Bespoke menswear: from Savile Row to the sherwani
What "bespoke" really means, how it differs from made-to-measure, and how the same principles shape Indian menswear couture.
Menswear couture is called bespoke. The word comes from the cloth being "spoken for" by a particular customer.
Bespoke vs made-to-measure
- Bespoke: a new pattern drafted for one client, cut and sewn largely by hand, with several fittings.
- Made-to-measure: an existing pattern adjusted to the client's measurements, mostly machine-made.
What you pay for
A floating canvas that shapes the chest, hand-padded lapels and collars, and a fit built around posture and movement.
The Indian connection
Sherwanis, achkans and bandhgalas follow the same logic: the cut, shoulder and collar matter more than the ornament. Bespoke Indian menswear combines tailoring with embroidery placed to follow the line of the garment.
See Indian menswear trends in the India Forecast.
