If you’re going to wear a suit to a wedding, go bespoke. Simply put, the bespoke tailoring method involves creating a garment from scratch to suit the wearer’s exact measurements and personal preferences, resulting in a unique piece of clothing.
That said, bespoke tailoring is traditionally an expensive and time-consuming process. It’s undoubtedly the best option, but the traditional custom suit method can be prohibitive to the average wedding-goer. That’s how the online tailoring experience got its start.
The Difference Between Online and Traditional
Traditional bespoke tailoring services are ideal for suit-making. They enable the client to work closely with a tailor to develop a suit that is truly their own. The unique structure is fitted to your body measurements and preferences, not your wallet.
A quality bespoke suit will cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 before getting into fine-grade fabrics. The process will take at least 12 weeks and span multiple fittings; it is hardly a convenience.
With an online bespoke tailoring experience, the client can customize the design with an interactive visual designer and report measurements themselves. These features enable the client to request exactly what they want without spending so much time with the tailor.
Sartoro’s Model
One company that provides an online bespoke tailoring experience is Sartoro, a brand founded on finding the perfect fit for every client without breaking the bank. In April of 2021, Satoro debuted a line of over 50 luxury fabrics and customization options alongside technology that predicted body measurements in seconds. By reducing unnecessary expenses associated with brick-and-mortar stores, Sartoro can offer suits that would have cost $1,000 to $1,500, starting at less than $500.
“We want to take the traditional principles of tailoring—that experience of going into the store, looking at fabrics, picking out the options you want, getting sized—bring that into today’s world,” said Sartoro founder Andy Fine. “Not everybody wants to do that, not everybody has time to do that, especially with weddings… So we set out to streamline that and make every part of that process easy without losing that personal feel.”
A visual designer combines the old-school process of tailored suit-making with the digital age, incorporating convenience and comfort with the genuine experience of a fitting. The bespoke experience is tried and true, providing the best fit without settling for something “close enough.” You should be proud to wear a suit to significant events when compromises don’t cut it.
Reducing Costs Without Compromising Quality
Moving online makes fitting, designing, and eventually buying a bespoke suit much more accessible to the everyday client, who still needs quality clothing for the moments that matter. Some companies have dropped the brick-and-mortar store to save on their costs and ensure that the traditional bespoke suit is something everyone can experience.
With weddings representing around 30-50% of their business, Sartoro has proven the online bespoke tailoring model ideal for the wedding experience, ensuring that grooms and groomsmen get the fit they need. Even actors like Mike Markoff, Shaun Sipos, and Gregory Michael chose Sartoro to get married in.
The Future of Bespoke Tailoring
Many companies aim to bring bespoke suits into the 21st century, building upon the traditional process with modern advancements to provide the foremost convenience, affordability, and accessibility. Using a combination of AI, historical customer data, and expert tailoring knowledge, companies can deliver a highly personalized fit, even without meeting the client in person.
Online bespoke tailoring services aim to make the purchasing and customization process easy and enjoyable for the customer, advancing the traditional into the modern age.
