Anything else, send us a message. We reply in English, Italiano, Deutsch, Español, Français or 日本語.
How much does a custom suit cost in Seoul?
At Buttons & Bows, a made-to-measure suit in 100% wool starts at around USD 700, and full bespoke starts at around USD 1,200. Prices are set in Korean won and depend mainly on the cloth.
How long does it take?
Made-to-measure takes from 3 days without a fitting, or 7 to 10 days with one fitting. Full bespoke takes about 2 to 3 weeks.
Can I get a suit made during a short trip?
Yes. Visit early in your stay and tell us your departure date at the first appointment, and we plan the fittings around it. If the final fitting falls after you leave, we ship the finished suit abroad.
What's the difference between made-to-measure and bespoke?
Made-to-measure adjusts an existing pattern to your measurements. Bespoke drafts a new pattern for you alone, cut by hand, with multiple fittings. Bespoke takes longer and costs more, and allows closer correction of posture and proportion.
Do you ship overseas?
Yes. Finished garments can be shipped to you after you return home.
Which languages do you speak?
English, Italian, German, Spanish, French, Japanese and Korean are spoken in the shop. For other languages, we use live translation during the consultation.
Do I need an appointment?
Yes, please book ahead, especially in spring and autumn. Message us on Instagram or by email with your dates.