Tailor made- shirts part I
I recently met a friend who excitedly told me how he had found a new tailor-made shirt APP. It entailed him recording a film of himself turning around so that the company could take his measurements from the footage and produce a tailored shirt of his choice. I thought – WOW – if this company can produce a reasonably well-made shirt this is certainly a revelation, the future?! I love high- tech but I also love to feel the fabrics, talk about the options and discuss the fit- a more personal approach. I told him to keep me posted.
I was at a tailor this week selecting new fabrics and a new-collar for a client. Once a tailor has the correct measurements it only takes a short time to select a new design. Once you have the right cut, it`s an easy, stress free way to shop!
I decided to contact three Companies offering tailoring in Zürich and asked them three questions.
Hübscher www.huebscherhemden.ch
A family run business since 1949, Hübscher is now run by six brothers and sisters.
Appointments can be made at home, the office or in one of their showrooms. Hübscher produces shirting for retailers all over the world. I met Matthäus Hübscher at his showroom across from Globus, Zürich.
What do you describe as a basic shirt and what is your starting price?
I would suggest a double twisted super 100`S cotton shirt made of Egyptian cotton for a basic shirt. Price CHF 144
How long will it take for the finished shirt to arrive?
It takes three weeks to arrive. It is also possible to arrange an express option, which then only takes two weeks.
Do you offer a second fitting?
Yes, a second fitting is important for new clients in order to add finishing touches to the measurements. For existing clients a second fitting is only required when the body measurements have changed due to weight loss or gain.
Pelikamo www.pelikamo.com
Pelikamo is a Swiss brand that provides business and casual clothing for the male urban professional. Established in 2011, the main boutique is situated across from Kaufleuten on Pelikanstrasse, they recently opened a tailoring atelier on Nüschelerstrasse. Their focus lies on timeless, authentic menswear – no unnecessary frills and no short- term fashion trends. Their signature cut is smart with a slim modern silhouette.
What do you describe as a basic shirt and what is your starting price?
Our classic shirt offers a discreet cutaway collar, a slightly rounded cuff and mother of pearl buttons. Our shirts are made of finest Italian cotton- the result of an extensive quest to create what we believe to be the perfect shirt. Our starting price for a made-to-measure shirt is CHF 149, but the price is dependant on the choice of fabric. The majority of shirts cost CHF 159.
How long will it take for the finished shirt to arrive?
Roughly four weeks
Do you offer a second fitting?
Yes, we do. We want to ensure a perfect fit and if necessary we will do small alterations at a second fitting.
Suitsupply www.suitsupply.com/en/home
There’s something new in town, and it can be found on Nüschelerstrasse, Zürich. Founded in 2000 by then-law student Fokke de Jong, Dutch men’s fashion brand Suitsupply now has stores throughout Western Europe, USA, Canada and China. Realising that many of his peers’ sartorial tastes exceeded their budgets, De Jong set out to offer a personalized, and attainable solution. Sourcing only the finest Italian fabrics, Suitsupply has made a name with its take on modern tailoring and personalized service.
What do you describe as a basic shirt and what is your starting price?
Our Blue Line shirts start at 89 CHF. In terms of a “basic” shirt, there’s really no exact definition. We prefer a slim, well-defined fit around the body, but after that there are a number of collar options that are made to appeal to everyone’s unique style. From there we move up into the Purple and Red Line shirts, which offer even more exclusive fabrics and tailoring details. If you need something very specific, we have custom shirting available which start from CHF 139.
How long will it take for the finished shirt to arrive?
If an off-the-rack shirt needs some altering, that can be done in the store within 30 minutes. For custom shirting it takes about 4 weeks from the time you come in to get fitted to final delivery.
Do you offer a second fitting?
Yes, after an initial fitting you have to return to ensure that everything fits perfectly. If something is not quite right we send it for another round of alterations at no extra cost.
My friend received his shirt a few weeks later by post. The shoulders were slightly tight, the collar too. The company adjusted the cut to my friends wishes and sent him a new shirt free of charge. He said it fitted better but he found the fabric a little rough after a day in the office. Will he be ordering another shirt? Perhaps at one of the tailors above!
Photos Hübscher: Nadine Kägi
Thank you to Pelikamo and Suitsupply for the photographs
Next week: Tailor made Part II- a guide to your first tailored shirt.