RAYMOND 'MADE TO MEASURE'

Bridging Bespoke Luxury with Ready-to-Wear Convenience

- Avanti Deo Mishra

'Made to Measure' stands as a beacon of personalised luxury, seamlessly marrying bespoke craftsmanship with modern convenience. A look at its resurgence and transformative journey from tradition to technological innovation...

Made to Measure clothing is a familiar and common term within the fashion connoisseurs' community. It is a term which has often been confused with bespoke clothing, but what does Made to Measure really mean? Made to Measure involves tailoring garments from a standard-sized base pattern, adjusting them to fit each customer's unique measurements. This method combines the personalised fit of bespoke clothing with the refined finish of ready-to-wear fashion.

History of 'Made to Measure' in India & Globally

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Made to Measure clothing underwent a modern metamorphosis with the aid of information technology. This allowed shops and tailors to measure customers in their showrooms and transmit these specifications to manufacturing partners a process known as individual mass production. Utilising sophisticated computer-aided design (CAD), this method represented a significant advancement in suit tailoring.

While haute couture remains a luxury reserved for a select few in the West, the tradition of bespoke garments has long been ingrained in India. Historically, clothing in India was predominantly obtained through tailor-made outfits until the late 20th century, when there was a notable shift towards mass-produced, ready-to-wear apparel, leading to a decline in traditional tailoring practices.

The Revival of Bespoke Clothing