Foreigners find ‘bang for buck’ on suits in Manama Souq

TDT | Manama    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Julia Cassano

Foreigners are swarming the Manama Souq to buy suits, as they cost only one-third of the prices prevalent in the Western world. A tailored, high-end suit that costs upwards of $1,000 (BD377) in the US is priced at around $400 (BD150) here, customers told The Daily Tribune.

At the low end, a regular suit costs a few hundred dollars in the US, whereas the price begins at $132 (BD50) in Manama Souq.

Along with the exhilarating experience that travel offers, they are also enjoying the perks of lower prices on coveted items like suits in the Kingdom, foreigners said. Vincent, an American, said he has purchased an array of suits in Bahrain because of the affordable prices, quality, and customer service that the suitmakers here have to offer.

"Suits in America are quite expensive, with prices ranging from a few hundred dollars to $1,000 (BD377). Even if you pay a couple of hundred dollars for a suit in the United States, it is usually for readymade suits that must be altered to fit you well, which is another additional cost."

Explaining the rationale behind his suit purchases in Bahrain, Vincent stated that depending on the style and quality of the suit, prices can range from BD50 to BD150 at the Manama Souq. And if you shell out on the pricier side for BD150 suits, which are expensive in Bahrain, you receive the greatest quality customised exactly to your measurements for the same price as a basic suit in America, he said.

Alec, who hails from Bulgaria and is now a resident of Bahrain, said he has purchased countless suits here for a range of purposes, like work and events. Considering the quality, the price, and the tailoring, the BD50 he pays for each suit is certainly worth it, he said.

Suit makers at the Souq confirmed that the prices range from BD50 to BD150 here and that many Americans are frequenting the shops there, looking for tailored or fitted suits in a variety of designs as they can get a bang for their buck. With plenty of inquiries from foreigners, the shopkeepers are competing fiercely, with prices varying from one store to the next, they said.

Along with getting suits at comparatively cheaper prices in Bahrain, the Manama Souq also offers accessories at affordable prices, foreigners point out. Alec said, "The good news is that when you buy a suit in Manama, you can usually get other accessories for a modest price. I’ve often added a button-up with the suit, bringing the total to BD55 for the trousers, jacket, and button-up," the resident stated.

Ties at the Souq can range in price from BD3 to BD7, depending on the style, the quality, and the fabric, and if you are purchasing a couple of items, you can usually get a discount as a ‘package deal’, customers said.

While accessories are affordable at the Souq, Americans living in Bahrain confirmed that they are equally affordable in the United States and that suits are the sought-after item for foreigners in the Kingdom.