The (17) made-to-measure tailors I have known
Although I haven’t covered the same number of MTM tailors as bespoke ones, Permanent Style has steadily accumulated a good range - from Kiton to Gieves, P Johnson to the Armoury.
And really good made-to-measure is increasingly what younger readers are asking about. They want good quality, but also a focus on style. They may well move to bespoke later in life, but right now MTM is their best option.
Still, the MTM companies featured here are not cheap. They’re all over £1500, many over £2000. Personally, I think this is what someone that regularly buys PS-recommended products should be looking at. There’s much more to be gained from investing in good tailoring (and shoes) than there is knitwear, shirts or jeans.
These, then, are the 17 makers I have reviewed, or are in the process of commissioning with. Plus a list of MTM trouser makers.
All are linked to the original coverage on Permanent Style, where you can go for more detail. I will endeavour to keep this list up to date every year or two - please do remind me if I forget.
Saman Amel
- Suit £2200, jacket £1800 (Napoli line); Toscana-line suit from £1400
- Background article
- Full review
Probably the two strongest experiences I’ve had with made-to-measure tailoring are Saman Amel from Stockholm and Jean-Manuel Moreau from Paris. Both produced excellent fitting pieces for me, through trunk shows in London.
Both also offer a quality level that has a large amount of functional handwork in it - such as a hand-padded chest - which brings it closer to the level of bespoke. It’s not bespoke of course, in ways of both fit and make, but it’s a step change on other MTM.
This is only the case with Saman Amel’s top line, the ‘Napoli’ level, but the lower Toscana line has the same strong fit. The only thing I’d like to change (but can’t on their style) about the jacket is the height of the notch, which feels a little fashion-y in how high it is.
My experience with Saman and Dag has been a little mixed in other areas, but my experience of the tailoring was very strong.
Jean-Manuel Moreau
- Suit from €2400, jacket €1800
- Background article
- Review article
Adding to my general points above on Jean-Manuel and his team in Paris, they have their tailoring made by the Orazio Luciano workshop in Naples - but to Jean-Manuel’s own style and pattern.
So while the make and quality is the same as Orazio, the style is for a slightly more classic, longer and more comfortable jacket, compared to the close-fitting Orazio jacket I have - and cover in this article further down.
The cream-linen suit JMM made me was lovely, and I wear both trousers and jacket separately often in the summer, as well as the suit occasionally all together.
Eduardo de Simone
- Suit from €1500, jacket from €1200
- Background article
- Review article (comparing to bespoke)
Eduardo de Simone runs a suit factory in Naples. He makes for other brands, mostly, but also offers his own tailoring under the name Edesim. Plus he has a small bespoke workshop, used for himself, friends and visitors.
He made me two jackets, one bespoke and one MTM, as he was interested in talking about and comparing the differences. You can see the article doing that here. The MTM service itself was good, if not clearly better than others around the same make and price.
Eduardo is also one of the harder brands here to use, as he travels less. Still, if you like the style, he is still someone I’d recommend.
Kiton
- Suits from £4000, in the ‘Lasa’ line
- Commissioning article
- Factory visit
- Review article
Kiton made me a made-to-measure suit through their programme at Harrod’s back in 2014. It was the top line or ‘Lasa’ service.
The overall experience was not that great, particularly given the price, and I think it shows the price inflation that happens with bigger designer brands. Three different people conducted the measuring, first and second fitting, which caused some confusion. And the overall fit was good without being outstanding. For over £4000, it should be better really.
This level of make had a hand-padded chest, though not collar. This sets it above most of the Kiton MTM, which doesn’t not have any hand padding, but is made the same way as the RTW product - hand cut and with hand buttonholes etc, but using pre-made canvases. More on that in my factory visit piece here.
P Johnson
- Jackets from £960, mine £1100
- Background article
- Review article
P Johnson is perhaps remembered unfairly by regular readers of Permanent Style. The jacket and trousers the team made me were both a good fit. The issues were with disclosure of where things were made, and readers’ reaction to that.
The jacket was good, and I still like the P Johnson attitude - less the more casual pieces they’ve been doing recently, but certainly the relaxed approach to tailoring, and colour combinations.
The only issue with the jacket was some parts of the style, like a higher buttoning point and small, bellied lapel. But if you try a jacket and like this style, I can still only recommend it, based on my experience. They also have more stores and therefore are easier to access than many of the brands mentioned here.
Anglo-Italian
- Jackets from £1490 in four tiers, depending on the cloth: £1560, £1640, £1730 and £2200. Suits in the same levels from £1760 to £2100. Trousers are £450.
- Background article
- Review article
My Anglo-Italian MTM jacket was a solid product - without the extra handwork of some brands, but a firm basis for the biggest reason I like what Anglo-Italian are doing, which is their style.
The green checked jacket I had made was distinctive in its Anglo colouring, all murky and subtle. And that for me made it feel much more contemporary than similar jackets or materials (Anglo also develop, and sell, their own cloth).
One thing that is less obvious though, or expected, is that the cut of the Anglo MTM product is quite different, with a low buttoning point, roomy fit and good amount of low drape. It can be quite flattering, and is certainly comfortable. But it’s something that does need to be considered alongside other aspects of the style.
The Armoury
- Suit from $3500, roughly £2550. Jacket $2750
- Full review article
The Armoury made me a very nice suit as part of their ‘100 Series’. It was beautifully fitted and beautifully made - though again, without the hand padding or similar of Saman Amel or JMM mentioned at top.
However, the suit was interesting for how well it was finished, and the feel despite that lack. This is largely down to the fact that this series from The Armoury uses the excellent Sant’Andrea workshop in Italy. The downside is that this makes it rather expensive.
Massura
- Made to measure suits starting at €1600, bespoke at €2500
- Full review
Massura is a German brand run by Moritz Kossytorz, based in Munich but using a tailoring workshop in Naples. The style and make of the tailoring is not much different to other Neapolitan tailors, but is worth highlighting because of the lack of German makers (Moritz serves Cologne and Dusseldorf as well as Munich, Zurich and London) and the price - handmade made-to-measure starts at €1600.
Moritz made me a green tweed jacket in a lovely cloth from Abraham Moon. The result was good in many respects, but there were substantial issues with the balance and shoulders at the back of the jacket. Part of this might have been due to doing some fittings remotely, though we did also do one in person.
Moritz has promised to correct the issues when we get a chance to see other in person next, and I will report back then - as well as update this listing.
Edward Sexton
- Offshore bespoke, starts at £2500
- Background article
- Full review
Bespoke tailor Edward Sexton also offers an 'offshore bespoke' system, where the patterns are cut in London but most of the making is done in a Chinese workshop. I've included it under MTM because although the cutting is by hand, the chest and collar are not hand padded, so the making level is significantly different to the full bespoke service.
The team made me a brown-linen double-breasted suit, similar in style to the grey-flannel DB I already had from them that was fully bespoke. It was a good fit, though not quite at the same level as the full bespoke. The make in the chest is also pretty solid, and you feel that.
I wouldn't say the result is comparable to Sexton's full bespoke - unlike, for example, Whitcomb & Shaftesbury - but it is a solid way for people that like the Edward Sexton style to get a well-fitted suit in that cut.
Orazio Luciano
- Suits from €2800, jackets €2200
- Background article
- Full review
Orazio made me a pink corduroy jacket, which was a decent fit, albeit with some issues. From the start, it was fitted quite closely, and with the slightly shorter cut that Orazio himself favours and has always worn.
It’s important to separate these two things. We did have some pure issues of fit, mostly in the back and the sleeve length. But other things are more a question of house style - and readers should consider whether these work for them, rather than considering them faults.
Orazio do also hand pad the chest and lapels of their jackets, which puts them above most other makers here in that respect. And that’s reflected to an extent in the price. Although it’s worth noting that the hand finishing is better on something like the Armoury suit mentioned above. Neapolitan make is rarely that fine.
Stile Latino
- Suits from €3000, jackets from €2100
- Background article
- Full review article
Stile Latino is the Neapolitan brand run by Vincenzo Attolini, who split from the better-known Attolini to start his own, rather brighter and more experimental brand.
Stile Latino is really a RTW company, and MTM is not offered that widely. The tailoring is also not something that aims to compete with formal bespoke, or be any kind of substitute for it - unlike many of the brands here.
But having said that, if you like the brand’s style, the MTM they made for me was good. And not many places do this type of completely unstructured jacket with an MTM service.
Gieves & Hawkes
- Suits from £1495 (lowest quality level, price at time of commission)
- Review article
This famous Savile Row name has been through a few different permutations in the past 10 years, and changed its tailoring supplier multiple times too. It never seems to be able to decide whether its RTW and MTM should be closer to the Row, or to Regent Street.
I reviewed the service in 2014, even though the suit was made for my brother-in-law. I was present for every appointment and saw the suit in action, so felt able to still write a review.
The suit was good for basic made to measure, but no more than that. It successfully gave him a fit that would have been impossible off the rack, but otherwise was the same quality level as their fairly low-level RTW.
Henry Herbert and Hemingway Tailors
In the early years of writing Permanent Style, I covered some cheaper services that I probably wouldn’t use today. One of those was Henry Herbert, a visiting service that I couldn’t really recommend - the lack of tailoring experience seeming to be the biggest issue.
And the other was Hemingway Tailors, run by Toby Luper, who had his suits made at the Cheshire Bespoke factory. Toby’s suits were well made and a decent fit, but I wouldn’t recommend them today for the price point.
Jake Mueser, Drake’s and William Crabtree
This is more a holding note that anything else. I am in the process of making a jacket with Jake Mueser, and plan to cover the service at Drake’s, given how many readers ask about it - though I think it’s far to say they are aiming to offer a solid MTO option on their RTW tailoring today, rather than a MTM offering that will compete with full tailors.
I am also in the process of making a suit with William Crabtree, the brand recently set up by agent James Priestley. I covered his MTM chore suit in a previous article here, but haven't included it in this list as it's not tailoring. When I have tried the tailoring, I'll add it in.
If you’re interested in made-to-measure trousers, the makers we’ve covered are:
Please note, all prices include VAT and are correct at the time of commission - some may have risen since then. Please check dates of the original coverage.
Good morning, I understand this is not the place for such enquiries and thus regret needing to post here, yet I would be grateful if someone could clarify the status of order #PS10058. I haven’t received any reply from the [email protected] address since 21 June, despite follow up messages. All previous orders have been handled with utmost professionalism; so I wonder if there is an issue with this particular order. Thank you and kind regards.
Hmm, thank you for bringing this up Kevin. I’ll contact the warehouse now and see what’s going on with it.
In future feel free to send me a personal email if you’re not hearing anything back from the support team.
Thanks
Simon, you’ve worked with such a wide variety of makers across the world – how have you dealt with the language barrier? I recently had my first bespoke piece made and I’m interested in continuing a relationship with this tailor, but we don’t speak a single word in common beyond numbers and “inch.” The jacket came out extremely well, only needed a few tweaks at the end to get just right, but I know if I’m looking to him for my business wardrobe it’s going to be more complicated to discuss.
It hasn’t been easy at times, but I’d say if what you want is his house style, with just small changes in proportion here and there, you will probably be fine. And it sounds like there’s been a good start from a fit point of view.
If there hadn’t been, or you wanted to deviate from the house style, then I’d say it’s worth finding somebody where you can converse a bit more easily
For anyone thinking that Kiton jacket looked like bad value for £4k in 2014, they are now regularly into £7k for the RTW jackets alone (trousers not included) on Mr Porter. Pretty incredible, but you have to assume there is a market for it.
Hi Simon,
‘My experience with Saman and Dag has been a little mixed in other areas, but my experience of the tailoring was very strong.’
May I ask what these other areas were?
Thanks as always for the great article.
Hey,
They were the trousers and the knitwear. Have a search for Saman Amel and you should see them both
This is, as ever a very useful and informative list, Simon. My impressions are that MTM is a relative minefield as it encompasses a large range of standards and services. I would ask if you could enlarge a bit on your description of Anglo-Italian; having some items from them I am contemplating them for a jacket later this year. It was your concluding remark about roominess/drape needing to be considered “alongside other aspects” that I was unsure about. Many thanks.
Pleased to hear it Kev, and I think you’re right. Though the quality is often reflected in the price if the type of company is similar (eg not a big brand)
Have you read the full review of the jacket?
I did originally but you have prompted me to revisit it where presumably my questions will be answered.
Hopefully. If they’re not, please do shout – on that post rather than this one probably
How about Cesare Attolini?
I’ve never tried them unfortunately, but would like to at some point
This is one of the best articles you have put out Simon. Incredibly useful to have everything in one place with prices. Thank you very much!
I think you are right to say that readers are looking for well made MTM but wrong to categorise it as a desire of the “young”. Personally I think it is a trend across the board.
People who love tailoring will always want to wear it at every opportunity but the number of opportunities are fast diminishing and this isn’t purely a function of COVID. It’s about lifestyle.
As a long-standing bespoke customer I can no longer justify bespoke on a cost per wear basis. It’s like having a Ferrari on the drive that you only use once a month.
I know this will provoke commentary from the ‘I’ll waste my money how I want’ crowd but I just don’t like wasting money on anything and given that I want nice tailoring, in a good cloth that fits, MTM hits the sweet spot.
Then it comes down to style and from all that you’ve reviewed, the one that floats my boat is Anglo-Italian. I bought a births, deaths and marriages suit from them not so long ago and I love it. Their house style has great drape, their cloths are really interesting and their service was impeccable.
Of course, some aspects of MTM will never match bespoke but good MTM comes perilously close and I’m quite sure that 90% of household bears won’t notice the difference.
Personally I doubt that MTM customers will ever migrate to bespoke whilst I’m quite sure that the reverse migration is already happening big time.
In some ways this is sad but bespoke has always been driven by formal work and social dress codes and when those codes no longer exist it is bound to have a huge knock on effect and not just for the young !
Interesting comment, thanks for sharing your rationale for not going bespoke any more.
I think you may find there are a few of us not in the ‘I’ll waste my money how I want’ crowd…
Hi Simon, i assume that the prices listed do not include the cost of the cloth [with the exception of AI]? With many cloths costing circa £200 p/m this can add a far amount to the final price.
No, they do all include the cost of the cloth JJ. It’s much more common for the tailor to supply the cloth, so prices nearly always do
The cloth offering must therefor be limited? The price of clothes varies so much i don’t see how they could factor it into a business model?
No, the range available is usually pretty broad. Sometimes they won’t work with a particular mill normally, but they often can request something even in that case.
In terms of the prices of cloths, yes these vary, but you then usually pay more for that. Most people include most standard cloths in their starting price, but if you want cashmere, or perhaps Loro Piana, and so on, then it will be more.
Hello Simon
Interesting topic like always!
I had some MTM pieces made in the past and the results ranged from very good to basically unwearable.
You pointed out that they are not exactly cheap either, which I do agree with. I have therefor changed my strategy and visit a good city tailor like MacAngus & Wainwright for example
to commission what I would otherwise had ordered as a MTM jacked or trouser. The prices are roughly the same prize, but you get a full bespoke service.
Would be interesting to hear how you think the two options compare.
Best
A.
Good question.
The thing you gain with cheaper bespoke is fit and perhaps handwork. The things you often lose are style and breadth.
In terms of style, while I love the bespoke tailors I know, nearly all MTM brands we have covered have more style. They know more, they’re more aware, and they focus on it more.
In terms of breadth, an MTM brand often has the ability to offer more of a range of cuts and makes, where a bespoke maker is restricted more by their training and coatmakers.
I hope that’s helpful
I have a couple dozen suits and wear them daily for work however find that some still have not received the attention they probably deserve (for a number of reasons). Having such a large collection yourself do you find the same?
Do you mean, some don’t get worn as much as others?
Great article, Simon!. Could you name the top 3 best value tailors, from the ones you mentioned? I know it may be very personal, but I am interested in your thoughts. From what you wrote, I would say JMM, Eduardo de Simone and Saman Amel. What do you think?
Thank you
I think it depends what you mean by best value Otavio, and what you personally value.
I’m not just being picky here. What you’ve selected are three that were good value, but that also worked for me personally. But accessibility is a factor, and it’s very hard to access Eduardo, where it’s easy to access Kiton. Style is also a factor, and many will prefer the closer, shorter style of Orazio, while the roomer one of Anglo will turn them off. Design of any type is another factor – a lot goes into P Johnson or Kiton, but very little into Eduardo. The lack of handwork on the Armoury suit will matter to some, but probably not to the majority.
Does that make sense?
Can I ask a similar question another way? You pretty clearly thought Kiton disappointing for the price. Were there others in that category?
And closer to the previous question: were there some that you were pleasantly surprised at the quality, given the price?
The P Johnson comes in pretty cheap, for instance, but it seems like maybe they punched above their price on make quality?
Sure.
I don’t think any others disappointed based on price, no. The Armoury was probably the tricky one, as it wasn’t hand padded and was more expensive. But that really delivered on fineness of make and on fit.
I think the two I was pleasantly surprised on were the Saman Amel and Jean-Manuel Moreau, given they were a good price for hand padded, and they delivered elsewhere.
I would also say that while it is natural to focus on price, one lesson from this range is that the more important thing is deciding what you value and want from an MTM suit, and what style you prefer.
I agree entirely on that last point.
Separately but relatedly, I think one of the reasons there’s a recurrent theme on the blog about ‘but is it value for money’ is in large part because few people have the chance to experience so many suits as you, and are thus anxious about being disappointed in their much rarer purchases.
It’s a more answerable version of ‘will I be disappointed?’, which is clearly unknowable.
Thanks Tony, good point. I think that makes the points about style and buying what you want even more relevant. One lesson I think I learnt early on is that the most expensive thing is buying the wrong thing. Because if it’s not what you really want, all of that money is effectively wasted.
The link for the Luxire trousers doesnt work.
My understanding is that for reasons involving lawyers, that article is no longer on the site. If you look however, the article is still available on some of the various internet archival sources such as the Wayback Machine.
And to be clear, I’m advised it’s best for me not to comment on the article under threat of legal action
Wow, how disappointing… I do enjoy their trouser offering, but information like this makes me think whether I want to support a business like this…
Hey Simon,
currently having a purple label Ralph Lauren mtm being made. I’ve had the first entry level polo mtm and I have to say it’s pretty decent. I wanted to know your thoughts on it if you have experienced it.
I haven’t tried either Ali, but I do want to at some stage.
Let me know how you think yours compares when you get it.
Hi Simon,
An interesting and useful list of MTM options.
Although Gieves is the only tailor you mention that I have used (circa 2005) it did make me reflect back to my own journey in trying different MTM options. Personally I found that I not only ended up with a well made and good fitting suit from the majority of tailors tried (3 out of 4) I also learnt a huge amount about what worked for my body shape and what styling points I wanted from a suit.
There are some great MTM options out there. If someone isn’t ready to make the step to bespoke then MTM is such a better option than big brand (usually) overpriced RTW. You not only get the suit but also the value of a tailor willing to spend the time understanding your needs and working with you to achieve the best fit possible.
Without wishing to blow smoke, as my son would say, you have become a man with no little influence on tailoring in this country. Should the lack of Savile Row names on this list be a cause for concern or does it simply reflect the difference between MTM and bespoke? I ask as someone who sees MTM to bespoke as a natural progression when you learn what you really want from clothing and perhaps recognise that is only going to be realised with bespoke tailoring.
Thanks Chris. I wouldn’t be concerned about that, no. Savile Row I think should generally stick to bespoke – having MTM as well can cause confusion for the customer, if the result is close at all to bespoke in terms of price. That’s why Sexton for example made a point of their product being different.
I hope this is contributing enough to the discussion merely to say that the Anglo Italian outfit is absolutely nailed on you Simon – it catches my eye every time I see it (it has the tonality of a 60’s Bond film) and I could quite happily buy that whole outfit and stop shopping for the rest of the year (which I’d almost certainly have to).
Great article Simon, very interested to hear your thoughts on Drakes MTM. Any chance of looking at Ring Jacket MTM via the Armoury, and Sartoria Carrara (No Man Walks Alone) in the future?
I think it’s unlikely, but I can try. Just depends on when travel is all possible again
Dear Simon! You mentioned that we gain more from investing in tailoring and in shoes than from shirts. I think I know what you mean, but would you agree that from a style point of view (which is obviously also very important to you) investing in a shirt with a collar style that works with and without a tie and maybe some functional hand work (in the 200€ range) is still a good idea and not pure luxury? Investing in those shirts will become even more intelligent as the tie becomes less relevant every year. Would you agree?
Yes I would Alexander. Particularly if you’re going to wear those shirts without a jacket a fair amount, and perhaps with less formal clothing as well
Having diligently saved during COVID,I thought long about investing in tailoring but settled on shirts at exactly that price point .
Hi Simon, the luxire link isn’t working. On that, have you any plans to try online MTM brands? I’d be interested on what you think about oliver wicks etc.
No, no plans to cover online MTM brands. In general, they will all be at a lower quality level than what we cover on PS.
Hi Simon,
Have you ever considered Mason and Sons?
I’ve bought some RTW items from them and am considering their MTM options for a couple of suits. Be interested to know your view or experience of them if you’ve used them before. Thanks
I haven’t, no sorry
Hi Simon
Amazing article as always.
Some feedback I would give would be to try some tailors scattered around the UK but not necessarily in London.
The Savile Row and London tailoring market is very saturated with most companies using the same workshops and just adjusting the block/models supplied to them.
Have a branch out to Hertfordshire and Cambridge etc. I think the value for money in these places is much higher as most customers in London are mainly paying the establishments rent as opposed the the final price reflecting cloth and quality.
I do appreciate that the London based firms are spending more on social media and imagery so they are probably more desirable at first glance than the ‘suburban’ tailors.
Thanks
Steve
Hi Steve,
The point on rent I’m sure is true, though I’m not sure those in London are using all the same workshops, and those round the rest of the country different ones. My impression from those I know around the UK is actually that they actually usually have much more limited choice – either an agent like Munro or a branded system like a Zegna etc. No one there is using Orazio, or setting up their own workshop.
Also, the reason not to cover more MTM around the country is the same as not covering more from bespoke either – it would be relevant to only a small proportion of the readership. See this article for more on that old chestnut.
Cheers
Hi Simon,
If you had to pick one, would you go to: 1) a “cheaper” true bespoke tailor with superior fit, a house style that you’re just about okay with, but not so fine finishing; or 2) a slightly more expensive MTM service, with a style you absolutely love and finer finishing, all with a good fit (but still less than the bespoke one). All other things like convenience, accessibility, quality of service, etc. being equal.
I seem to recall you saying you would always go bespoke when given the option, I wonder if that changed considering your vast experience with different MTM services.
I would go with the latter Edric.
If I have said I’d always go bespoke, I’m sure it was with qualifications. I’ve also regularly said that style is more important than anything else.
The reason we talk about fit and quality so much on PS, is that so many people in the world undervalue it so much. But that doesn’t mean they’re ever more important than style.
Thanks for your reply Simon, it gave me a lot to think about. I used to think it was bespoke over everything else but now it dosnt seem that much of an absolute rule haha.
There are no absolutes! Nothing is ever that simple
Hi Simon,
What if the choice was between the “cheaper” bespoke, as above-described, and quality ready to wear (think Ring Jacket, or RL Purple Label), again, in a style than you love, and a good (but less than bespoke) fit can be achieved with very minor alterations?
I’m not trying to push your buttons here, nor am I trying to provoke you into changing your answer, I just want to know how much value “design” or “style” has over everything else. I’ve re read your recent RL article on design several times, and while I acknowledge its value, I’m still trying to gauge where it sits on the scale of priorities.
Thanks.
Hey Edric,
I see the point of the question, but I think at this point it might just be up to you. A little like this post I wrote recently, all I can do is give you the values and information to judge things by – it’s then up to you to work out yourself which you prefer.
What matters here is how much you value the style of one over the other, and how much fit, given what you understand about my views. This becomes more and more true the finer the differences are.
I hope that makes sense
Thanks Simon! Your guidance is appreciated as always
Thanks again for another great article.
I’ve learned a lot from what others post here about their experiences, so in that spirit I’d like to share mine with Saman Amiel. I was keen to try them as I liked their aesthetic a lot. I enjoyed going to their showroom and talking to them and ordered a pair of cord trousers from (expensive) Loro Piana cloth. Unfortunately when they eventually came the fit was way off with terrible pocket flare. When I pointed this out they agreed to remake them though I’m not sure they would have offered if I hadn’t pointed out my concerns. These were a bit better but still with significant pocket flare. They were posted directly to me and I couldn’t make their next visit to see if anything else could be done – then COVID happened and I gave it up as a bad job. It was a lesson though that MTM isn’t necessarily cheaper – these were about twice the price of similar trousers from Graham Browne that fit perfectly. And a further lesson in that issues with visiting outfits can take a long time to resolve, if ever.
I am a regular Saman Amel customer and very satsified with them. Sorry to hear about your troubles. All of my items from them has not been perfect at first but they have always fixed them. I am course privilegied to live in Stockholm were they are based. My best MTM experience was probably Cesare Attolini but its maybe 5% better tham Saman Amel at a 50% higher price. I would also agree that Graham Browne is good value for tailored trousers (were style isnt as important as in jackets).
Hi Simon,
Thanks for this extremely helpful archive.
Do you have any plans to try out Atelier de Luca, the MTM arm of Camps de Luca?
Not currently, no
Hi Simon,
Thanks for the great write up. For American customers who do not visit Europe regularly, would you recommend the Armoury based on convenience? Or are there alternative MTM providers? I live in Chicago but can reasonably go to NYC.
Thanks,
Gaurang
Quite a few of these are in the US. The Armoury has a store, but so does P Johnson, and Saman Amel travel there during normal times, as do Sexton. I am covering J Mueser too in New York, as mentioned.
Great article! I’m myself a great fan of Jean Moreau and I’m grateful that I discovered him via PS. However, it’s a bit curious to see that you leave out Cesare Attolini in your reviews. I’m very curious to read your thoughts about it as I know some very serious people that own bespoke suits (from the usual suspects) but still consider Attolini a better made suit with more handwork than many others. I own several suits myself and love especially the fabrics but I prefer JM for less than half of the price.
Thanks Sven. I haven’t left out Attolini deliberately, it’s just that they don’t travel to London, so I haven’t had access. In fact they’re not really that known here – much more in the US.
Hi Simon,
Thank you for your excellent article. I am looking to get a tailor-made jacket in tweed and was looking at Norton & Sons on Saville Row (as they seem to carry a lot of English and Scottish tweed). I can’t find a review from you and was wondering if you had any views (or alternative recommendations). I am looking to spend between £1,200 and £1,500.
Many thanks, Vincent
Hi Vincent,
I know Norton’s as a bespoke house, though I’ve never had anything commissioned from there. I was unaware they did MTM though, and I’m afraid I can’t comment on that.
I would suggest that for that price you look at some of the MTM houses I’ve suggested above, though, and also at some of the comments from other readers. You might be better looking at a lower-level bespoke like Graham Browne, for instance, if it’s an English look you’re after.
I hope that helps
Simon
I’m not tried them but having walked past i wonder whether Walker slater in covent garden might work I have a feeling they do bespoke although the website only mentions MTM https://www.walkerslater.com/made-to-measure
Given the range of qualities of MTM on offer, I’d strongly advise only trying somewhere if you’ve seen a good, honest review, and ideally seen one made up on someone you know
Yes. I only meant that they look like tweed specialists. Possibly worth a look if passing
Thanks Shoddy
Great site. Most of the clothing is beyond my financial reach, but it is still fun to look.
What in you opinion should be the position of the lapel on a jacket or a coat? Be it a peak or a notch lapel on either a single breast or a DB jacket.
Hi Varun,
There are two variables here: the width of the lapel, and the position of the notch or gorge, where the lapel becomes the collar.
In terms of width, the general starting point is halfway across the chest. This provides nice balance and is subtle and elegant. On a 40 inch chest guy, that would be around a 3.5 inch lapel.
Once you have that halfway point in your mind, consider making it a little bigger or a little smaller. Smaller is more contemporary, the fashion of the past 20 years. Wider is a little more traditional, and is probably the style that is coming back. But either way, only adjust in small increments – a quarter inch here or there.
You can see a comparison of different lapel widths by looking through our Guide to Bespoke Styles here. Each jacket or suit there from a different tailor includes a measurement of the lapel width at the bottom, so you can see which look you like the most.
Thanks Simon. This I am sure will be very helpful.
Regards
Oh good, pleased to hear it
When it comes to the gorge height, there’s an even stronger case for moderation.
The trend in recent years has been for high gorges (see jacket here) but at some point that looks silly, like the lapel is disappearing off the back of the neck.
A higher gorge can be flattering on a shorter guy, but most of the time it’s nicer to have it lower, so it’s more in line with the shoulders, and leads the eye horizontally. This also is more traditional.
Any other questions, please do reply and ask
Thanks Simon. I am 5 feet 7 inches . So I guess I could try it out. Most of my jackets have the gorge in line with my shoulders, but I guess with a notch lapel I could try it out first.
Regards
Hi Simon
This is an excellent article. It works well for me from two standpoints. Firstly, the indicative cost is really helpful and secondly one gets to see style variations.
However, I may have suggestion based on my assumption that you have not reviewed a classic bandhgala suite. The easiest way to put it is that is a suite with a Chinese collar. Perhaps a lot more. It’s quite a favourite here in India. A formal, modern yet a traditional way to dress up. Perhaps you could do a write up on it. For reference, you could look at “ Canali Nawab Collection”.
Regards
Thank you Varun.
I wouldn’t really wear a suit with a collar like that – it’s more often called a Nehru or Mandarin collar here.
However, it can be nice in workwear, like my suit here:
https://www.permanentstyle.com/2021/07/bespoke-chore-suit-from-william-crabtree-review.html
Or, my jacket from Prologue here:
https://www.permanentstyle.com/2019/08/hand-dyed-mandarin-jacket-from-prologue.html
Yeah, it’s the Nehru jacket. I like the one from Prologue. Don’t have one. Truth be told, here in India, we miss quit a lot of things that could make our wardrobe multi faceted because of the high temperatures most of the months. Cotton and linens are our best friends. Winters seem to be only for a month or two.
An jacket like the one mentioned by you or an over shirt, however, could be a good investment for months like November here. Thanks for responding so soon. Will keep asking more.
Regards
No worries Varun.
It’s often worth looking at what shops like The Armoury in Hong Kong, or those in Singapore and Australia, are putting out. Not the same weather as India, but much more similar than the UK!
S
I see. Wanted to visit Singapore and Hong Kong, sadly, Covid hit us badly.
Have you ever reviewed BnTailors? They have some tie ups in Singapore but would love to visit the original makers in South Korea.
Regards.
I have tried a jacket with them, yes, here. That didn’t turn out that well, but then it was hard to know whether that was them or the fitter
Hi Simon,
You have previously reviewed Prologue as a “semi-bespoke” service. Would you consider their make to be better than the best MTM on this list in that case?
No, probably not. It’s very similar to the likes of JMM and Saman Amel in terms of overall make.
The problem really is that there are many different variables here – cutting, pattern refinement, hand work, precision and time taken on both – which makes it hard to draw a straight line. But some of the MTM here could be called semi-bespoke: JMM and SA on the make side, Sexton on the cutting.
Hi Simon,
The general price Of MTM here is very comparable to the classic Bespoke option at Whitcombe and Shaftesbury. Is there any benefit in choosing any MTM over this classic bespoke? Do you feel it would be better to go with Saman Amel, for example, if you wanted a more casual jacket?
Many thanks,
Hey Liam,
There are some other comments above addressing this point. But in brief, I’d say that if that’s the style you want, then yes you should go to Saman Amel. Because style always comes first, and Whitcomb will not be as casual a jacket
Wasn’t Shibumi playing in this league too Simon?
No, Shibumi is full bespoke, or at least the jacket i had was
Simon, this is immensely insightful. Do you have any experience of Ede & Ravenscroft MTM? I’ve always thought they were massively underrated both in MTM and bespoke shirt making.
I don’t I’m afraid, no
I see these prices and think how much better are these vs SuitSupply MTM at £400 – £500 per jacket. I’ve had a few done and there fine. Simon, perhaps you could review? Maybe a bit lower class for you but interested to get your take!
They’re a lot, lot better Ross. In terms of quality (have a look at our piece on suit quality here), cut and fit. I’ve seen so many examples of poor output from there.
It is of course a question of what you want, and what you care about. But there is no manipulation of prices here – the brands I’ve covered are better because there is more work involved, whether it’s shaping a collar canvas by hand on the functional side, or sewing a good hand buttonhole on the aesthetic side.
But no, I’m unlikely to review them. My feeling has always been that I couldn’t without knowing and covering the whole of that price bracket better – otherwise I have no context, nothing to compare them with.
That’s why I had someone else write a piece when we looked at cheaper shoes, for example.
Dear Simon
I’ve been doing a lot of research of late relating to made to order services in London and I’ve come across Ede & Ravenscroft who offer a made to order 2P suit for £1100
I have to say that it sounds too good to be true when you consider K Sargent and T Sweeney are quoting £2200 for a two piece
I didn’t realise the limited options when it comes London based MTO
Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated
Thank you in advance
Kindest regards
Glenn Ford
Hi Glenn,
There is quite a range of different qualities of made to order or made to measure, just as there is with qualities of ready-made suits. The two are usually made in the same factories.
So Ede may still be good value, but the others are likely better quality.
Did you like the look of any the options in this article though? Those are the ones I have used and can speak more about.
Simon
A lower buttoning point will not make you slimmer, no. It will make your chest and shoulders look bigger, at the expense of an elegant skirt on the jacket. It might even make you look less slim.
How well a RTW jacket fits you is impossible to say remotely I’m afraid, Jack. The tailor may well be right, but I can’t tell from here.
Yes, that will lessen the effect a bit
Hi Simon,
As a US customer, I am excited to try Saman Amel, based on your positive reviews. However, I received the current price list from Dag (ahead of their trunk show visit to NYC), and I see now that prices for the Napoli line are getting closer to $4000. This is not cheap for MTM. Do your comments on expensive MTM v. cheaper bespoke still hold?
Good question Jerrell. I’m not sure to be honest – the case is certainly weaker at that price
Hi Simon, You speak very highly of Graeme Browne who are cheaper than almost all of these mtm tailors and offer full bespoke. Do you think one would be better off buying from someone like Graeme brown, cad and the dandy or p.a Crowe rather than more expensive mtm?
It depends Seb. First off, you can only get certain styles with those guys – nothing that soft or Italian looking, which you may prefer. Second, the bespoke isn’t to the highest quality with a cheaper maker, so finishing and less work around getting the fit spot on. And lastly style – if style matters to you at all, eg help picking cloth, or the style of a brand overall, then most of the cheaper tailors are not great
Dear Simon,
I have a question about what I might term MTM-etiquette, which basically is: how “soft” should your decision to purchase from a particular place be when first visiting them?
I am soon travelling to London and am keen to visit a few different places with a view to ordering an MTM suit for an event next year. I have no intention of ordering on this trip but am keen to take this opportunity to see a few shops in person, to try on RTW tailoring, if available, to talk to them about pricing, styling options, fabrics. I am also as certain as can be that one of the shops I am going to visit will be the one I am going to order from.
Do you think it is best to be upfront about this? Is this something that a shop like Drakes or Anglo-Italian would accommodate or do you think it’s asking rather too much?
Thank you!
I think that’s absolutely fine, Zy. If you’re in doubt at all, just mention that when you first go there, or make the appointment. It might make no difference to them, but it might put your mind at ease
I might be wrong, but for me, decision where to spend my money is often very much influenced from how shop treats me after im upfront that i wont be purchasing anything at the moment.
If they are busy with paying customers, its fine. But if they figuratively speaking go back to reading newspaper even when im the only person in store and are unwilling to answer any questions, im unlikely to spend my money in there, all else being equal..
Hi Simon. I wasn’t sure where to put this question, but what do you think of Spencer Hart and in particular their MTM service where they make you a few suits in bulk?
I don’t know I’m afraid Matt, I haven’t tried them or seen them
Hi Simon, I was wondering if you have had any experience with Jack Davison? or heard anything about this brand?
No, sorry
Hey Simon have you had a chance to make that review on custom Drakes?
No, sorry, they’ve been changing what they offer and suppliers, so it hasn’t made sense yet
Hi Simon, do you have any experience with the Canali or Corneliani MTM services? I am in Ireland, and they have recurring MTM days in Dublin. They have been described to me as quite comprehensive, at a cost of around 2.2k a suit. Am I better off getting a couple of flights to London?
I don’t know I’m afraid Conor, I haven’t tried either of them. I’m sure they’ll probably do a good job. I think you would end up paying a bit more for what you get that at a smaller maker, but as long as you have a strong sense of the style you want, they might be OK
Hi Simon
Did you ever cover the MTM/MTO at Drakes?
No, sorry.
Hey Simon,
Are you able to comment on the make & which offering offers more handwork between Ring Jacket MTM via the Armoury, and MTM Sartoria Carrara (No Man Walks Alone)?
Thank you!
I’m afraid not, no, I’m not that familiar with the Carrara at NMWA, sorry
Hi Simon,
Make and style aside, how would you compare the quality of fit on a first commission between SA/JMM and the offshore Sexton? You mentioned SA took great care with the measuring, but how does the fit result compare to Sexton, with the cutting done in London but without a basted fitting? In short, who is most likely to nail it on the first try?
Thanks,
Chris
I’d say, just on my experience, SA/JMM are more likely to
That’s certainly been my experience. SA really nailed the fit from my very first commission. The experience with ES was very disappointing.
I’ve tried a number of MTM products. SA are the best (and most expensive) I’ve tried by some margin. I don’t have any experience of JMM. I have had quite good value MTM, fully canvased and a reasonable fit, from James Michelsberg in Leeds. Not really SA standard, but certainly as good as what I’ve had from G&H, though significantly cheaper.
Hi Simon,
I’m hoping you can help me understand something a little better and ultimately reach a decision!
I’m getting married in July and therefore am embarking for the first time into the world of MTM suits.
I’ve decided to go for double breasted as its’ different from what I wear daily (navy business suit) and as the wedding is in Spain I want to go for a linen blend.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Thom Sweeney so they were my first stop, had a great consultation and identified a Holland & Sherry Fabric (Ref: 2019001) which I thought would work perfectly. The price quote for MTM was just shy of £2900.
As a second opinion I visited Gieves & Hawkes for a MTM consultation and chose the exact same fabric with the same choice of a DB suit. The price quoted at G&H was over £1200 cheaper than Thom Sweeney
I would really appreciate you helping me understand why, if they are both Made To Measure and using the exact same fabric there is such a big difference in price, considering that they are both very reputable tailors in the trade. I would love to go with Thom Sweeney but it is hard to justify such a difference in price.
Any light you can shed on this would be much appreciated Simon so thank you in advance!
Hi George,
Sure, happy to help. Sounds like you’re on the right lines with the choice of style as well by the way.
Made to measure varies a lot in quality, unfortunately, in much the same way that RTW suits vary in quality too. From simple making points like a hand-attached collar, to fit points like a more flexible block that can be adapted to the customer more.
Gieves & Hawkes, also unfortunately, is nothing like it once was, and I wouldn’t put much store in the name when it comes to anything but bespoke.
I haven’t tried either service myself, so can’t comment in detail. That is also a pretty expensive MTM suit from Thom Sweeney, very much top end. I’d expect something very good for that money. But I can say that the price difference between the two could certainly be justified by a difference in the type of product.
I hope that helps – even if I haven’t necessarily made the decision one way or the other for you!
Cheers
Simon
Thanks Simon thats’ very helpful.
The other company i had in mind (and an appointment with next week) is P Johnson for MTM.
I know you’ve touched on them above but could you share your thoughts on them in my scenario please?
Regards
From what I tried, I think they’d do a solid job and it will likely be better than the Gieves & Hawkes. But the style would be towards the slim and short, which is not what I’d normally recommend
great thanks a lot!
Hi Simon.
Hope you are well. I am looking to make some fresco iii trousers. Can you recommend me any good MTM/Bespoke tailor that charges under 400 per pair? Thanks
In London I’d look to Anderson & Sheppard, Trunk, Anglo-Italian, Drake’s, though I can’t remember the exact prices – they have largely gone up recently. You might have to look to someone cheaper, like perhaps Suit Supply
Just a note here as well – I just got back my first suit from P Johnson. I got it as a daily wear in the office, something that is smart but can also take a beating. I have to say I am thrilled.
Gavan in their London showroom is also a gent and really helpful (with a good eye as well!)
What style of suit did you go for, Gregoire?
And, if you don’t mind me asking, how have their prices changed since Simon’s initial review?
Hi Simon,
I should be really putting this comment in the 55 Bespoke Tailors Post but I had a refresher look at Steed Website yesterday and hit on their Made To Measure Button and then on their prices and I was surprised to see no less than Two options for Made to Measure as well as bespoke of course. I’ve included a link to the webpage.
I now have the finished bespoke trousers which are great and I’m getting another bespoke navy pair in navy to make a suit. I do like the braces by the way.
One important point the tailor advised me on was , if initially commissioning separates eg . navy jacket and grey trousers and subsequently commission a pair of matching navy is to go sooner rather then later as the fabric can change slightly in colour over time …hence my second commission of a pair of bespoke matching trousers in navy.
Simon,I beg you to seriously to commission something from Steed Bespoke in bespoke or MTM at your able convenience…please.
Edwin and Matthew are father and son and are two wonderful gentlemen and with an easygoing relationship which I highly recommend.
Ramp Steed Bespoke up highly on your “To Do” list now.
Great tailors and I recommend them highly …and of course they visit London regularly!!
Apologies for commenting on an older article, but this is a fantastic resource.
I appreciate that made-to-measure isn’t the main thrust of this site, especially anything below the higher end of MTM. I wonder if you could recommend any blogs or other sites for whom it is more of the focus?
Or, if they don’t exist, anywhere that outlines how to intelligently judge the quality of what any given MTM service is offering?
Many of the menswear blogs that often get recommended for those with more modest budgets, such as Ape to Gentlemen, seem to focus much more on designer RTW rather than MTM.
Hi Samuel,
Not a problem at all – articles like this on PS are never old, just richer and more useful with age. Never hesitate to leave questions.
You’re right in what we focus on, but there isn’t really an alternative I can recommend I’m afraid. In terms of judging quality of MTM, I’d say it’s just fit plus the normal quality of RTW. So look at this article on quality in RTW, and then see if you can find a friend who has used a service and can talk about the fit?
Thanks Simon, that’s useful to know.
Rather unrelatedly, that article you link to has a line in passing early on about not getting shirts dry-cleaned. Do you have more info about caring for shirts and making them last? (I’ve tried using the search function but couldn’t see anything). I have my first couple of MTM shirts and had just assumed that getting them dry-cleaned would be the best thing I could do for them!
Hi Samuel,
No, actually I never have. But in general, dry cleaning is bad for materials when it’s done frequently, and it’s really an American thing to do it all the time. Much better to wash at home and then hang to dry
Thanks Simon,
Presumably there’s some trade-off in effort/ lifespan here, but in general when you say ‘wash at home’ is it acceptable to machine-wash on a delicate setting without doing too much damage? Or is it a case of hand-wash only?
Oh no, sorry, I mean a washing machine, no need even for a delicate setting. Hand washing is really only needed for knitwear and materials like silks