Get that perfect personalized product. By Alisara Chirapongse, illustrations by Lalita Lu

This year, expect to see “bespoke” (which means custom-made) grace every phone or pair of shoes wanting to pass off as truly luxurious.

Tom Ford, the man who made Gucci the luxury empire it is today, has now shifted his attention to making his own line of made-to-measure suits (count B280,000 if you’re interested) and every luxury brand is following: from Cartier’s million-dollar diamond-studded mobile phones to Guerlain’s individualized fragrances (B3 million a pop). Thankfully, made-to-measure goods here are more about fun and personalization than over-the-top luxury. Here are some of our favorites.

HAPPY FEET

The Service
Popular among professional dancers (hence the name, Ballet) and the arthritis-prone, this made-to-measure shoe shop also makes fashionista-friendly shoes. “We measure your feet to the exact size, and the soft leather we use will give your feet a comfortable fit,” says Khun Ting, whose in-laws started the business almost 35 years ago. Now with the new generation running the show, Ballet has expanded its business to Siam Square and started to attract a younger crowd of customers.

The Order
You can bring your own design, a picture of your dream pair, or you can describe what you want to their designer. “We have a wide selection of leather sheets that come in many colors and styles. We also let you choose the heels,” says Ting. You are recommended to make the order at the Amarin store though as they have a wider range of materials to choose from. “If you want a special cut, to add a little bow, or get it perforated or patterned, anything is possible,” says Ting.

The Catch
The shoes are mostly round-headed, like ballet shoes. “So if you want a pointy style with tall pinpoint stiletto heels, we probably cannot do that,” Ting adds. Oh, they also only make women’s shoes. Sorry, guys.

The Product
They’re famous for their dancing shoes but stylish pumps and flats are also available. It takes about two weeks to finish a pair and each will cost you around B1,000 up, depending on the details and the materials used.

Ballet. G/F Amarin Plaza, Phloenchit Rd., 02-652-0339.

PICTURE PERFECT

The Service
This small three-year old publishing house does high quality printing of anything from postcards to scrapbooks to your own organizers and diaries. “We all take photos digitally now anyway, so this could be new ways to share your photos with friends and family,” says Soontaree Piriyapakdeekul, assistant marketing director of Print Café. 

The Order
All you need to bring is your memory cards and your imagination. Print Café designers will sit down with you in front of their shiny iMacs as you select which of your photos to be placed into templates. You can then change the colors or the layout of the pages. “You can also choose what type of material you want: the quality of paper, binding style and even cover materials such as paper, cloth or leather,” explains Soontaree.

The Catch
If you don’t want your face to get pixelated, your photos must be at least 300 dpi in resolution. They also recommend using a camera with at least three megapixels.

The Product
One great thing about Print Cafe is that, no matter how many colors or photos you want to use, you pay only one price. For a medium-sized photo book, it’s B500. A big one will cost you at least B1,000 depending on the number of pages and size. Products such as notebooks, journals and calendars are a bit cheaper, with prices going around B300-500 depending on the materials.

Print Café. 14 Soi Methi Niwet, Sukhumvit Soi 24, 02-204-1959. www.printcafe.co.th.

SPITTING IMAGE

The Service
Tukta Pun, literally molded dolls (tuk-ka-ta pun), make fun and personalized gifts. What’s so great about these dolls? Well what could be better than a replica of you? Think of a Blythe or a Bratz but with your head on it.

The Order
“You know those caricatures you can get drawn at fairs? Well, we’re similar but we do it in 3D,” says Chaiwat Pipatsiriwarakul, owner of Tukta Pun. All the figurines are handmade by molding clay. You can ask them to mold you, or your friends, into anything from Wonder Woman to the Incredible Hulk. All you need to do is dream up what you want it to look like then submit the ideas to Tukta Pun through their website. You will also need to send them a headshot of you or the person you want the dolls to be made after.

The Catch
These dolls are handmade, so don’t expect yours to look exactly like a mini you. The designs and the likeness of the dolls will also depend on the shape and look of your face. “If you have distinctive features like high cheek bones or a well defined jaw line, then it would look more accurate,” explains Chaiwat.

The Product
You can request any size you want though the standards are 6, 8 and 10 inches high. With prices starting at B1,000, megalomaniacs dreaming of an army of life-sized replicas better think twice as the prices are based on the details and the size of your doll(s).

Tukta Pun. 08-6588-8163, www.tuktapun.com.

PERSONAL CHOPPER

The Service
A division of Central Pattana (like B2S for books and PowerBuy for electronics), HomeWorks offers a wide range of home products and services. “In our wood shop, we make wooden furniture to order,” says Tawatchai Nimpradit, the field merchandise manager of HomeWorks, “We also have an in-house designer who can help you design a piece that fits your room.”

The Order
If you don’t like what’s on offer in their catalog, you can talk with the designer who will give you a rough sketch of the proposed furniture. They will even come take a look at your pad, and make sure the furniture complements, not cramps your existing style. “After everything has been agreed, you can then choose specific details like the final color and we can adjust it accordingly,” says Tawatchai.

The Catch
Keep in mind these pieces are made with high-quality wood and not from cheapo compressed cardboards you get at hypermarkets, so expect a hefty price tag for your personalized piece of furniture.

The Product
They can make you anything—chairs, tables, shelves, closets—but they only do it out of wood from rubber trees. However, you don’t have to be stuck with simple designs and earth-tone colors. If you want a pull-out table which combines with a folding chair, it’s possible, as long as the materials can be found at HomeWorks.

HomeWorks. 5/F, Central Bangna, Bangna-Trad Rd., 02-361-2039/-47.

MAKE THE CUT

The Service
Think Thomas Pink—but local. If you can’t find anything you like in the store, tell Duly’s tailors about your dream shirt and like little elves in a fairytale they can make it come to life. Vichuda Phanurai, retail manager of Duly, says, “You can either pick from one of our ready-made items and modify it to your liking, or you could ask us to make something completely new.”

The Order
You can work with their designer and choose all the materials from scratch. You can also have a say in the way the collar is designed, or the type of buttons used. “We have a bunch of special Italian fabrics set aside for this purpose at our stores so customers can come in and browse through the different options,” says Vichuda. The rest is up to Duly’s designers.

The Catch
For a relatively large man with a collar size of 18, you might want to get your shirts made at your neighborhood tailors. “The fabrics we have are only two meters long so it might not be enough for a shirt that’s too big,” says Vichuda. And sorry girls, no blouses here either. However, if the design isn’t too far-fetched, have a talk with Duly and they might be able to do it for you.

The Product
All the materials used are imported from Europe; however, with local designers doing the tailoring, you can be sure that the shirts fit the smaller Asian frames. The price of the shirts starts at B4,450 and goes up to around B5,900, depending on the quality of the fabrics used.

FANTASY FULFILLED

The Service
“I started the shop as a party store where people can get costumes when they go out clubbing,” explains Marijke Schreurs, the owner. Planet Latex’ fantasy outfits are made of high-quality latex, spandex, leatherette and PVC—mostly imported from Europe and nearby fashion hubs, Hong Kong and Korea.

The Order
So if what’s offered at the store doesn’t fit, you can make an appointment with Marijke for a fitting. Don’t be shy with the Planet Latex’ in-house designers; tell them exactly what you want and it can be done. “Even if you don’t already have an idea in mind, they can help you design it,” says Marijke. Also, if you don’t want to go for the clichéd “fetish colors” of red and black, there’s neon green, glittery purple, baby pink, and more to suit your every disco/sexual desire.

The Catch
“There’s no catch,” says Marijke. No matter how “big-boned” you are, Planet Latex can make their outfits fit. After all, they’re elastic and they’re here to fulfill your fantasy.

The Product
How about a Catwoman suit, complete with a mask? “If it’s not too hard to sketch, then it is possible,” says Marijke. You can also ask for special details like buckles and buttons so the design possibilities are virtually unlimited. The price and the time taken for each piece depends on the materials. It should take within a week for an outfit to be finished and it costs at least B1,200 per item.

Planet Latex. 50 Soi 4, Baan Suan Laemthong 2, Pattanakarn Soi 28, 08-1892-7959. www.planet-latex.com. Or visit Planet Latex booth at BIFF&BIL Fair at Bitec Bangna on Aug 30-31.

A HISTORY OF VIOLINS

The Service
“The store was started by Mr. Guo, a musical instrument maker from China, about 10 years ago,” says Khun Gai, the store manager at GMI Violins. “He wanted to do what he did in Beijing here, which is to create handmade instruments.” GMI is a small shophouse in Soi Ekkamai, where you can also buy pianos and other musical instrument accessories like guitar strings. Their made-to-order service, however, is only for the instruments in the traditional string family such as the violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

The Order
Just drop by the store and take a look. The parts that are customizable are the types of wood used, the scrolls (the “head”), the colors, and the wood pattern. “The scroll is the part that people like to get customized the most,” says Gai. “We have a collection of many types of scrolls, from simple carvings to Beethoven’s head.” You can also choose a set of the pegs (the turning knobs) to match the look of the whole body.

The Catch
The quality of the sound depends on the type, or the age, of the wood used to make the violin. The older the wood, the pricier it gets. If you’re not sure what’s right for you, then the store is more than happy to make a suggestion.

The Product
There are four sizes to choose from: one-fourth, half, three-quarter, and full for adults. The starting price of a violin is around B5,800 and that’s made with a young wood and no elaborate details. So have a budget in mind when you’re getting your violin made.

GMI Violins. 72/4-5 Sukhumvit 63 (between Ekkamai Soi 14 and 16), 02-392-4314. www.gmiviolin.com.

HAUTE CAKES

The Service
This custom baker can make your cake look like anything you want—an orchestra, an office building, and even imitation coral reefs. And everything is edible. “My father and uncles started the business 35 years ago. They wanted to offer something different,” says owner of Boat’s Bakery, Mai Sadudee Phenphakkul.

The Order
“We all thought plain square or circular cakes were boring, so my father wanted to try to make them in 3D,” says Mai. When ordering, if you don’t already have an image in mind, you can choose from their catalog of over 100 styles. If you want your centerpiece dessert especially designed, just tell them the theme of the party. “The shape is also very flexible, we can do anything from a golf course to a Lamborghini!” says Mai. You can drop by any of Boat’s Bakery outlets to make an order, or fill out their online form.

The Catch
You should always make the order at least 2-7 days in advance, depending on the details of the cake. You also have to order at least 1 pound of cake.

The Product
For the flavors, you can choose from vanilla, chocolate, coffee and carrot. The price of the cake starts at B900 and can go up to as much as B10,000, depending on the size and complexity of the design.

THE WRITE STUFF

The Store
Forget emails; go back to the roots of writing with Kin & Co’s letter set and stamps. The fine stationery store’s special made-to-order letter set is an interesting—and expensive—purchase. “Crane and Co., the company that we work with on this service, lets you customize your own letter set where you can create your own letterhead in anyway you like,” says Gritiya Mahadumrongkul, co-owner of Kin & Co. You can get letter paper, envelopes, greeting cards and name cards printed. They also offer customizable seal stamps that you can use to sign or personalize documents.

The Order
Drop by at Kin & Co. and browse through their extensive collection of lettering formats, logos, motifs and printing styles, or you can bring your own coat of arms, because of course we all have one of those. The store will then help you lay it out, before sending the order to Crane and Co. in the US. Same goes for the seal stamps, “You can pick from one of our templates and modify it with your own message or initials,” says Gritiya.

The Catch
The service is quite formal, so the shape of the cards and the designs are a bit restricted. No crazy cuts or flashy graphics here, just simple classic typography. However, the choices of colors and styles are vast so no two designs are alike. Also, all the products are printed and manufactured in the US so it will take at least two weeks to arrive.

The Product
One set includes one letter headed page and one envelope and the starting price of a basic letter set is around B140. You will need to order at least 25 sets, but 100 sets are recommended. For the stamps, it’s B2,600 each with an additional B490 for the ink.

Kin and Co. 2/F 49 Terrace, Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-260-7400.

ALL BOTTLED UP

The Service
Siam Winery offers a unique personalized experience where you can label and make your own wine. Kim Wachtveitl, Siam Winery’s director of business development, says, “We started this program as we wanted to find a way to get customers more involved. So each harvesting season in March, we invite guests to come and pick their own grapes.” The idea then developed into bottling, labeling and packaging the final bottles to make them the customer’s own.

The Order
“The customer will get to work closely with Siam Winery’s wine making team. They can then come and check how the wine is progressing and decide how long to oak the wine,” says Kim. Too lazy? They also have a store of ready-made wines so you can just focus on the label design. If you have a photo, your own text, or a design in mind, then they can all be put on the label. There’s also an in-house graphic designer who can help you come up with a concept.

The Catch
For the Barrel Program, you have to order at least half a barrel, meaning at least 150 bottles of wine. It’s a great deal if you’re planning a big event and want something different to give out to your guests. Also keep in mind that it takes four months to oak white wines and almost a year for reds if you want a custom brew. So make sure you plan your anniversary/birthday/wedding extravaganza well in advance.

The Product
If you’re picking from their ready-made wine collection, it’s still going to take at least two months for the labeling and to get your wine approved and stamped. You can choose from their wide selection of wines from white, red, or rosé. For half  a barrel or 150 bottles, it’s B112,500 (B750 each), and B202,500 for 300 bottles (B675 each). All prices include one set of labels.

Siam Winery. 174/1-4 Viphavadee Rangsit Soi 78, 02-533-5600. www.siamwinery.com.