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Suiting up for success: Bespoke suits are gaining popularity here

SINGAPORE — Despite the fact that bespoke suits can cost thousands, there is increasing demand from a young clientele, say tailors here.

SINGAPORE — Despite the fact that bespoke suits can cost thousands, there is increasing demand from a young clientele, say tailors here.

Young executives and even fresh graduates are willing to scrape together the cash to make an investment in tailored clothing, said Chong Han San, creative director of Q Menswear. Classic looks and a good fit are what they are seeking, for that sharp look that will carry them through their first jobs.

“Many men are starting to understand that true bespoke is about the right colour and fit, and how the person wears the clothes,” said Chong. His clients are generally between 30 to 50 years of age, but he has been receiving his fair share of orders from younger executives and graduates in their early to mid-20s.

Chong noted that younger clients would buy the whole set — the jacket, pants, and at least one shirt. Suits at Q Menswear (116 Telok Ayer St) start at S$900.

Chong, 36, started his business in 2011 and provided bespoke services, alongside a ready-made range of shoes and bags. Business has grown so much that Chong, who started with two employees, now has a team of seven.

Ill-fitting clothing simply will not do for the younger set, said co-owner of Jayrons’ Clothier, Dennis Nah. The 31-year-old said that craftsmanship is highly prized today, compared to just three years ago.

The company, which was established in 2014, sources fabrics from a distributor who gets his wares directly from textile mills in countries such as Italy.

Nah said that he used to see many young men wearing suits with bad colour combinations. It bothered him so much that it led him to enter the tailoring business.

“You want to have contrast with your outfits,” he said, adding that one can be very bold and set off a dark blue suit with a pink shirt. “Pink is a universal colour for all skin tones,” he said.

The look should go with dark brown shoes, not black ones, he said.

Business at Jayrons’ Clothier (5 Pereira Rd) has been steadily growing, with a 30 to 50 per cent increase in turnover year on year. Nah has served over 400 customers, aged from 25 to 40, and price points are from S$400 to S$1,500.

Exposure to good tailoring via social media has led to young men here to seek out bespoke services, said Dylan Chong, 36. He has run menswear clothing shop, Dylan & Son, for seven years, and those who seek him out are generally aged from 28 to 35. His offerings start at S$2,590.

Seeing the potential of offering made-to-measure suits which are still luxe, but for those on a tighter budget, he recently teamed up with another tailor, Matthew Lai, 28. Lai moved into Chong’s Telok Ayer space, and the brand KayJen Dylan was born earlier this year. KayJen Dylan (120B Telok Ayer Street) offers made-to-measure suits that start at S$1,500.

Everything is in the details. “The shoulders (should be) the right shoulder width, the lapel is the size that you want, the length of the jacket is the exact length that you like,” Lai said.

In terms of trends, a hot favourite is still the dapper look, inspired by the immaculate personal style of Charles, Prince of Wales. Checkered prints are a signature of the dapper look.

But Jayron’s Nah warned against making such a bold move, especially for one new to bespoke.

“Most of my clients are making their first suit, so I actually would advise them to get one for day-to-day purposes. The checkered prints are for a more smart-casual look,” Nah said.

At Q Menswear, Chong recommends the Italian Neapolitan look, with thinly padded natural shoulders and small gathers at the sleeve crown. Jackets also come without lining.

Singaporeans take well to the look because of its lightweight wool blend fabric, which is well-suited to our climate, said Chong.

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