Bespoke tailoring as we know it today has existed since the early 19th century. Did you know that up to 225 work steps are necessary before you hold the finished suit in your hands?
Definition and explanation: Bespoke tailoring refers to the manual production of clothing. Until the late 19th century, tailoring was the only way to make suits.
In the 20th century, tailoring was almost completely replaced by ready-made clothing, i.e. industrially prefabricated clothing. Since the 1970s, bespoke tailoring has increasingly been replaced by made-to-measure clothing.
The main difference between bespoke tailoring and bespoke clothing is that the bespoke tailor makes a new personal pattern for each customer. This complex way of working enables a particularly high degree of individualization. However, it is only really necessary for a very small proportion of productions. This high degree of individualization means more time is required (at least three to five fittings are regularly required for a tailor-made suit) and a higher risk compared to made-to-measure clothing, since there are no uniform standards.
A visit to a bespoke tailor is particularly useful for men and women with unusual body measurements that deviate greatly from the norm. As a customer of a bespoke tailor, you should be able to express your desires accurately and in detail during the tailoring process. Every second person – including the tailor and you – has different ideas about how a “well-fitting suit” should really sit and where. The more precisely you can tell the tailor, the more precisely he can respond to your wishes.