What’s a $4,000 Suit Worth?

[patrickBOOTH]



If this guy can't make a living making $4k suits, how is Ercole in business so long charging only ~$2k?

I think a large part of it is that Ercole owns the building him and his tailors work out of. Plus, close to zero marketing.

 

[bourbonbasted]



NPR today had an infographic as a follow-up to the article:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012...een-a-99-suit-and-a-5-000-suit-in-one-graphic
It's not entirely accurate, because the lines between high-end MTM, RTW, and custom is pretty blurry with respect to construction techniques and material.

Also not accurate because it assumes that all OTR suits are fused. Or that no MTM suits are fused. Both are dangerous and misleading assumptions.

 

[unbelragazzo]



Also not accurate because it assumes that all OTR suits are fused. Or that no MTM suits are fused. Both are dangerous and misleading assumptions.

You're right, but most sub-$1k RTW suits are fused (I know there are plenty that aren't, but just saying, MOST), and I'd guess at least much higher share of $1-2k MTM suits are at least half-canvassed.

 

[unbelragazzo]

Uhh...of course I'd rather pay less for a suit of the same quality. But the point is an $800 RTW suit is not the same as a $4k bespoke suit.

 

[hpreston]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012...een-a-99-suit-and-a-5-000-suit-in-one-graphic

Follow up by the author...

 

[dieworkwear]



My understanding, as a long-time bespoke customer who has patronised quite a few SR tailors, is that ET is right and you are mistaken. To share but one example, when Mahon cut at Anderson, and was a partner at Steed, he did not travel to the U.S. to meet customers he routinely cut for (invalidating your claim that the vaunted 'rock of eye' requires a more involved fitting process with the original cutter.)

I wasn't aware of this. Thank you for the correction. I'll have to rethink my understanding of this a bit more.

And as Eustace has correctly noted, all the other big SR tailors also send their cutters on these trips, negating the idea that a block or draft-based system somehow makes the fittings easier.

Just to clarify, my point wasn't that block or draft-based systems necessarily meant that clients didn't benefit from cutters being at the fittings. My point was only that if you were going to use someone at the front of the house, it would be better if the patterns were made from these systems rather than freehand. However, given your first comment above, I may be wrong about the whole matter in any case.

 

[David Reeves]



I don't think I would want to buy a $4,000 suit to wear just for the office or oother events. The truth is, if given a choice to buy a bespoke suit for $4,000 and a suit in retail for $800..people will hands down choose the lesser priced suit..lesser price BUT of similar quality as a fine bespoke suit.

Only losers would buy $800 suits.

 

[taxgenius]



Only losers would buy $800 suits.

+1

 

[jrd617]



Also not accurate because it assumes that all OTR suits are fused. Or that no MTM suits are fused. Both are dangerous and misleading assumptions.

+1

That infographic is a piece of crap.

 

[jeff13007]



I don't think I would want to buy a $4,000 suit to wear just for the office or oother events. The truth is, if given a choice to buy a bespoke suit for $4,000 and a suit in retail for $800..people will hands down choose the lesser priced suit..lesser price BUT of similar quality as a fine bespoke suit.

Where are you finding these $800 suits that are of "similar quality to fine bespoke suits"? Sure maybe the Brioni suits at C21 when they are having their clearance, but if you are saying suits that retail at $800 can be compared to a bespoke maker like Steed (i chose this because they are give or take around the 4k mark for a 3 piece) then i want some of what you are smoking....

 

[BlackToothedGrin]

Only losers would buy $800 suits.

I like this guy

 

[Pingson]



I like this guy

+1

 

[add911_11]



Only losers would buy $800 suits.

+2

 

[Macallan]

If the $800 suit is a better fit then the $4k bespoke suit, then fine; however, to compare a bog-standard rtw suit to a proper bespoke suit is silly. The person has properly never seen a proper bespoke in the flesh, let-alone own a bespoke suit.

I do disagree with Dave's opinion about so-called losers, just because a suit costs $800 does not mean it is a bad suit.

 

[gsugsu]



If the $800 suit is a better fit then the $4k bespoke suit, then fine; however, to compare a bog-standard rtw suit to a proper bespoke suit is silly. The person has properly never seen a proper bespoke in the flesh, let-alone own a bespoke suit.
I do disagree with Dave's opinion about so-called losers, just because a suit costs $800 does not mean it is a bad suit.

+1Hopefully the discourse here does not follow the path of the "Advantages of a $1000 Pair of Shoes" thread.