Dear Mr. KIA, I need your help. Ever since my wife started watching Project Runway she’s been obsessed with getting her very own tailor’s dummy. She doesn’t want to design dresses or anything. She just wants to put it in the corner of our bedroom and hang crap on it. Even though I think it’s pretty freaky, I do know it would make a killer present for her this Christmas. But I don’t have a clue where to get one. I don’t want one of those crazy screaming ones with a pointy nose, just a nice traditional mannequin that doesn’t answer back. —Big Old Dummy
Dear BOD, You can never tell what a woman thinks. Who knows, by New Year, your closet might be filled with handmade clothes! Here, I have listed online stores that sell tailors’ dummies and wacky mannequins that you can get in one click. Keep in mind that dummies have genders, sizes and colors too—just like humans.
Miracle Princess (www.miracleprincess.com, 089-889-4367) has different sizes and shapes of dummies in stock. The price of a female dummy starts at B800. If you think you would like a special yet classic dummy, get a pregnant dummy for B1,350. Male dummy prices start at B900. For a child dummy, the smallest size they have is SS at B1,000. The prices vary depending on fabric and material. The delivery will take around 2-5 days and it will cost you B200 extra. But making your wife smile is well worth the wait. Or so I’m told.
In case your wife (or you) does end up getting into designing, Leichio (www.leichio.com, 02-511-2974) has the perfect mannequin that can be her assistant. With 30 years of experience in the field, Leichio has developed adjustable dummies for each size. The adjustments can be made in three parts: bust, waist, and hips. There is a measuring tape installed at the adjustment points that can be easily changed. Female mannequins come in S, M, and L. The smallest waist size for S is 21 inches, and the largest adjustable size for L is 33 inches. There is only one size for men but it’s still adjustable. The site is written in both English and Thai.
Dollymannequin (www.dollymannequin.com, 087-820-6933) has a wide range plastic and fiber mannequins in different forms. They even have imported ones from China which are at B4,200-B8,000. A regular sized female or male fabric dummy costs B1,400. It’s B1,000 for a child dummy of any size you like (S, M, and L). You can choose the fabric and color you want your dummy to be. The delivery will cost at least B350 unless you buy 10 adult dummies or 15 child dummies. You probably don’t need your own wax army, though.