An ‘off-the-peg’ suit is one that conforms to a retailer’s standard sizing. They often leave a lot to be desired in terms of fit and there is obviously no way for the customer to have impact on the style. They will often be found in high-street shops where the quality can vary immensely. The pattern block from which the various sizes are cut will vary from brand to brand as will the style details- lapel width or jacket length for example.

A made-to-measure suit is one created from very few body measurements, using an altered pattern of the closest fitting standard size. There might be some room for customisation of the fabric and style details but the variation might be limited. A made-to-measure suit will usually cost more than an off-the-peg suit due to the extra work in fitting the client and the inability to order materials in bulk but this will vary brand to brand.

A bespoke suit is one with unlimited customisation in either fabric or style detail and with a much more comprehensive fitting process. A traditional Savile Row bespoke suit would encounter a basting stage where the jacket is worn by the customer in a semi constructed fashion. The alterations are conducted at this stage so at the final fitting there is very little to do. We take a full list of body measurements and use a base pattern to which we apply all alterations prior to cutting the cloth. We account for dropped shoulders, the curvature of the spine, whether you stoop or stand erect and for the pitch of your arms.