Continuing on the previous post: When you Order MTM, the fourth point to consider is the fabric. And this is where things can get very interesting.
Fabric costs money: this may be a truism, but it is true for all that. We forget just how much. Decent worsted wool, the most common fabric for a suit, for example, will cost a minimum of USD 20 per yard, wholesale. At five yards for a suit, that means a base cost of USD 100. With that fabric, you will have a reasonable quality suit that will last for a long time. However, add in the production cost and there is no way that a maker maker is giving you decent worsted wool, or at best it is very unlikely that he can, at USD 500 retail. Sure, your suit will be made of something, but not even entry – level cloth (in other words, bog standard wool).
So when you prepare your MTM order, think about what the price of the garment is, and compare it to what you know about the price of fabric and ask yourself whether you are going to get much for what you are paying. Why does it matter? After all, cheap fabric may look just fine from the outside, at least for a while. It matters because your garment will start to lose its shape pretty quickly and after one season of wearing you will probably throw it away.
If possible, check the fabric weights – generally speaking, heavier fabrics last longer, and make sure that you are buying pure wool (or a wool – linen / wool – silk linen). Avoid wool-poly blends because they wear hot and do not retain their textures well.
So now you have chosen the MTM shop, put in your measurements and selected the fabric. Check the next post to find out what happens next.