HOW DO WE MAKE A CUSTOM SUIT?
The making of custom clothing requires a special process. Please read through the below steps to familiarize yourself with how we go about it.
Our Service Menu
At Watson Ellis all of our options are extremely hands on. We are not a tech company looking to sell you on virtual fitting. Some of the most important measurements are taken while touching the body. We also believe in having clients FEEL the different kinds of cloth. Quality cannot be understood just by looking at an image.
But First…
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “TRUE CUSTOM”?
True Custom is:
Call it our gold standard at WATSON ELLIS. Everyone gets this base level of excellence when working with us. The service levels only differ with exactly that, our service. Ie., more of our time equals a different service level. Let us explain more below…
MADE BY HAND
ALL of our suits are made by hand. Meaning that, the interior canvas, collar, neckline, shoulder and armhole seams and lining are all set in and sewn by hand, not by sewing machine. In fact, the only seams that go through a machine are the long ones.
WE DON’T DO FACTORY LINES
Sorry, not sorry Ford Motor Co. One suit is handmade by One MASTER tailor. One tailor touches your suit from beginning to end, we do not use a “factory line assembly” process.
NEARLY ENDLESS OPTIONS
The design possibilities are on par with couture/bespoke; we can literally sketch up your dreams and make them a reality. Of course we have illustrations and samples you can reference as well.
HOW MUCH DOES A CUSTOM MADE SUIT COST? LEARN ABOUT OUR SERVICE LEVELS BELOW
LEVEL 1:
True Custom $
Starting Prices Level 1*
2pc Handmade Suit $1860.00
3pc Handmade Suit $2220.00
Jacket or Blazer $1376.00
Pants $750.00
For amazing suits using our proprietary suit sizes as well as your measurements to craft your ideal suit fit. With hundreds of design combinations you are able to have something truly unique. If options scare you, just choose from one of the many looks hanging in our design studio!
LEVEL ONE STEPS:
First Fitting and Design
Second Fitting
Final Look
LEVEL 2:
True Custom Bespoke $$
Starting Prices Level 2*
2pc Handmade Suit $2,252.00
3pc Handmade Suit $2,692.00
Jacket or Blazer $1,668.00
Pants $896.70
We add the making of a muslin (test garment) for people who are very asymmetrical due to scoliosis and/or have other fit challenges. Muslins allow the final garment to be fit to near perfection before touching the final fabric. Of course anyone could choose this option if they wanted to ensure a perfect fit. It’s especially advisable for a first suit.
LEVEL TWO STEPS:
First Fitting and Design
Second Muslin Fitting
Third Final garment Fitting
Final Look
LEVEL 3:
Original Design Bespoke $$$
Starting Prices Bespoke & Original Design*
2pc Handmade Suit $3,378.00
3pc Handmade Suit $4,038.00
Jacket or Blazer $2,502.00
Pants $1,281.00
For an original work with a higher cost that covers the time to come up with the design, source the fabric, make the muslin, and the finished garment based on complexity. This level always includes the bespoke process of a muslin (test garment) explained in “Level 2”. This is what true couture and bespoke is.
LEVEL THREE STEPS:
First Fitting
Design Meeting and approval
Muslin Fitting
Potential Muslin Fitting x 2
Final garment Fitting and adjustments
Final Look
*Please note these are starting prices, so they are examples of our least expensive 100% wool suiting from Italy and what it would cost in each service level. Prices are subject to change seasonally.
Want to dive deeper? okay we got you.
See the drop down menu for a description of every step…
LEVEL 1: True Custom
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First we will discuss your fit needs, style preferences, and how you want to present. As well as have a quick browse through swatches so we can get an idea of what kind of fabric/suit you are looking for. (This is important to the fitting!)
We will then proceed with your fitting, taking some basic measurements and fitting you in our Watson Ellis size samples.
Once we have what we need from your fitting we will sit down to choose your fabric and discuss all the other design details—linings, buttons, buttonhole colors, lapel widths. It’s all pretty fun. This one-on-one session will take approximately 1.5 hours.
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4-6 weeks later we will meet again for a second fitting in your newly made custom clothes. In this session we will make sure the garment/s fit exactly as we had planned. If you’re over the moon with the product you can take it home then and there. If we think some minor alterations still need to be made, no problem—it will only take about a week from the date of your second fitting to make these changes.
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If alterations have been made then we’ll meet one last time to have a final look at your garment/s before you take it all home!
LEVEL 2: True Custom & Bespoke
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First we will discuss your fit needs, style preferences, and how you want to present. As well as have a quick browse through swatches so we can get an idea of what kind of fabric/suit you are looking for. (This is important to the fitting!)
We will then proceed with your fitting, taking some basic measurements and fitting you in our Watson Ellis size samples.
Once we have what we need from your fitting we will sit down to choose your fabric and discuss all the other design details—linings, buttons, buttonhole colors, lapel widths. It’s all pretty fun. This one-on-one session will take approximately 1.5 hours.
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4-6 weeks later we will meet again for a second fitting of your muslin. In this session we will assess our original measurements and adjustments and see what else we want to do to get an even better fit for the final garment.
Sometimes we get a special unicorn where we love the muslin fit and we are ready to proceed to the final garment, and sometimes people may need a second muslin, third round of fitting before proceeding to the final garment. All of this is ‘normal’ in the scope of custom and bespoke clothing.
Even though we are experts in fitting bodies, every body is completely unique, and the different in an infinite number of ways. Bare with us, let us do our jobs, and we will get you to gold in the end.
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Your garment is finally here! We require you to come back at least one more time for this third (sometimes 4th) fitting, to make sure there aren’t any final adjustments we wants to make.
If there are, they will be done right there in the NYC studio. It will take just about 7-10 days to complete.
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If alterations have been made then we’ll meet one last time to have a final look at your garment/s before you take it all home!
LEVEL 3: Original Design & Bespoke
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In this 30 minute consultation we will hash out your conceptual ideas for your original design, maybe look at some imagery and sketches as well as look at swatches to narrow down the direction for your fabric. We may even decide on the fabric or fabric’s!
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This is where we really get started. First we will discuss your fit needs, and how you want to present.
We will then proceed with your fitting, taking some measurements and fitting you in our Watson Ellis size samples.
Once we have what we need from your fitting we will sit down to choose your fabric and discuss all the other design details—linings, buttons, buttonhole colors, lapel widths. It’s all pretty fun. This one-on-one session will take approximately 1.5 hours.
After the session, we send you a rough sketch of your design to confirm all the details we discussed.
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4-6 weeks later we will meet again for a second fitting of your muslin. In this session we will assess our original measurements and adjustments and see what else we want to do to get an even better fit for the final garment.
Sometimes we get a special unicorn where we love the muslin fit and we are ready to proceed to the final garment, and sometimes people may need a second muslin, third round of fitting before proceeding to the final garment. All of this is ‘normal’ in the scope of custom and bespoke clothing.
Even though we are experts in fitting bodies, every body is completely unique, and the different in an infinite number of ways. Bare with us, let us do our jobs, and we will get you to gold in the end.
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Your garment is finally here! We require you to come back at least one more time for this third (sometimes 4th) fitting, to make sure there aren’t any final adjustments we wants to make.
If there are, they will be done right there in the NYC studio. It will take just about 7-10 days to complete.
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If alterations have been made then we’ll meet one last time to have a final look at your garment/s before you take it all home!
FAQ’s
Can you guarantee the fit is perfect on the second fitting?
Perfect is a dirty word at Watson Ellis! Sometimes certain people need a little more fit attention. In many traditional bespoke settings the tailor REQUIRES 4 fittings before making the garment. We pride ourselves on accuracy, but there are some posture issues that need to be explored beyond two fittings.
Do you do alterations on old Watson Ellis suits, or suits from other brands?
We always are here to help our clients with alterations on WE suits due to weight fluctuations, the fee is always a competitive market rate and a one stop shop for fitting and adjustments. Sorry we do not handle alterations on suits that are not ours.
Do you allow design changes after the fitting and design appointment?
We give you a 24 hour grace period to make any adjustments to your order, however after we submit design and fit to the factory, changes cannot be made to design as your pattern is crafted on the specifics of what you chose at your appointment.
How much does it cost?
See the starting prices in the “Service Levels” sections above!
Are you struggling to figure out what you want in a custom garment?
Schedule a one-on-one phone consultation or a commitment free fabric viewing appointment and have all your styling and custom suiting questions answered before booking your first fitting!
Are you a tough fit and want to know what we can do for you?
WHY CHOOSE US?
Why should you choose us to make your custom suit or tuxedo?
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Because we offer a wealth of tailoring and design experience. Melissa, our founder and head designer, has fit and design in her blood. Since she was a teenager she has had her own prominent line of sewing patterns. She has also worked in the NY fashion industry as a designer for the last 12 years, 8 of which have been spent in the custom suiting business. She knows how to fit and design to unique bodies better than anyone.
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Because we don’t take half measures at Watson Ellis. We stand by the quality of every garment that leaves our studio. To us, designing and manufacturing custom clothing is not just our business, it’s our passion. We are perfectionists. That’s not to mention that the cost / quality ratio of our custom suits is better than that of any other custom company in NYC.
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Because when you come to Watson Ellis for your wedding suit you can be assured that you will emerge with something that is truly unique and of the highest quality. Our ‘true custom’ approach means we offer endless design and fit options. We are not limited to suiting templates, as most other companies in the industry are. Instead we have both the skills and capacity to take your garments wherever they need to go in terms of design and fit.
Wedding Appointments
A wedding suit is one of the most involved processes we can take you through. Book this appointment to meet Melissa and learn about the process, see samples and browse fabric for your wedding suit or tuxedo.
We are a by appointment only business conveniently located in the heart of lower Manhattan, the Watson Ellis design studio offers a space for the fitting and creation of high-quality, design forward, elegant garments.