Most bespoke tailors offer a made to measure (MTM) option but what is the actual difference between bespoke and MTM? MTM costs significantly less than full bespoke – this much is clear, but are you getting a significantly lesser quality suit if you opt for MTM?

Not really, MTM retains many of the high quality elements of a full bespoke suit which can be summarised as follows;

Both Bespoke & MTM

  • Choose the colour, weight & pattern of cloth from the hundreds of high quality cloth swatches on a tailor’s shelves.
  • The customer is measured by the tailor
  • Your own choice of pockets, vents, lapels, buttons, button holes, pleats, linings
  • A second fitting where you try on the finished suit.

The major difference between MTM and Bespoke is that with MTM, the suit cloth is cut to a particular tailor’s house style or ‘block’ and then adjusted for figuration and size.

A bespoke suit on the other hand, will always follow an individual pattern – kept in the classic brown paper roll for future use – and due to the individual measurements, will take longer to cut, make and finish.

Bespoke only

  • More detailed measurements taken by the tailor for a more precise fit.
  • A customer pattern is made for future reference.
  • Three fittings – rough baste, pocket baste then finished suit.
  • The suit is finished by hand

With the difference between MTM and Bespoke being this subtle, it’s no surprise that MTM is a very popular option, bearing in mind it costs significantly less than a bespoke suit (as it takes up less tailoring time) and it can be finished faster (a particular advantage for a groom if the wedding plans are running behind schedule).

For some customers, only bespoke will do, but whichever your choice, MTM or Bespoke, you’ll end up with a very special, individual suit that will be admired and worn for years to come.

Book an appointment button

Visit Chris Kerr at our Soho shop.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

You have Successfully Subscribed!