Made to Pleasure

The art of bespoke has always enjoyed a storied legacy, now it's finding new avenues, including watches as canvas

- GAURAV MEHTA

The first time the word ‘bespoke’ was used, it was way back in 1607 in medieval Britain. For years since it was used for tailor-made suits. Savile Row, the iconic street in Mayfair in central London, was the Mecca for bespoke suits; the tailors on this storied street have followed a tradition of crafting individually patterned and cut suits, which are coveted by lovers of luxury and fashion alike.

Somewhere in the 1800s, the term came to be associated with customised shoes in Italy. By early 1900, bespoke was used for everything customised and made-to-order. Bespoke, to me, is an extension of one’s personality. It reflects our choices––from the way we dress and the togs we dress in, to the jewellery, watches, and bags that we flaunt, even to the customised furniture in our homes.

A Tryst with History

India’s engagement with bespoke is a long and loyal one. ‘The Luxury Market in India: Maharajas to Masses’, a book that traces the growth of luxury, puts across an interesting point. It states, “India’s luxury story has no beginning. There is no specific time to indicate the commencement of indulgence in luxury in India. It is a continuous fable of bespoke luxury which has barely been chronicled.”