Unique Experience: Have Custom Mongolian Clothing (Deel) Made in Ulaanbaatar

Design your own traditional Mongolian clothing, known as a deel, and have it custom-made to fit in Ulaanbaatar. Buy your fabrics at the Black Market and spend the afternoon in the Ger District with a local sewer who will bring your creation to life.

Unique Experience: Have Custom Mongolian Clothing (Deel) Made in Ulaanbaatar

How to Rent a Motorcycle in Mongolia (+Tips and Rental Companies)

Highlights of this special deel-making experience include:

A trip to the Black Market with a local guide and translator to buy your fabrics, buttons, and other details.
Fitting with the deel-maker and opportunity to visit her humble studio. Lunch inside her ger< is also included, along with a short hands-on deel-making tutorial.
Delivery of your deel (within Ulaanbaatar) when it’s finished.

I LOVE the Mongolian clothing known as a deel. Not only is it one of the most iconic pieces of clothing worn on the steppes of East Asia, it’s also incredibly functional! Which is probably why you still see most nomads wearing them on a daily basis!

Mongolian deels are made with different fabrics for each season, with summer deels being the lightest in weight and winter deels often being lined with sheeps fur. Every local has a deel for each season, as well as more “formal” deels for the important holidays, such as Tsagaan Sar and Naadam.

Honestly, the deel’s design is so eye catching you can’t help but want one for yourself as soon as you see one. Wearing one as a foreigner will also give you instant credibility and is sure to make you friends wherever you go!

While most people choose to shop for a deel in Ulaanbaatar that’s ready to wear, now we can help get you one made in three days or less!

We’ll explain how you can design and have your own deel made in Ulaanbaatar by a local seamstress below.

What’s Included/Not Included in this Custom Mongolian Deel Experience

INCLUDED: A trip to the Black Market with a local guide and translator to buy your fabrics, buttons, and other details.
NOT INCLUDED: The cost of the fabrics, buttons, and anything else you would like to purchase will be at your expense. As an estimate, fabric for your deel will cost:
- Male average:
- Female average:
- Fabric salespeople will be able to assist with how much fabric is needed for your deel to fit you correctly.
INCLUDED: Transportation to the Black Market as well as to the seamstress’s ger in the Ger District with a private driver.
INCLUDED: The cost to have a spring, summer, or autumn traditional Mongolian deel made.

If you would like to have a winter deel made, please let us know. There is an added cost for this type of deel depending on the lining and insulation you choose.

NOT INCLUDED: If you would like to add intricate or other details outside of the standard deel design, these additions will be at your expense. You will discuss these added expenses directly with the deel maker and pay her for them directly.
INCLUDED: Fitting with the deel-maker and opportunity to visit her humble studio. Lunch inside her ger is also included, along with a short hands-on deel-making tutorial.
INCLUDED: Delivery of your deel (within Ulaanbaatar) when it’s finished.

NOT INCLUDED:

Shipping (at the time of writing this) is 106,800 MNT per kilogram.

What if I don’t have 3-days to wait for my deel to be made?

For an added expense, have your custom deel turned around in 24 hours or less. This option may not be available around Mongolian holidays such as Tsagaan Sar or Naadam. Contact us to ask about this option and the associated pricing.

Don’t have time to get a custom Mongolian deel made at all? Try shopping for one at these stores that sell deels and traditional Mongolian clothing in Ulaanbaatar →
Alternatively, we can do this experience virtually! Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll go to the Black Market, pick out and buy your fabrics and buttons (at cost to you), and have the deel made so it’s ready when you arrive!
– Not sure you want to get a deel made but you still want to visit the Black Market with a local? We have a tour for that →

This seems expensive, why should I have a Mongolian deel made for my trip?

Great question! I’ll start by addressing why you need a deel for your trip.

Firstly, wearing a Mongolian deel helps protect your clothes from the elements. Dust, dirt, animal poop, you name it and you’re in contact with it in the countryside. If locals are riding horses, working with camels, or doing any type of work with their herd, you’ll always see them in their deel for this reason.

Second, deels are great for when the weather turns, especially in the evening. For example, I throw mine on as the sun sets and when temperatures start to drop. It’s the perfect light jacket. It can also be used as a blanket, pillow, wind protector, and toilet shield.

In the winter, an insulated deel is a savior against brutal temperatures, fierce winds, and snowfall. It’s that extra layer of protection that beats any cold-weather jacket on the market. Trust me. Winter deels are either lined on the inside with sheep’s fur or there’s an insulated layer of wool or brushed cashmere sewn into it.

Basically, no matter when, or why, you’re coming to Mongolia, picking up a custom-deel while you’re here isn’t just the ultimate piece of gear, it’s also the ultimate souvenir to take home with you.

If you feel this experience is expensive, please keep in mind you are directly supporting small local businesses and women entrepreneurs by booking this tour.

A Quick Guide to Wearing the Modern Mongolian Deel

Today, the modern Mongolian deel is worn long, usually to just above the ankle. The garment wraps around and buttons on the other side of the chest, below the armpit and on the collar. Belts are worn around the waist and a hat and tall riding boots complete the look. Accessories can be added on the belt to add style.

Every Mongolian, male and female, young and old, owns at least one, usually several. Typically, a Mongol’s deel is made to fit by someone in their family, often by their mom or grandma.