What’s the Difference Between Made-to-Measure and Bespoke?

• Bespoke Tailoring
• June 11, 2019

In recent times, the terms made-to-measure and bespoke have been used by many to mean the same thing. This often happens because some made-to-measure companies claim to offer bespoke services, making the term “bespoke” to lose its value. Read on to finally be able to decipher this mystery and act accordingly.

1. Pattern-making
Made-to-measure- A pattern is chosen. This means the suit shop takes a pre-set pattern, which is a size for the average person and makes adjustments to fit your measurements. For example, if a size 44 is taken, the tailor will consider your body shape differences and make adjustments like altering the length of the sleeves and shoulder width so that the finished product fits you better. One key point to note is that quality in the made-to-measure category often depends on the number of measurements collected.

Bespoke- A pattern is created. No use of a pre-set pattern as a new one is made for every individual. The suit is made from scratch using an extensive number of measurements to include the tiniest of details. The suit is made to fit you alone.

2. Fittings
Made-to-measure- There is a fitting at the start to get the measurements and make the suit. There is no fitting during the creation of the suit. There is a final fitting at the end to make sure the final product is within measurement range and to make sure it meets the client's expectation.

Bespoke- Multiple fittings are made during the creation of the garment to enhance the quality of the final piece. The mid-fittings include the skeleton baste fitting, forward fitting, and fin bar fin fitting. The bespoke tailor uses all these fittings to accomplish a more precise fit.

3. Fabric
Made-to-measure- The range of choice is limited to 1 or 2 mills, though some shops might offer slightly more or less. This has a significant effect on the selection of the fabrics, the quality and the cost.

Bespoke- Bespoke shops offer a selection of 10 or more mills. This means you have more fabrics to choose from.

So there you have it. You now know the difference between made-to-measure and bespoke. The question now is, which will you go for? The choice is all yours. All you need to know is that we do it all at Apsley Tailors. Contact us for more information.