Tailor Made London combines cutting-edge technology with traditional techniques to create the perfect suit.
“Belgravia has a real community feel, which coincides with how we like to work.”
Wedding season – not to mention the season – is fast approaching and as the social merry-go-round gathers pace, many of us are searching for that signature piece. For men looking to showcase sartorial elegance, finding the perfect suit can prove tricky. As much as we try to emulate Dickie Greenleaf – the effortlessly stylish fictional millionaire played by Jude Law in The Talented Mr Ripley – there is always the danger of ending up as Dick Dastardly instead. But fear not. A Belgravia business has the modern man in mind, changing the face of traditional tailoring with their use of exclusive 3D technology.
Founded in Shoreditch a decade ago, Tailor Made London opened its second boutique in Grosvenor’s Eccleston Yards development last May. “We felt Belgravia was perfect for us,” says head tailor Dav Sehra. “There is a real community feel, which coincides with how we like to work as a business. It’s about customer experience and building a relationship with each client.” The success of the independent business, particularly in the past three or four years, led to an evaluation of their customer base.
As a result, they discovered that many of their clients were based in and around the area. While the Shoreditch space is appointment-only, their light and airy Belgravia home was designed as a retail space for walk-ins. “We want to bridge the gap between a modern or minimalist feel, as well as still having the traditional elements of a tailor,” says Dav. “We will, for example, still keep suits out on the rail.”
Technology is the brand’s real USP. In the middle of the shop, a large 3D bodyscanning machine takes all the suit measurements – thousands, even down to the angle of your shoulders – in an impressive 10 seconds. “The technology isn’t to take away the actual craftsmanship or the artisan element of constructing the suit, it’s merely there to eliminate how long it takes to take measurements,” says Dav.
The whole process usually involves three or four appointments, but can be streamlined to two. An initial 30-minute overview appointment is recommended to select from more than 3,000 fabrics – not to mention linings, buttons, braces, you name it – before an hour-long appointment for the fitting.
This is where you step into the scanner in your underwear – an opaque screen sparing any blushes – before trying on a “mock suit” roughly based on your size. “Everyone’s definition of a slim fit is very different for instance,” says Dav. “So we do it to eliminate any confusion and give the customer some expectation before the suit is cut.” Four to six weeks later – a suit can be machine-stitched or finished by hand, dependent on customer preference – and it’s ready.
A third appointment ensures the fit is perfect and there’s a fourth, if required, for any minor adjustments. A two-piece suit is certainly an investment piece – the price ranges from £750 to £1,025 – but with the wedding season on the horizon and iPhones at every turn, this seems rather a small price to pay.
Tailor Made London’s body scanner can take thousands of measurements in just 10 seconds.
15d Eccleston Place
tailormadelondon.com
