Made to Measure vs Bespoke: What’s the Difference?
This is one of the most common points of confusion in tailoring, and it matters more than most clients initially realize. While made to measure and bespoke are often used interchangeably, they describe two fundamentally different ways of creating a garment.
Why the distinction matters
The difference between made to measure and bespoke is not semantic. It affects how a garment fits, how it moves, how it ages, and how consistently it can be reproduced over time.
What made to measure really is
Made to measure begins with a pre-existing pattern. Measurements are taken, typically with a tape, and those numbers are used to adjust a standard template up or down. The garment is then produced based on those scaled changes. While this can improve fit compared to ready-to-wear clothing, it remains limited by the original pattern. Made-to-measure garments assume relatively standard posture and body balance, and they rarely account for how a garment behaves in motion.
What bespoke actually means
Bespoke tailoring follows a different philosophy entirely. At B. Kreps, we use a try-on garment instead of a measuring tape, because it allows us to observe and record nuances that a measuring tape misses. The use of a try-on garment reveals posture, balance, shoulder slope, and movement issues and adjustments can be pinned and refined on the body in real time.
During this first fitting, roughly thirty fit points are captured, including posture-related adjustments that a tape measure cannot identify. From this information, a unique pattern is drafted specifically for the individual client. Nothing is resized or adapted from an existing block. The pattern exists only for you.
How the garment is made: B. Kreps’ Bespoke Process
Once the pattern is finalized, the suit is cut from the bolt of cloth in our atelier in Amsterdam. It is not altered from a pre-existing template and is not assembled from standardized components. After construction, the suit returns to Houston for a fitting, where any final refinements are made in-house. All adjustments are logged into your pattern, ensuring continuity for future garments.
Is bespoke worth it compared to made to measure?
For clients who value comfort, longevity, and confidence, bespoke is worth it. Bespoke is not simply about achieving a closer fit on the first garment. It is about creating a pattern that reflects posture and movement, and refining that pattern over time. While made to measure can be a step up from ready-to-wear, it cannot replicate the precision, adaptability, or long-term consistency of true bespoke tailoring.
In a market crowded with made-to-measure and semi-custom offerings, B. Kreps remains Houston’s only true full-service bespoke tailor. The most effective way to understand the difference is to come in for a fitting and experience the process firsthand.
Come and visit us at one of our showrooms in Houston or book an appointment for your first bespoke commission.
Heights
2313 Edwards Street
Unit 115
Houston, Texas 77007
(281) 799-4872
Downtown Tunnel Loop
919 Milam Street
Unit T0700
Houston, Texas 77002