What Is Made-to-Measure? A Plain Explanation
Made-to-measure builds a suit from a base pattern adjusted to your measurements, so it is cut to your body rather than pulled off a rack. It sits between off-the-rack and full bespoke, giving most men the fit and personal choice they want at a sensible price.
You see three terms thrown around: off-the-rack, made-to-measure, and bespoke. The middle one is the least understood and, for most men, the most useful. Here is a plain explanation of what made-to-measure actually means.
How It Works
Made-to-measure starts from a base pattern that is then adjusted to your measurements, so the shoulders, chest, waist, and lengths are cut to you. You also choose the cloth, lining, and details. At Cardero we take 21 measurements and keep them on file, so the suit is built to your body and your next order is faster. That is the whole idea behind our custom suits.
Where It Sits
Off-the-rack means buying a standard size and altering it. Bespoke means a pattern drafted from scratch entirely by hand over several fittings, at a premium price. Made-to-measure sits in between: more personal and better-fitting than off-the-rack, more accessible than bespoke. Our post on made-to-measure versus bespoke draws the line clearly.
Who It Suits
Made-to-measure suits almost anyone who wants a suit that fits properly and reflects their own choices, especially men who are hard to fit off the rack. If you have searched for a bespoke suit but wanted a sensible price, made-to-measure usually gives you the fit and the personal touch you were really after. You can price a build to see where it lands.
FAQ
What does made-to-measure mean?
Made-to-measure builds a suit from a base pattern adjusted to your measurements, so it is cut to your body rather than pulled off a rack. You also choose the cloth and details. It gives a personal fit without drafting a pattern entirely from scratch.
What is the difference between made-to-measure and bespoke?
Bespoke drafts a pattern from scratch entirely by hand over several fittings, at a premium price. Made-to-measure adjusts a base pattern to your measurements, which is more accessible while still fitting you far better than an off-the-rack suit.
Is made-to-measure worth it?
For most men, yes, especially if you are hard to fit off the rack or want a say in the cloth and details. It fits better than a standard size and costs far less than bespoke, which is why it suits most men looking for a custom suit.
Not sure what to buy next? A Wardrobe Plan is forty-five minutes one to one with Derek Burbidge, our founder, working through what you already own, what suits your colouring and your work, and exactly what to add next. You leave with a written plan, and it works wherever you live.
Book Your Wardrobe Plan