I'm going to set aside the jokes to address what I see as the white elephant in the room: I suspect there's not much need for an in-depth discussion/detailed pics on Kabbaz's shirts because there's not much to say or see.
There seems to be an implied expectation that there's something almost magical about the $1,000 shirt. It's as though some folks want the shirts to be woven of gold and held together with unbreakable thread. But I imagine a photo essay would show us a shirt that looks much like many other single-needle stitched, machine-sewn shirts of good quality.
Here's the rub: We've already stipulated that cloth quality is beside the point, and we all know the role personal preference plays in shirt fit. So what does that leave us to discuss about Alex's shirts? If the seams are sewn well, if the collars fit well, if the client is happy, there you go. I don't mean to speak for Alex, but he's repeatedly said the value of his services isn't just the shirt, but his commitment to pleasing the customer and the long-term service he provides. His customers pay for his ability to meet their wants and needs, and, honestly, the prestige of wearing his costly shirts. A photo essay isn't going to reveal any of that.
Some folks seem to want someone to come along and prove that one of Kabbaz's shirts is worth $750 or $1,000. Well, I'll say it: They're not. At least not to me, and I can say that without ever having owned one. But Alex's regular customers clearly feel the opposite, and that's fine. I don't think Kiton suits are worth their price, or Borrelli MTM shirts, or Berluti shoes. Ultimately, Alex's shirts are products the same as these. There's nothing supernatural about them; in the end, they're just shirts. Reasonable people can disagree on the value, just as they can disagree over Paris v. Geneva.
With that, I'll step down from my soapbox.
Perhaps some of you guys have enough shirtmaking knowledge to tell me what I'm missing here. If so, in all seriousness, please do.
