When you’re out and about shopping in Delhi, a custom tailored suit should definitely feature on your list. Although there are plenty of brands selling ready-made varieties that you can just pick off the rack, nothing compares to a bespoke suit custom tailored to your exact specifications. These four stores range from age-old local favourites to spanking new internationally recognized labels, and are the go-to spots for discerning male shoppers in the city. Put aside some cash and get yourself some brand new threads—they’re definitely worth the splurge.
On London’s storied Savile Row, once a fabric was ‘spoken for’, the suit stitched from it was deemed ‘bespoke.’ Tailored by a highly skilled master tailor to the precise size of its wearer, the suit could not claim the ‘bespoke’ label until at least 50 hours of labour had gone into its making. Today, the definition has evolved to include anything that is customised for a client, but in the sartorial universe, it spells finesse and quality. Here is where you should go for a suit that screams opulence and fits you like a second skin.
Vaish at Rivoli
Having honed their craft over generations of a family-run business, Vaish tailors are something of an institution in Delhi. Exhibiting an exceptional level of craftsmanship through a long and rigorous process, it takes about four to five fittings to get a customised suit that is spot-on. Each fitting is personally attended to by one of the members of the family – shared by three generations – and the tailoring is done by craftsmen who have been doing just that for over 40 years. Their work is vouched for, especially if you’re a traditionalist. For more details, log on to www.vaish.com/
Regal Building, Hanuman Road Area, Connaught Place, New Delhi. Phone:011 4150 2525
Grover Cloth House
Another reliable and exceptional option for a custom-made suit is Grover Cloth House located in the city’s ritzy Khan Market locality. Owned and operated by two brothers and their sons, this 30-year-old establishment has a stellar reputation amongst the city’s elite – they’ve even dressed Presidents Bush and Clinton. They claim to be able to replicate just about any design to perfection, and can work within a tight time-frame which can accommodate overnight deliveries if urgently needed. There are reams of different textiles to choose from and their post-sale service includes free alterations. If it’s good enough for the President of the United States, it’s likely good enough for you.
47A, Khan Market, New Delhi. Phone: 011 2464 2051
Savileroy
Operating out of a workshop just aside his residence, Abdul Majid’s retail footprint is a tiny hole in Jangpura area’s crisscrossed lanes. But his services are mobile, and he offers home-service. His reputation over the last 75 odd years has lead to him becoming something of an legend in the capital. He can stitch you an overcoat, a uniform, and a suit – and even make you a copy from something you’ve torn out of a magazine. his services are affordable, his clothing is impeccably fitted and most popular with those who’re making a pit-stop in the city and want a timely delivery.
2/9, Jangpura, New Delhi. Phone: 9811426261
Brioni and Canali
Moving from the homespun to the labels, the structure is distinctly different from that of the city’s family-run outfits. For starters, the training is structured differently – more academic than practical and experiential. Brioni’s master tailor, Angelo Petrucci studied at the brand’s in-house tailoring school, ‘Nazareno Fonticoli’. After graduating, he worked at Brioni for over 15 years, and only became the brand’s master tailor in 2002. A top-notch suit here comes with a much heftier price tag, and is a more lengthy procedure given that it requires an appointment with the tailor who is flown into the country on specific days for fittings and trials. Canali too, offers a similar service in Delhi, and is at par in terms of both quality and reputation. If you’re a stickler for labels and have a budget to match, head straight for either.