The Devil is in the Details: How to Identify a Well-Made Custom Suit
Whenever you wish to dress to impress, nothing compares to the premium quality of a custom-made suit. Whether embracing the new talents of a designer near me online search or relying on the timeless classics from our team at Wayne Edwards, it is all about finding custom clothing that fits your body like a glove.
As you showcase your unique style and personality through a suit, you need to remember that not all clothing is created equally. The quality of the underlying materials and the construction of the suit will vary significantly from one tailor to the next.
This is why paying close attention to the details is crucial when selecting a custom-made suit. You do not want your next appearance at a business meeting, wedding, or special event interrupted by a missing seam or poor-fitting suit jacket.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the easier ways to identify what qualities need to be present in a well-made custom suit.
Fabric & Material
The first aspect of a well-designed suit will be the type of underlying material selected for its construction. Any tailored or bespoke clothing will have high-quality fabrics, so the suit fits and looks fantastic.
Whenever you examine your custom clothing fabrics, look for a fine weave that appears smooth and consistent. It should feel soft and supple to your touch and be made from natural fibers like wood, silk, cashmere, or anything that offers more breathability and durability. Do your best to avoid polyester and trust yarns made mostly in Italy, France, England, and the US. The tag should give you some insight into the origins of the custom-made suit.
Construction & Tailoring
Understanding a custom suit's unique construction and tailoring are equally critical indicators of quality work. You’ll come across standard suit patterns, customized or bespoke suit patterns, and half-canvas/full-canvas suits. Most premium custom clothing is designed from patterns meant to fit your body type. That is where a tailor constructs a pattern and calculates your precise measurement.
Most lower-quality suits have a fused interlining with the canvas. This means it is glued onto the fabric and can degrade over time. A custom-made suit will have half or full-canvassed interlining. This will all be sewn into the suit based on the skills of the tailor and their team.
In addition, you’ll see more emphasis on various shoulder expressions. This creates a highly distinct look that experts will see as high quality instead of off the shelf. Standard models.
Other construction indicators include handmade buttonholes and slight sewing variations that show the clothing maker's personal touch instead of everything being perfectly machine-generated. This will mean a natural drape where the suit falls over your body without any awkward creases or wrinkles.
Finishing Details
These are the nitty gritty elements you want the most. A tiny detail in a suit can drastically improve its overall appearance. You want to explore the lining, buttons, pockets, and even the collar for detailed work. For example:
Buttons security sewn into the suit and made from premium materials like horn.
High-quality lining fabric sewn in and soft to the touch.
Functional pockets that are easy to access, adequately lined, and reinforced to prevent tearing.
Sleeve length, trouser circumference, and crotch length that snuggly fit your body size and type.
Clear signs of hand stitching and working cuffs.
Consider the Tag
Unfortunately, the marketplace is filled with suits claiming to be custom-made. That leads those in a rush for a wedding to purchase something from a big box store claiming to be 100% pure wool on the tag, but is actually blended fabric.
Anytime you see polyester, nylon, or viscose, you are getting a lower-end option. You always want a clear label on your suit from a supplier or tailor that can be easily tracked back to its origin and trusted for its quality.
Want to Keep a Custom Suit? Take Care of It!
Finally, once you have determined you own a custom-made suit, be sure to spend a little time on the care and maintenance. A well-made piece of bespoke clothing is an investment. With proper care, you can help extend its lifespan.
Always follow any care instructions on the label or from the tailor to keep your custom clothing in top shape. You should also store your custom-made suit properly to prevent wrinkles or unwanted sun/pest damage.
If you can, hang your suit on a quality wooden hanger and avoid storing it in a tiny space where it can be easily crushed or creased.
Wrapping it Up
Over time, you will quickly be able to tell a custom-made suit from a knockoff. That will empower you as you travel or visit big cities where low-quality suits flood the market.
Be sure to pay close attention to the fabric, construction, and details, and you will indeed have a fantastic-looking suit that will elevate your appearance at your next event, wedding, or social engagement.
Our team at Wayne Edwards can offer exceptional help in this regard. Schedule a consultation with us today, and we can review how you can best identify what makes a custom suit high quality.