Tag: Edinburgh Tailor

  • What is a House Cut, and Why Don’t We Have One?

    Walk into a Savile Row tailor and you’ll often hear the term House Cut mentioned with pride. It’s the tailor’s signature silhouette, their way of saying: “This is who we are.” You can almost identify the maker before you even look at the label. The slightly roped shoulder, the nipped waist, the high armhole. Each detail part of a visual language that’s been refined, protected, and passed down for generations.

    mannequin wearing red notched lapel suit jacket

    It’s a beautiful concept, and in many ways, it’s what built the mythology of British tailoring. Anderson & Sheppard have their drape tailoring. Huntsman have that clean, military precision. Gieves & Hawkes lean towards structure and order. Each house has its own rhythm, its own visual accent.

    But at Edinburgh Tailoring Company, we don’t have one. Not because we couldn’t, but because we don’t believe in it.

    A House Cut, by definition, is about the house. The tailor’s identity, not the client’s. It’s the shop’s signature on your sleeve. And while that can be comforting to those who want to feel part of a heritage, it also creates a quiet limitation. You walk in, and before you’ve even been measured, your silhouette has already been decided.

    We believe in something different. We believe the cut should come from you.

    We work with people of every build, age, gender, and background. One day we’re fitting a finance director who wants a sharp three-piece to project confidence; the next, we’re building an unstructured linen suit for an artist who hates the feeling of wearing one. There’s no such thing as a single cut that works for both. The cloth changes, the purpose changes, and most importantly, the person changes.

    That’s why we don’t hold one silhouette sacred. We hold fit sacred. The architecture of balance, proportion, and comfort is our constant. But how those elements combine? That’s up to the person standing in front of the mirror.

    Of course, we have preferences. We like a jacket that sits naturally on the shoulders, that flatters the waist without pulling, that lets you move. We like trousers that hang cleanly, not cling. We’re drawn to classic shapes that feel contemporary rather than trendy. But these are guiding principles, not fixed laws. A good tailor knows how to flex, not dictate.

    The truth is, a House Cut can be a comfort blanket for a tailoring brand. It’s a way of saying, “This is our style, take it or leave it.” But bespoke, at its core, is supposed to be the opposite of that. It’s not about identity through imitation; it’s about identity through individuality.

    Every so often, we’ll have a client ask, “What’s your cut like?” And the answer is: It depends on you. That usually earns a pause, followed by a small smile, because that’s when they realise they’re not here to fit into our idea of perfection, they’re here to define their own.

    David Gandy wearing a beige check 3 piece suit

    We’ve seen the same person transformed by a suit that truly fits them. The posture changes. Shoulders relax naturally. There’s a quiet confidence that no brand cut can replicate. That’s the magic of tailoring when it’s done right. When it’s about the person, not the house.

    If we ever had a House Cut, it would be a ready to wear range. Because every pattern that leaves our studio belongs to someone else’s story, not ours. And we rather like it that way.

    So perhaps our “house style” is simply this: we listen first.

    Over to you:
    What do you think? Should a tailor have a signature style, or should every suit start with a blank page? Let us know your thoughts below.

  • How Much Should a Bespoke, Handmade Suit Cost from a Tailor?

    It’s a question people ask us all the time.

    Usually they all or email and ask, “Chris, how much should a bespoke, handmade suit cost?”

    My honest reply: “Well, that really depends on what you need, how often you’ll wear it and whether it’s for a special occasion. How long is a piece of string?”

    It’s not the answer anyone wants to hear, but I do tend to win them back when I say our bespoke suits start at £749.

    “£749? How is that even possible?”

    Let’s break it down.

    Understanding what goes into the price

    As a professional tailor with nearly 20 years’ experience, I can tell you that pricing something as unique as a bespoke, handmade suit isn’t straightforward. There are a lot of moving parts. Materials, labour, design work, fittings, potential shipping and finishing. But let’s look at the key factors and what you actually get for your money.

    Our two-piece bespoke suits start at £749, and a three-piece suit starts at £999. On average, clients spend around £1,249 for a two-piece and £1,599 for a three-piece, depending on their chosen cloth and details. At the very top end, a fully bespoke two-piece can reach £10,995, or £14,999 for a three-piece, when we’re working with the rarest and finest fabrics in the range.

    So yes, there’s quite a range. And there’s good reason for it.

    What you get at the starting point

    For £749, you’ll receive a fully bespoke, handmade two-piece suit, crafted to your measurements using one of around 40 cloth options. All 100% four-seasons wool, in a variety of colours, patterns and textures.

    This starting collection does sell quickly, and while we do our best to restock, from time to time a particular fabric may be unavailable. Beyond that, we also work with some of the most respected mills and merchants in the world, including Abraham Moon, Holland & Sherry, Huddersfield Fine Worsteds, Dugdale Brothers, Loro Piana, and Scabal, to name a few.

    If you fall in love with a fabric we don’t currently hold, we can usually source it. Most reputable tailors can, even if they don’t advertise it.

    How we’re able to offer bespoke suits from £749

    People often assume that a starting price like ours means cutting corners. It doesn’t.

    Our process is as traditional as any bespoke tailor’s, but we’ve built efficiencies into how we work. The key is ownership, proximity, and process:

    • We own our house-cloth stock, which means we don’t pay standard industry mark-ups on ‘cut length’ cloth.
    • We keep all our house-cloth ‘in-house‘, so there are no extra shipping or handling costs between supplier and workshop.
    • We run a very precise production system, ensuring every hour of labour and every stage of craftsmanship is accounted for, and nothing is wasted.

    We also accept that we make less as a business on your first order. That’s because it involves the additional work of creating your personal pattern and any adjustments or remakes needed to make it perfect. Once that’s done, the pattern is yours, and future orders become simpler, faster, and even more precise.

    In short, the price of each suit reflects two things:

    1. The cost of the cloth and lining you choose.
    2. The amount of skilled work required to make your garments.

    Bespoke vs Made-to-Measure. Know the difference

    This is where a lot of confusion (and frustration) comes in.

    Made-to-measure garments start from an existing pattern (known as a block) which is adjusted to fit your measurements. The result can be very good, but it’s still based on a pre-existing shape.

    Bespoke, on the other hand, starts with a blank canvas. Every aspect of the pattern is drawn from your measurements and body shape. The chest, back, shoulders, and posture are all accounted for individually, so the fit is sharper and more personal.

    That’s why bespoke usually costs more. It’s more labour-intensive, requires more fittings, and takes longer to make.

    One client once came to me after ordering what he believed was a bespoke velvet jacket from a well-known Edinburgh company. He’d paid a bespoke price but received a made-to-measure garment that didn’t fit, even after nine fittings.

    I explained how we work, offered to make a mock-fitting jacket from calico so he could see the pattern before we cut the real cloth, and we completely restored his faith in the process. He’s now one of our most loyal clients.

    Advice from an experienced tailor

    If you’re shopping around for a bespoke suit, here’s what I’d recommend:

    • Arrange two or three consultations with different tailors. Get a sense of how they work and whether they take time to understand what you want.
    • Ask questions. Any reputable tailor should be happy to explain their process and pricing clearly.
    • Check whether they offer a measurement guarantee.
    • Ask where the suit is made. Be cautious of vague answers like “made by our UK tailoring partner.”
    • Clarify whether it’s truly bespoke or made-to-measure.

    And if you’re working to a budget, be upfront. A good tailor will help you find the best way to achieve what you want, or explain what might need to wait until next time.

    At Edinburgh Tailoring Company, our goal is to give you freedom of choice. With over 10,000 cloths and 1200 linings available, there are billions of possible combinations, and a price point for almost everyone.

    We can also quote cloths from UK and European mills upon request.

    In summary

    If you’ve read this far, thank you. You clearly care about what goes into a truly bespoke suit.

    The truth is, there isn’t one simple answer to how much a bespoke, handmade suit should cost. It depends on the materials, the craftsmanship, and the experience you want.

    At Edinburgh Tailoring Company, we simply believe a bespoke suit should cost no more than it truly needs to, and that you should enjoy every part of the process along the way.

    If you’d like to find out how much your own bespoke suit would cost, get in touch. We’re always happy to have a no-strings chat.

  • When Should You Order Your Wedding Suit?

    There’s no such thing as being too early when it comes to your wedding suit. I’ve seen people book their suit consultation before they’ve even booked the venue, and honestly, I admire it. Because when it comes to weddings, timing really is everything.

    The truth is, making a bespoke suit takes more than just skill. It takes rhythm. There’s the measuring, the cutting, the first fitting, the adjustments, and the final touches that make it yours. None of that should feel rushed. When clients come in with time to spare, we get to enjoy the process together. The fittings feel calm, the decisions are deliberate, and the result is always stronger for it.

    In an ideal world, I’d tell every wedding client to start the conversation at least six months before the big day. That gives us time to design, choose the right cloth, get the first fitting booked, and allow for alterations if we want to finesse the details further. Four months can still work nicely, but it becomes more of a focused sprint. Three months can still be done, but it involves precision timing and a lot of goodwill from everyone involved.

    Now, I know how weddings go. You tell yourself you’ve got ages, then suddenly it’s eight weeks out, and the venue’s asking for final numbers while you still haven’t chosen your shoes. It happens more often than you’d think. So if you’re reading this and starting to panic slightly, don’t. We can usually help.

    We do offer express orders. They’re not for the faint-hearted, and yes, they come with an additional charge. Because an express job means reworking our schedule, sometimes sewing late into the night, and occasionally chasing couriers across the city to get everything ready in time. We’ll always try our best, but we’ll never pretend there’s a magic button for guaranteed miracles. Quality still comes first, even when time isn’t on our side.

    It’s also worth saying that wedding tailoring is far more diverse than it used to be. We work with people of all genders, identities, and orientations. Some want something quietly elegant, others want bold colour or statement texture, and many want something that doesn’t fit neatly into any traditional box at all. That’s what makes it so rewarding. No two weddings are the same, and no two people are the same either.

    A wedding suit isn’t just about formality. It’s about confidence, comfort, and feeling like yourself on a day when everyone’s looking your way. That’s why we take the same care with a linen two-piece for a beach ceremony as we do with a velvet dinner jacket for an evening reception. Every stitch, button, and pocket is there for a reason.

    So, when should you order your wedding suit? Sooner than you think. Give yourself time to enjoy it. The design stage is exciting, the fittings can actually be fun, and the whole thing becomes part of your story instead of another deadline to juggle.

    If you’ve got a wedding coming up in early 2026, or even next summer, start the conversation now. Come in for a consultation, look through the cloths, have a chat about the style you want. The earlier we start, the more relaxed and personal the process becomes. And that’s when we create something truly special.

  • Understanding Our Shirt Services

    Most people simply want shirts that fit better than anything they can buy off the shelf. That’s where we come in.
    At Edinburgh Tailoring Company, our shirt making services are designed to give you that perfect fit, no matter the level of investment you wish to make.

    Some clients like to build their fit gradually, learning what works for them through experience. Others prefer to invest in the process from the beginning, perfecting every detail through fittings and craftsmanship.
    Whatever your approach, all of our shirts are handmade from scratch. Carefully cut, stitched, and finished by skilled hands to achieve a standard you’ll feel the moment you put it on.

    Below, you’ll find a breakdown of our current shirting services, along with their details, timescales, and pricing.

    Personal Tailoring

    Price: £69 – £149 (Depending on the cloth chosen)
    Cloth Options: Around 300 online, or 500 in-studio
    Timescale: 4 weeks from order to completion

    Our Personal Tailoring service is where most clients begin their shirt journey.
    In the studio, you’ll try on one of our sample shirts in your closest size. Once you’ve found the fit you like, we’ll make your chosen shirt in that exact size and cloth.

    For clients ordering online, the process is just as personal. You’ll book a virtual consultation where we’ll guide you through the measurements we need to create your shirt.

    No alterations are made on this service. The first shirt you order serves as the foundation of your personal pattern (the blueprint we’ll build on). On your next order, you can request small changes, such as adjusting sleeve length or collar size, and your paper pattern will be updated accordingly.

    After two or three shirts, most clients have refined their pattern perfectly, achieving a fit that feels entirely their own.

    white and purple clothes hangers

    Personal Tailoring: Platinum

    Price: Shirt price + £25 pattern adaptation fee
    Cloth Options: Around 300 online, or 500 in-studio
    Timescale: 4 weeks from order to completion

    For those who want to make small refinements right from the start, the Platinum service offers a more tailored experience.

    In the studio, you’ll try on one or two size samples and can request up to three pattern changes before production begins. Perhaps an extra quarter inch on the collar, half an inch more on the sleeve, or a slightly shorter body length.

    Online, the process works slightly differently. Your first shirt acts as a “mock-fit.” Once you’ve tried it on, you can provide up to three adjustments you’d like made. We’ll then cut your true shirt and send it to you.

    Like our standard Personal Tailoring, no alterations are made after the shirt is complete. Instead, each order refines your pattern until the fit is perfect.

    Female tailor in blue adjusting a blue shirt on a mannequin indoors.

    Made to Measure

    Price: £149 – £239
    Cloth Options: Around 800
    Timescale: 4 weeks from order to mock-fit, 4 weeks from mock-fit to completion (approx. 8 weeks total)
    Availability: In-studio only (Edinburgh or Glasgow)

    Our Made to Measure service introduces a new level of precision. It begins with a full set of measurements taken by our head tailor, Chris. Together, you’ll discuss the fit you’d like to achieve, and every relevant area of your pattern will be adjusted accordingly.

    You’ll then return for a mock-fitting, where a finished sample shirt (or occasionally a basted version) is tried on to assess the fit. Alterations are discussed and carried out before your final shirt is made.

    Once complete, this shirt forms the basis of your personal Made to Measure pattern, which we’ll keep on file for life. If you’d like to reorder in future, simply let us know of any changes you’d like before cutting begins.

    Chris meets clients in Edinburgh throughout the week and visits Glasgow every Tuesday for appointments.

    premium, premium shirt, polo, shirt, blue shirt, business, business man, premium quality, first class, luxury clothing, luxury, product photo, product, premium, premium, premium, premium, premium, polo, shirt, shirt, product

    Full Bespoke

    Price: £249 – £349
    Cloth Options: Around 800
    Timescale:

    • Measurement to first fitting: 4 weeks
    • First to second fitting: 4 weeks
    • Subsequent alterations: 2–4 weeks depending on the work required
    • Typically 2–3 fittings in total

    Our Bespoke service is the highest level of shirtmaking we offer. Every element is designed entirely around you. Your measurements, your posture, your shoulder slope, and your natural stance.

    Each shirt begins with a hand-drafted paper pattern, drawn specifically for your body. Your first fitting is usually a sleeveless baste, allowing Chris to assess balance, shoulder pitch, and general proportions before the sleeves are attached.

    Subsequent fittings refine every contour of the garment until your personal pattern is perfected. The goal is not just to make one perfect shirt, but to develop a blueprint that will serve you for years to come.

    We store every bespoke pattern for life, updating it over time as your preferences or body shape evolve.

    Choosing the Right Level for You

    Every client begins their journey from a different place. Some want a straightforward shirt that fits better than anything from the high street, while others see tailoring as an art to be perfected.

    At Edinburgh Tailoring Company, our role is simply to guide you through that journey, step by step, shirt by shirt, until every detail fits exactly as it should.

  • New Harris Tweed Alert

    Today, we were blessed to receive the new Harris Tweed collection from Huddersfield Fine Worsteds, and WOW. I’m absolutely blown away by the range of colours and patterns in this new bunch.

    There’s something magical about Harris Tweed. You can feel the story behind it before you even cut the cloth. Every metre begins in the Outer Hebrides, where the rhythm of the looms still echoes through croft houses on the islands of Lewis and Harris. This is one of the few fabrics in the world that is literally protected by law. To earn the Harris Tweed Orb certification, every inch must be dyed, spun, and handwoven at the weaver’s own home, using pure virgin wool and traditional methods passed down through generations.

    That’s what makes Harris Tweed so special. It’s not factory made. It’s human made. Every check, herringbone, and windowpane carries the fingerprint of its maker. When you tailor with it, you’re continuing a story that began long before your shears touch the cloth.

    This new Volume II collection from Huddersfield Fine Worsteds captures all of that history and channels it through a modern lens. The bunch is an explosion of colour and character. Deep reds, heather purples, and mustard yellows sit alongside timeless blues, greens, and earthy browns. There are bold tartans that demand attention, and subtle plains that whisper quality. The textures are dense yet surprisingly supple, perfect for winter tailoring and unstructured jackets alike.

    At 15 to 16oz, these cloths strike the balance between strength and drape. They feel reassuringly weighty in the hand but still cut beautifully. I’ve already picked out a few favourites for the studio. There’s a navy and amber check that would make a spectacular belted field jacket, and a grey and rust windowpane that has “three-piece suit” written all over it.

    For me, working with Harris Tweed is always a privilege. It connects the craft of tailoring here in Edinburgh to a tradition of making that has survived storms, modernisation, and time itself. Every bolt carries that famous Orb label, proof that it was handwoven in the Outer Hebrides, and to me, that’s still one of the greatest symbols of authenticity in our trade.

    If you’ve been thinking about a winter jacket, an overcoat, or even a bold casual blazer, this collection is absolutely worth a look. Come into the studio, flick through the bunch, and you’ll see exactly what I mean. Some fabrics impress you. This one moves you.