I lived in the middle east. Sears catalogs were coveted by the natives. They would pay a lot of money for the latest issue.
You could go into a tailor shop, and they would pull out a Sears cat. and you could show them the *style* suit you wanted ...they would bring out various yard goods...and in a few days, you could pickup your custom-made suit...of the *latest* style, of cloth of your choice. And they were quite inexpensive, IIRC.:)
One would make an appointment with Chinese tailors to be measured. Items would be ordered from catalog (not necessarily Sears) images & fabrics chosen from bolts lined against the wall - made to order in about 6 weeks. IIRC, 2 suits (jacket, vest, slacks), 6 fitted shirts, & ties were custom made for about $300 back in the late 1980's. Similar offers were found in a shop in the Annapolis mall in MD around the same time.