How to quantify the cost of a made-to-measure garment

Price is what you pay. Value is what you get. Famous quote from Mr. Warren Edward Buffett, famous American tycoon.

Although the phrase was intended for different fields, it can be brought back to the world of fashion and in particular to the tailoring of a made-to-measure garment.

The price of a product can be arbitrarily and sometimes unjustifiably quantified; on the other hand, the real value and cost of tailoring a made-to-measure garment depends on certain and easily identifiable factors.

the price range of this item can be very wide and what makes the difference are a number of details that denote the quality of the garment and thus its true value, in terms of value and cost.

Therefore, in order to choose the right product, it is important to take into account several aspects such as the type of fabric and its origin, the complexity of the pattern, the time required to construct the garment, the quality of the labour employed and the brand name certifying its workmanship.

What determines the price of a made-to-measure garment

The elements that determine the cost of a made-to-measure tailor-made garment, depending on the desired model, are mainly: the fabric, the labour (calculated on lead time and the attention to detail and finishing) and the production costs, not excluding in some cases the brand value. Obviously, the more complex the workmanship of the chosen model, the longer the production time and, consequently, the higher the cost.

Considering the final price of the product, a correct proportion between the costs of these various components will make it possible to purchase a garment with a good ratio between quality and cost.

The price of each individual item needed for packaging is in turn determined by several factors, so let’s see how to recognise when the price is ‘worth the value’.

Fabric

One of the primary elements of a suit is certainly the fabric used to make it. The price of this depends on the raw material (for example, cotton and wool usually have lower prices than silk, cashmere and alpaca), the quality and fineness of the fibres, the type of finishing (the final touch in the production of the fabric that determines its characteristics such as water repellency etc.) and the value of the textile brand.

Each of these elements contributes to determining the value and quality of a tailor-made garment. Fine fabrics, entirely produced in Italy and made with respect for the environment, will obviously have a higher value, durability and cost.

Labour and materials

Some made-to-measure garments in circulation are made of fine fabrics, but then the workmanship may be shoddy. In this case, one may boast of using a good raw material, but the workmanship (lacking good finishing, refinement of detail and haste) will leave something to be desired.

A highly specialised workforce, with work rhythms in keeping with the time required for fine workmanship, precision of hand finishing and attention to detail, undoubtedly has a cost that affects the final price, but it also makes it possible to obtain a quality made-to-measure garment that will last over time.

Every detail, even the most minute, affects the final quality of the garment and allows it to be distinguished from an industrially made garment. To give an idea of the work involved, one only has to consider that up to 200 steps can be required to make a single jacket.

When you buy an Italian sartorial suit, you learn about the long tradition and strong ambition for perfection, the heritage of excellence of Italian craftsmen, the pride of Made in Italy.

Added to the cost of skilled labour are the costs of raw materials (buttons, threads, linings, horsehair cloth, etc.), and any parallel production costs.

How to evaluate cost differences of a tailor-made garment

It is clear that for each garment there is a rough reference price and for the same garment the cost varies depending on the factors we have indicated above. Let’s take an example. Two skirts of the same model could cost between 100 and 300 euros and certainly cannot be the same product. If you want a made-to-measure suit that costs 100 euros and you have no pretensions in terms of fabric quality or workmanship, what you will most likely get is a garment with fabric of poor and dubious quality, made without attention to detail or finish, and that will be part of your wardrobe for a couple of seasons at most.

If what you are looking for is a value-for-money product, that skirt costing 300 euros will definitely be a better investment and, if the fabric and workmanship are certified, you will be able to boast that you are wearing a high quality sartorial product.

In conclusion, the custom-made tailor-made suit is an exclusive garment of other value that will stay with you for a long time. It is an expression of personal taste and shop-floor craftsmanship, the cost of which is very often lower than the flattering offers of designer-sized garments.