John Lewis launches bespoke suiting

John Lewis is to offer its customers a made-to-measure suit service in its London Oxford Street flagship. The service is a partnership with online tailoring business A Suit That Fits and will be a unique bespoke tailoring service for John Lewis.

The appointment-only service launches Thursday, April 26 on the menswear floor, as part of the retailer’s £8m revamp of the central London store.

John Lewis head of menswear buying Matt McCormack told Drapers the service is being launched in response to customer demand. “Bespoke suiting does not necessarily mean luxury price points and this is about putting it in reach of people who thought they couldn’t afford it. We will definitely look to roll it out into other locations,” he said.

Douglas Hood, former sales manager at Savile Row tailor William Hunt stated: “If something like this is going to work in a department store, then it will work in John Lewis because it has the right level of service to make it possible. Savile Row remains the last bastion of men’s-only fashion anywhere in the world and John Lewis introducing an in-store made-to-measure service is not going to change that.”

Prices for a made-to-measure suit from A Suit That Fits at John Lewis start at under £500, depending on fabric and cut. The service will take between six and eight weeks.

A Suit that Fits was founded in 2006, after co-owner Warren Bennett traveled to Nepal where he had some fine woollen suits made. The company continues to enlist local Nepalese tailors and makes suits in their workshops in Kathmandu.

Images: A Suit that Fits