Choosing Between Custom Suits & Ready To Wear Suits

If you’re in the market for buying a suit, there are three basic options available: Ready to wear (off the rack), bespoke and made to measure. It’s important to make the distinction on what type of suit you want to purchase because each of these styles of suits offers a different experience resulting in a different finished product.

A ready to wear suit is mass produced and is exactly as it sounds-ready to wear. It is also referred to as off the rack or off the peg because they differ in their counterparts in the sense that they can be found in stores hanging on a rack whereas custom suits are assembled. The advantage of buying a ready to wear suit is the speed and efficiency in which you can take home the suit. They are the fastest of all three options and only need minor alterations to be fitted and delivered.

The disadvantage of buying a ready to wear suit is that because it is mass produced, it lacks the subtleties of custom fit clothing. The design is standard and although these types of suits may fit a particular body type very well, they may not be a match for everyone.

Although it’s possible to get a nice looking suit off the rack, the standard of quality is generally much lower than the type of custom suits Toronto tailors are producing. Most off the rack suits are not built with a canvas. The canvas is a component found in higher quality suits. It’s a layer made of horsehair that is used to maintain the shape and extend the life of the suit found in between the lining and the fabric. Glue is used to fuse together pieces of the suit which make for a much shorter lifespan than that of a custom suit, which is stitched and sewn together.

An off the rack suit is the economical option for suits you may only use once. They are also the best option if time is a factor since they can be ready to wear with a few minor adjustments.

A bespoke suit is on the opposite side of the spectrum. It is a custom designed, custom-fit high-quality garment. A bespoke suit requires a bespoke tailor for design and assembly. The patterns are made from scratch and most of the suit is assembled by hand. You are able to select your fabric, color combinations, styles and literally every feature that goes into making a suit. The bespoke suit affords the most customizable options.

The process for building a bespoke suit is the lengthiest-being approximately two to three months. You are required to return for fittings at specific stages of development in order for the tailor to make the adjustments necessary to keep the suit being built as close to your body as possible while allowing for maximum comfort and range of motion.

There is a lifetime service that is included when you make your suit bespoke. It covers all maintenance and minor repairs (cleaning is not standard). The bespoke suit is the first choice when it comes to quality and comfort.

A made to measure suit is a hybrid of both suits. This style offers many of the same modifications that a bespoke suit offers, however, all patterns are designed by a manufacturer. When you choose a made to measure suit, you are basically choosing a style of suit that hasn’t been assembled yet. A tailor will take your measurements and offer you custom options that typically include the number of buttons on your jacket, whether you like pleats or cuffs on your pants, etc. A made to measure suit can be made with a full, half or no canvas at all. The suit has some of the elements hand stitched and others that are done by machine.

You are measured for a made to measure suit before it is made and then you have a second fitting when it comes back from being assembled. A third fitting can sometimes be necessary, but typically you will only need two fittings to have your suit ready for delivery. The entire process can take 14 days to a month.

The advantage of a made to measure suit is having many of the customizable options a bespoke suit offers but in less time for delivery. This style of suit also offers a middle ground in price between a bespoke and ready to wear garment.

Custom suits have always been the choice for higher quality formal wear. Your decision between the three options will rely heavily on the time frame you need your suit as well the level of commitment you are willing to make in quality and comfort.