Can I bring my own fabric to a Hoi An tailor?
Yes, most tailors accept customer fabric. Labor-only rates: 200k–400k for shirts, 500k–800k for suits. Buy fabric at Chợ Hội An (Hoi An Market) or Đà Nẵng's Hàn Market for 30–50% less than tailor markup. Risk: tailor may blame your fabric if fit is wrong. Test fabric before buying (burn test for silk).
The short answer
Yes, most Hoi An tailors accept customer-supplied fabric. You pay labor only — typically 40–60% less than buying fabric + labor from the tailor.
But there’s a catch: If the tailor cuts your fabric wrong, you have no recourse. They’ll shrug and say “your fabric was low quality.” This is why beginners should start small.
Where to buy fabric
Chợ Hội An (Hoi An Market) — Nguyễn Huệ
Hours: 5am–7pm Selection: Silk, cotton, linen, blends Prices:
- Silk: 150k–400k/meter (depends on quality)
- Cotton: 80k–200k/meter
- Linen: 200k–500k/meter
- Polyester blends: 50k–150k/meter
The market has 20+ fabric stalls on the ground floor. Haggle — start at 50% of asking price, meet at 70%.
The burn test: Ask to test if it’s real silk. Cut a tiny thread, burn it. Real silk smells like burning hair and turns to ash. Polyester smells like plastic and melts into a bead.
Hàn Market — Đà Nẵng
Hours: 6am–7pm Selection: 3x larger than Hoi An Prices: 20–30% cheaper than Hoi An
If you’re serious about fabric, go to Đà Nẵng. Hàn Market (on Trần Phú Street) has 100+ fabric stalls. The selection is better, prices are lower, and vendors are less touristy.
Getting there: 30 minutes by motorbike from Hoi An. Grab costs 250k–300k each way.
Labor-only pricing
| Item | Labor Only | Fabric + Labor (tailor) | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirt | 200k–400k | 500k–1.2M | 40–60% |
| Pants | 300k–500k | 700k–1.5M | 40–50% |
| Dress | 400k–700k | 1M–2.5M | 40–60% |
| Suit | 500k–800k | 2M–5M | 50–70% |
| Áo dài | 400k–600k | 1M–2.5M | 50–60% |
Fabric needed:
- Shirt: 1.5–2 meters
- Pants: 1.5–2 meters
- Dress: 2–3 meters
- Suit: 3–4 meters (jacket + pants)
- Áo dài: 3–4 meters
The risk
Tailors make money on fabric markup. When you bring your own, they’re earning less. Some resent this.
What can go wrong:
- Tailor cuts fabric wrong → you lose fabric cost
- Tailor claims your fabric is “low quality” → refuses responsibility
- Garment fits poorly → tailor says “fabric didn’t drape well”
Mitigation:
- Start with simple items (shirts, pants)
- Use mid-range tailors with good reviews (Thu Thủy, Be Tailor)
- Agree on design in writing (WhatsApp message counts)
- Buy extra fabric (buy 2.5m for a shirt, not 2m)
Which tailors accept outside fabric
Yes (confirmed):
- Be Tailor — labor rates transparent, no pushback
- Thu Thủy — family-run, flexible
- Kimmy Fashion — for dresses and áo dài only
- Market stall tailors — prefer it, actually
Reluctant (but will if asked):
- Yaly Couture — prefer you buy their fabric, but accept outside for simple items
- Premium shops on Trần Phú — margin comes from fabric markup
No (don’t bother):
- Shops advertising “Italian fabric only”
- Tailors attached to fabric shops (they make money on fabric, not labor)
How to approach it
Walk in, smile, say:
“I have my own fabric. Can you sew a [shirt/dress/suit]? How much for labor only?”
If they hesitate:
“I understand fabric is part of your business. I just found something special elsewhere. I’m happy to pay fair labor cost.”
Most will say yes. A few will say no. Walk to the next shop.
My recommendation
First time in Hoi An: Buy fabric from the tailor. You pay more, but you have recourse if it goes wrong.
Second time, or confident traveler: Buy fabric at Chợ Hội An, use Be Tailor or Thu Thủy for labor. Savings are real, risk is manageable for simple items.
Suits or complex garments: Buy fabric from the tailor. If the suit fits wrong, you want the tailor to own the problem.