Custom suits bring to mind visions of a millionaire getting measured by his personal tailor and fitted for a suit that meets his exact measurements. Every time he steps out in his custom-crafted suit he exudes confidence and sartorial splendor, knowing his suit was made to help him look his best. If this scene is what dreams are made of, rest assured that quality custom suits are more accessible and more affordable than ever. BookATailor, “an innovative pioneer in bespoke men’s clothing,” was founded in 2012 by Jacomo Hakim and his father Fred with a goal to revolutionize the suit-shopping experience. Since then they have expanded to 11 locations across the United States and travel for pop-up shops across the country.
Fortunately for North Jersey residents, BookATailor is making getting a custom suit even easier, with an appearance in Teaneck this week.Yaakov Dollman, vice president of special projects for BookATailor, is excited for the Teaneck sale. “We’re bringing an exhaustive selection of fabrics for consumers to choose from,” Dollman said. “We have 700 different options to choose from, the Super 120s and 150s, as well as many other high-quality fabrics.” Before anyone starts to feel intimidated by the vast selection, Dollman reassured readers that their team of experts and tailors will help select the fabric and style that best suits the look the customer wants to wear.
Dollman explained the process of customizing the suit. “What sets us apart from other suit-shopping experiences is the fact that this is a completely custom clothing operation,” he said. Once the customer selects his fabric or fabrics, approximately 22 measurements are taken. The measurements are then put into a computer program that generates a pattern in their Thailand-based factory. “This is actually our own dedicated factory, rather than renting space from an existing factory,” said Dollman, explaining another aspect of their experience that makes BookATailor unique. Continuing in the completely customized process, the suits are then hand cut from the pattern and hand tailored. Their suits are also surprisingly affordable, starting at just $399, and no additional tailoring is required since they are made exactly for the wearer.
“Anyone can customize the cuff on a suit,” said Dollman, “but the BookATailor process allows you to customize every single aspect of the clothing, beyond the fabric alone. Type of collar, buttons, linings, stitching, pockets and back pockets are all made to the specifications of the customer, and it just fits better and looks better when made for your exact measurements.”
BookATailor also makes custom shirts as part of their customizable wardrobe. Dollman explained that people don’t realize how an exact-fitting dress shirt can enhance the overall look. Most men’s shirts are general measurements that can vary between brands and styles. One brand’s slim can be another brand’s tailored, and a regular fit can vary between wider or narrower styles from brand to brand, making shirt shopping a constant search for the right shirt. Having a shirt that doesn’t fit can make even the most perfectly measured and sewn suit look off, and this is part of why BookATailor is offering a suit plus shirt deal at their pop-up shops.
When BookATailor returns at the end of May to deliver and make minor tweaks to the suit, all the information and measurements are kept on file, and additional suits can be ordered at any point. Dollman said they are also working on a way in the future for customers to view the fabrics online and really have an understanding of what they are looking at, especially if they have been to a pop-up shop and are familiar with the materials.
The upcoming pop-up shops have the added benefit of a portion of the profits being donated to Just One Life, an organization that helps empower women in Israel who find themselves in crisis during pregnancy. To date, Just One Life has saved over 17,000 babies, and Dollman hopes that participating with Just One Life will help add a meaningful element to the suit-shopping experience.
Dollman also said that shatnez has never been found in the fabrics, but each person should consult with their halachic authority in terms of how to proceed with checking for shatnez.
BookATailor is looking forward to their Teaneck engagement, Wednesday, May 9, at Congregation Rinat Yisrael, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., as well as their expanded schedule in the days following. They are constantly sought after for bookings and additional pop-ups, so keep following their schedule for information about upcoming events. To learn more or even book a private appointment, visit their website www.bookatailor.com or follow them on Instagram @bookatailor. Contact [email protected] for more information.
