How many of you have had a piece of clothing custom made for yourself? How about furniture? If you have, then you must be familiar with the term ‘bespoke’.
The word has its etymological roots in tailoring, and in fact the word bespoke is said to relate directly to the moment when customers chose their cloth it was said to “be spoken for”. Now, the term is used for just about anything that is custom or quality crafted.
If one talks of bespoke suits then surly one institutional hive comes to mind; Savile Row. I’ve had a long time fascination with Savile Row as in institution and paragon of bespoke tailoring and while I’ve never set sole to its cobblestones, I am planning my own little pilgrimage quite soon and I am truly excited.
I own several tailored jackets and nothing fits like a tailored item. It’s not posh, it’s just something I think every man should aspire to add to his wardrobe. I will be fair and disclose that my first foray into bespoke tailoring wasn’t exactly a high street affair but a crowded shop in a somewhat grungy district of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. My next stint at custom stitching was a more enjoyable process at the Cairo institution of the Orange Square and I still sport the lovely corduroy jacket today and the second suit… honestly, what man wouldn’t hold a soft spot in his heart for a custom made wedding suit?
But now it’s time to take my tailored look to another level and this is why I have made Savile Row my next tailoring destination. Although I may not buy anything, as the Rand don’t buy what it use to, I’ve always said that oneshould aspire to greatness.
“Know first who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.”
– Epictetus
And so, it’s Savile Row or bust. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Enjoy!
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