Bespoke Custom Suiting

YOU’RE UNIQUE. WE MAKE SUITS DESIGNED JUST FOR YOU.

What Is Bespoke Suiting?

Originating on Savile Row in London, Bespoke means “to be spoken for” and brings a whole new meaning to the Power Suit. To be frank, bespoke suiting has become a investment for an accomplishment or a milestone in ones career. We are beginning to see these men and women as suit collectors.; as one would have a collection of fine classic automobiles.

A truly made Bespoke suit is the best fitting garment you can get. Multiple basted fittings are done with an unfinished garment to ensure that the it fits perfectly in every way. A basted fitting is a fitting with a garment that is loosely stitched together with white basting thread. It is called the basted fitting because, at this point, the suit is temporarily stitched together with white basting thread.

Although measurements had previously been taken, the basted fitting will be the first time you actually get to try on your custom suit, fitting notes can be made, and the basting thread can be easily removed for adjustments prior to finishing the garment’s seams for final delivery.

Our team will walk you through caring for your new garment, and even show you the many ways that the Glenwood South Tailors & Alterations team will care for the garment free of charge in the future.

What typically leads up to a bespoke suit purchase?

First, you’re investing in a truly masterful fit. If you’re investing in a garment for a grand occasion, why wouldn’t you want something that works with your body, not against it? At Glenwood South Tailors & Alterations we walk through your goals in owning a suit that is unique to you. Fittings are performed with unfinished basted garments, allowing our team to perfect your fit during the process

Second, we talk to clients all of the time who picked up a “Custom” made to measure (see SuitSupply) or a highend off the rack suit (ie, Tom Ford) from a national chain such as Bergdorff or Neiman Marcus. What we find interesting is that you are paying upwards of $8,000.00 and these suits or sport coats have no functional button holes or many of the sartorial details you should (in our opinion) receive for such an investment. Most recently we were dismayed to learn from a client who made a recent purchase, that Tom Ford no longer offers sleeve buttons for their off the rack suits! WOW! $6,000.00 for a suit and we will have to supply the buttons.

As a courtesy for our suit connoisseur, we offer 15% off of your tailoring for a new (tags on) highend suit by the aforementioned designers! That is how confident we are in our commitment to making these suits look their best. Just reference this article when you bring in your NEW or gently worn* Brioni, Tom Ford, Isaia, Hugo Boss, Kiton, or Zegna, or Armani suit.

Gently worn is at our discretion*

We’ve all heard the age-old adage “You get what you pay for.” Well, it’s an adage for a reason. Taking the time to work with a trained team and talking through your goals and the look you want to bring home brings dividends to friends of Glenwood South Tailors & Alterations every day; let us show you why.

Bespoke Suiting Process

Different bespoke houses will have different numbers of fittings, there isn’t necessarily a set number. Bespoke suits are known for a perfect fit, and it’s impossible to achieve that without a series of fittings. With that said, these three are the most common:

Scrap Fitting (second fitting)

This fitting serves as a first test for the paper pattern that the cutter created. A beta version of your suit (sometimes just the coat) is made out of “scrap” fabric, cheap stuff used so that the cloth you selected (which is likely pricey) doesn’t get cut until the fit is more accurate.

Basted Fitting

A mid-stage fitting that takes place a few weeks after the scrap fitting, your fabric has been assembled by hand at this point, using white basting thread. Everything is still adjustable at this stage.

Forward Fitting

This is the last fitting before the final try-on/garment delivery. The garment is mostly finished and may require a few minor tweaks, but it’s very close to perfect.