What things affect suit durability

[Verve]

I had one tailor suggest I have two pants made for each suit and then switch between the pants each time I wear the suit to combat the problem that a couple of commenters have noted about excessive wear in the seat from my Aeron chair. (Just kidding, I don't have an Aeron chair!)

I did so, but I would be curious to get other opinions as to whether this was a wise investment or merely a tailor taking advantage of me!

And I had a dry cleaner explain that even with dry cleaning, over time, colors will fade, and that's why they suggest that you dry clean the jacket and pants (or in my case, both pants) together each time. Otherwise, you end up with pieces that are slightly different fades of color that will make the suit seem wrong to the eye.

Again, would be curious for this board's opinion as to whether this makes sense or if my dry cleaner is also trying to take advantage of me!

The first company I used recommended to buy extra trousers with the suit orders, and the proposition that trousers wear out faster than jackets made sense to me. However, the current tailor I’m using (Divij Hemrajani), gave additional information: not all cloth have the same durability factor. Many fabrics don’t require a 2nd trouser purchase as it should last a lifetime because I also have a rotation of suits. If I only own one or two suits and wear them frequently, then the variables change, and maybe I should order 2 trousers. To cut this short, it was refreshing to hear Divij counter the argument that I do not have to buy 2 trousers when placing a suit order through him even though it would have benefitted him financially. Thus, he’s earned my trust versus the 1st company I used to buy from.

 

[mebiuspower]

I also thought that when I got my MTM suit made, I should get a 2nd pair of pants. But the SA recommended against doing this, and said the technology of producing durable wool have improved and this rule no longer holds true today.

Now that being said, I only wear the suit ocassionally on business trips so the case might be different if you wear a suit to work 5 days a week 8 hours a day. YMMV.

 

[St1X]

It depends on a wool - high twist wools will most likely last you as long as a jacket. But high super wools are way less likely to last as long

 

[bluesman528]

Having a big rotation isn’t going to make any one suit withstand more wearings. If it’s well cared for, a suit will withstand X wearings, be that spread over one year or a decade. Having a bigger rotation just lets you procrastinate individual wearings.

That's obviously true but if you embrace it that way this whole economizing "my suit fabric has to be like stainless steel" thing will not matter anymore for you. You would be even able to add some high-quality fabrics to the rotation which are not made for withstanding abrasion in the first place but are simply nice to touch and wear in any kind of hot and cold weather. It changes your perspective and that will add much to your individual joy with tailored clothing.

 

[KayGeeLC]

Edit. I did a quick search after posting a question about steaming