A custom suit is a luxury purchase, but it can also be a great investment. It is important, however, to do your homework before you spend the money on a custom suit. You want to make sure you get the best deal for your money and end up with a suit that fits you perfectly and that will last for many years.

One thing to note is if your suit will be fully custom or semi-custom. Many companies actually take pre-made garments and simply alter them to fit your measurements. A company that makes fully custom suits, like Alan David Custom, will take your measurements and create a pattern from them. Your suit is made just for you.

A good custom suit maker will also do a basted fitting. This is when they take the pieces of the suit and temporarily sew them together, then have you try it on. At this stage they can make subtle adjustments to make sure everything fits perfectly. Companies offering semi-custom or “made to measure” suits will not offer this type of fitting.

Your custom suit should also be made of the highest quality materials, including a full canvas front. It must be able to stand up to years of wear and cleaning.

A good company will also offer free alterations for the life of the garment. If you invest in a custom piece of clothing, you want to know that you will be able to wear it for many years to come, regardless of whether you gain or lose a little weight or slightly damage a cuff.