“I truly believe in creating a suit that is an extension of your personality.”
Whether this is going to be your first bespoke suit, or you’ve had tailored suits for a while and are looking for a change, I firmly believe the process should fun, exciting, engaging and stress-free! Read on to find out how I work closely with you to create a truly personal suit and service.
Let’s Be Friends
I do tailoring because I love taking care of people. So many of our clients have become great friends over the years - I want to start our relationship off with the same expectation.
When you book your first fitting, I’ll be in touch via phone or video call to introduce myself in person. It’s a great way to break the ice before you come to the workroom - I’ll also be full of questions for you so I can prepare for your visit in the best way possible.
I’ll be interested in what brought you to us, your past experiences (good and bad) with shopping for clothes, what you do, where you go, who you see… I want to get a good feeling for the possible situations where your new suit might end up so I can give you the best advice possible.
When we then meet I’ll have been through our extensive range of fabrics and narrowed options down for you based on what we discussed. I’ll educate you on the different types of cloth we work with, differences between weaves and finishes, so you are fully-informed and understand why I’m guiding you to certain options.
Once we’ve selected the fabrics for your new tailored suit(s) we’ll move onto to the things that really make your suit unique to you… the linings, threads and buttons… styling details for pockets, vents, trousers… By the time we are done you will not be able to wait for your try-on day!
Measuring and Fitting
Over 20 years I’ve measured 1000s of men, of all shapes and sizes… so you are in really safe hands!
I carefully take a minimum of 30 measurements and figurations in order to create your bespoke suit - but don’t worry, you’re not just going to be standing there doing nothing.
As I’m measuring you my habit of talking my thoughts out loud means we’ll be chatting through my thoughts on styling - lapel widths, trouser cut and so on. It’s a discussion, I want to hear any thoughts and feelings you might have on how you want to look, how you want to feel in your new suit.
It’s a chance for me to give you some pointers on general clothes shopping based on your shape… it’s a chance for you to learn some things about yourself and discover through the measuring process how I am going to put you in your very best light!
Cutting and Sewing
You’ve had your fun for now, it’s time for the real hard work to begin!
The measurements and figurations taken at your first fitting are now going to be translated into a paper pattern that is uniquely yours and yours alone. Think of the pattern as a collection of templates for all the different sections of your new suit.
When the fabric arrives in the workroom, we lay the pattern over the fabric and strike the sections out so they can be cut. Once the sections are cut out from the fabric, we can then begin the sewing process and start to create your new suit!
After approximately 4 or 5 weeks we will have your outfit ready for your “try-on day”. Your try-on day is a day to look forward to, much like your birthday…
Trust me from the moment I finish taking your measurements, I can’t wait for your try-on day either, because I know you’re going to be as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning as your new suit awaits!
Try-On Day
Look at Ernest in this picture. Doesn’t he look HAPPY?
This wasn’t staged - this is a photo from a real fitting with a real first time customer. You’re going to look like this on your try-on day (grinning from ear-to-ear I mean, obviously your new suit might be a bit different).
We can’t wait to welcome you back to the workroom and show you what we’ve created for you! You’ll want to snatch your freshly tailored suit out of my hands, but before that I’ll take you through all the details and features we originally chose together, so you can see how they’ve come to life.
I’ll also show you some additional little bits of magic we’ve worked in for you… and then it’ll be time for you to try your beautiful new suit on for the first time.
As you stare at yourself in wonder, I’ll be busy fussing around checking every part of your outfit, making notes and drawing on you with chalk, marking out the things we need to do to finish your suit. I’ll check with you frequently to find out how you’re feeling, it’s important to get as much feedback from you as possible for the finishing process.
Then I’ll make you feel a tiny bit sad as I ask you to take your new suit off so I can finish it for you!
Life Will Never Be The Same Again
Once we have your first bespoke suit finished, all the changes and adjustments that had to be made during the fitting process will be translated into your paper pattern. Remember? That paper pattern that is unique to you and you alone.
We keep all of this on record so in future when you come to see us again, we’ll be a lot closer to a finished garment - if not perfect - so repeat purchases are so much easier.
This goes for everything throughout our entire custom range: suits, shirts, smart casual wear, formal wear, outerwear… you now have the power of choice to save time and free yourself from the hassle of buying clothes that don’t fit from stores or online!
Our suit-making process is consistent. I have so many customers all over the world who I don’t get to see as often anymore, yet they still buy clothes regularly and have me ship them out to them.
Like my dear friend and client David King here, who now lives in Munich. Like David you will be able to shop with me confident in the knowledge that I always have your size.