Indochino

So here's the thing about Indochino-it's basically the company that took made-to-measure suits and made them, well, accessible. Like, actually accessible. Not "save up for three years" accessible.

Founded in 2007 by Kyle Vucko and Heikal Gani, these guys started with a pretty simple idea: why should custom suits cost a fortune? They figured out how to cut out the middleman, manufacture overseas, and deliver personalized suits at prices that don't require selling a kidney. Over 30 showrooms across North America later, they've kind of proven the concept works.

But here's where it gets interesting. Originally founded as an exclusively online retailer, Indochino has opened 90 showrooms-they were actually one of the first digital-only brands to go physical. That's a big deal. It's like they realized that yeah, people want affordable custom suits, but they also want to touch the fabric and have someone who knows what they're doing take their measurements.

The process itself is pretty straightforward. You either visit a showroom or measure yourself at home (with their guidance), pick your fabric from hundreds of options, customize literally everything-lapels, pockets, buttons, lining, even add a monogram-and then wait about 3-4 weeks for your suit to show up. These garments are then made to their precise measurements and shipped directly to their door within three weeks. The price point? We're talking significantly less than traditional bespoke tailoring.

Now, let's be real for a second. The company's had its growing pains. You'll find mixed reviews online-some people absolutely love their Indochino suits and swear by them, while others have horror stories about fit issues and alterations. INDOCHINO will reimburse up to $75 for alterations to online orders in the USA or Canada and $100 in Australia, which is their way of acknowledging that made-to-measure isn't always perfect on the first try.

And that's kind of the trade-off, right? You're getting custom suiting at ready-to-wear prices, but you might need to do some back-and-forth to get the fit dialed in. In 2021, the company partnered with Nordstrom to open 21 custom apparel stores-within-a-store at Nordstrom locations, which suggests they're still figuring out the best way to serve customers.

The company's also expanded beyond just suits. They've got shirts, chinos, blazers, outerwear-basically everything you need for a custom wardrobe. And they've started offering women's wear too, which makes sense given how underserved that market is for affordable custom clothing.

One thing that's pretty cool: once they have your measurements on file and you've worked out any fit issues, future orders should theoretically fit right out of the box. That's the promise, anyway. It's like they're banking on you becoming a repeat customer once they nail your measurements.

The bottom line? Indochino occupies this interesting middle ground between off-the-rack and traditional bespoke. It's not going to be the same as a $3,000 suit from a heritage tailor, but for a lot of guys (and now women), it's a way to get something that actually fits their body and reflects their style without breaking the bank. Just go in with realistic expectations and maybe budget some time for alterations.