Bespeaking of Bespoke - what is your experience?

**MacBean** · 15th December 10, 03:27 PM

I have two bespoke garments: a suit I had made in Chicago in my last year of graduate school. It was beautiful and fit like a glove, but I gained a little weight and it was useless.

The other, you yourself pointed me to on eBay (my undying thanks), the regulation doublet made for a piper in Scotland. I consider it bespoke even though it was a standard form, because the cloth was unusual. He must have worn through too many doublets because this one was made to last. Even so, a lifetime of piping wore out the horiontal threads of the inner lapel; the vertical threads appear to be unbreakable!

My conclusion: you may not be able to draw any general conclusions about bespoke, because bespoke varies so much! But I can guess you are still hankering after a montrose?

**MacLowlife** · 15th December 10, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by MacBean

My conclusion: you may not be able to draw any general conclusions about bespoke, because bespoke varies so much! But I can guess you are still hankering after a montrose?

What I am hankering after most is the physique that makes off-the-peg perfectly acceptable. I am very pleased to have a lovely Montrose made in a cotton fabric somewhere between velvet and alcantara. I do wish it were just a touch less glove-like in its fit. In my youth I did not have the protruding middle of middle age. Perhaps as old age comes, the gut may go...

What I still hope to hear more of is the increase in quality (like that additional 2 or 3 % we always heard about in stereo speakers that cost about twice as much) that only custom tailoring can bring. I think you touch on that, MacBean, when you talk about your doublet that was made for someone else. To borrow MoR's analogy, a custom bodied car is unique, even if the present owner did not originally commission the body. And a bespoke garment's superior quality goes beyond the way it fit its original owner.

I must add, my dear sweet mother made my blue Montrose and I would treasure it for that reason alone. Unfortunately, even her considerable skills and experience only got us so far and there are things I would hope to have in a 1000 pound doublet that I do not have in my very nice one.

I am also eager to hear more from people who wanted something that was just not available elsewhere in the marketplace. Josh of Skye Highland Outfitters (Our Own NorCal Piper) kindly had his doublet maker build my red PC to my measurements, but neither Josh nor his tailor ever saw me and my disappointing physique. I like the PC and it fits me well- don't get me wrong- but it is MTM, not bespoke. It was surprisingly affordable and it draws favorable comment when I wear it.

Surely there is someone with a Hong Kong Tailor story, or maybe a Middle Eastern one- some adventurer who had the good fortune to meet an accommodating tailor in some far flung corner and brought back a real gem- or maybe a real disappointment, I don't know...

**azwildcat96** · 15th December 10, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by MacLowlife

Surely there is someone with a Hong Kong Tailor story, or maybe a Middle Eastern one- some adventurer who had the good fortune to meet an accommodating tailor in some far flung corner and brought back a real gem- or maybe a real disappointment, I don't know...

OK...Again, I've always thought of it as a made to measure, made to order, or custom made garment, but I grew up in Hong Kong as a kid (age 6 months to16 yerars old). All of my life, my suits were made by a tailor. Fabric was chosen, a general style was selected, and certain features were added. Once measurements were taken, the garment was made. a second fitting then allowed for the fine tuning. I never had a suit that fit poorly, until I grew out of it, as boys will do. They outlasted me everytime!

**fortcollinsjerry** · 29th December 10, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by MacLowlife

Surely there is someone with a Hong Kong Tailor story, or maybe a Middle Eastern one- some adventurer who had the good fortune to meet an accommodating tailor in some far flung corner and brought back a real gem- or maybe a real disappointment, I don't know...

Many years ago I had a Great HongKong experience. I walked into the shop, got up on a box and the salesman went at me with a tape while an assistant wrote every thing down. Two day's later I went back for a fit and adjust, and the next day the suit was delivered to my hotel. The gentleman who delivered it waited till I had put it on to make sure the fit was corect. It was beautiful. Cost was about $50. That was in 1958.

**Downunder Kilt** · 29th December 10, 04:05 PM

You can still get that done in a myriad of asian cities from India to Indonesia, though it costs a little more these days. Recently in Indonesia I went to a tailor with photos of original football club jacket dating from the 1980's. He measured me, took down all the details. The jacket included some detailed leather embroidery. Had it not been for that I could have had it in 3 days.
It would now take 5 days but he would send it to me in Australia, no extra cost. I received in Australia 10 days after he measured me. Cost A$150.00, to buy in Australia A$600.00