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What's a $4000 Suit Worth?

nytimes.com

1–10 of 198 posts

Re: What's a $4000 Suit Worth?

#2
If he really does have mow siting list of months, you would think he'd raise his prices. He would make more money, some people wouldn't go to him for suits anymore, but that would just mean that others would get their suits more quickly

Re: What's a $4000 Suit Worth?

#3
One of the first things I did when I got my first 'real' job was get a custom-made suit from a place in our neighborhood; it was $1000 and he did like 25 measurements and said it would be 2 weeks until it was ready.

Turns out he was sending the measurements to Korea where the suits are custom made then shipped back, and then they do final alterations in the US.

I've ordered 3 more since then by just sending an email & choosing a color - don't think I could ever go back to an off-the-shelf suit - custom fit is so much more comfortable.

Re: What's a $4000 Suit Worth?

#6
post #3

One of the first things I did when I got my first 'real' job was get a custom-made suit from a place in our neighborhood; it was $1000 and he did like 25 measurements and said it would be 2 weeks until it was ready. Turns out he was sending the measurements to Korea where the suits are custom made then shipped back, and then they do final alterations in the US. I've ordered 3 more since then by just sending an email…

I've thought about doing this too. The problem is my weight and body composition keeps changing a lot as I pick up different sports, so a thousand dollar suit I buy today may very well become too small or too big six months down the line.

Re: What's a $4000 Suit Worth?

#7

If he really does have mow siting list of months, you would think he'd raise his prices. He would make more money, some people wouldn't go to him for suits anymore, but that would just mean that others would get their suits more quickly

I agree, unless he loses more than half his business, why not double his prices? Maybe he only makes one suit a month that way, but he would sure have a lot more free time...

Re: What's a $4000 Suit Worth?

#8
post #7

If he really does have mow siting list of months, you would think he'd raise his prices. He would make more money, some people wouldn't go to him for suits anymore, but that would just mean that others would get their suits more quickly

I agree, unless he loses more than half his business, why not double his prices? Maybe he only makes one suit a month that way, but he would sure have a lot more free time...

Some people just really love what they do, love being busy, and want to be able to share their gift with more people.

The certainty of constant sales/deal-flow has a value all its own too.

But don't let that stop you parroting the same advice to every self-employed/contractor/business-person who claims to be popular/keeping busy that we see on every. single. thread. on. HN.

Re: What's a $4000 Suit Worth?

#10

If there was _every_ a task ideally suited (no pun intended) for automation, this is it. Plunk the 16 measurements required and you should have a high quality bespoke suit.

There are plenty of companies that already do that (Indochino, Modasuite, Black Lapel, etc). No one who cares much about fashion believes that they will overtake a good bespoke suit any time soon.

For example, measurement is not as easy as "wrap a tape around your arm". You have to take multiples to make sure you get people as they add water weight, you have to take it at the right spot which might change for each person, etc etc. Then, machine sewing still isn't as good as hand sewing. If each pattern is different then it's difficult to automate the sewing. Lots of little changes in each suit make it tough to both automate and maintain high quality.

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