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How many yards or meters of material to buy for a bespoke suit?

grey-flannel

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I've read older threads on this but wanted to ask members how many yards or meters of plain fabric I'd specifically need for a:

2-piece suit:
3-piece suit:
Blazer:

I'm 5'11" / 1.8 meters tall and relatively thin with a 30" waist. Some members in previous threads recommended as low as 3 yards for a 2-piece suit to as high as 4 yards. What do members with bespoke suit experience recommend?
 
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Chowkin

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Asking members here is useful but ultimately it's your tailor who converts that piece of cloth into a suit so he's the one you should ask
 

Maljunulo

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Pattern matching, as needed, will also play a part in how much fabric is needed.
 

grey-flannel

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The truth is I don't have a tailor in mind yet. A store next door is closing down and marked everything down by 50% so found a couple of fabrics I like but not sure how many yards I need...
 

Maljunulo

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What is the price range of these fabrics, or what mills are they from?
 

grey-flannel

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Not sure, I know they're english made and I recognised some harris tweeds
 
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stubloom

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You're putting the cart before the horse.

Step 1: Find a tailor with a distinctive "house style" you admire, a tailor with whom you can develop a relationship over time.

Step 2: Select the fabric.

Buying "unknown" fabric at 50% off will invariably result in skewed choices and missed opportunities.

You should recognize that "good" tailors are looking to build an on-going relationship with you. They're "selling" you a complete package...style, fit, construction skills and fabric.

"Good" tailors are not looking for a one time transaction nor are they looking to sell you a fractional product. Consequently, very few "good" tailors have any interest in merely selling you labor.

Besides, the tailor should be allowed to make a decent profit on the fabric you ultimately choose. That's part of how they stay in business.
 
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JLibourel

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If the fabric is from a known and reputable mill or merchant, there is little risk in stocking up before commissioning a suit, it would seem to me. The conventional wisdom seems to be that 3 1/2 yards is about right for a man of average size like yourself, at least for a two-piece.
 

maxalex

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Some tailors are fine with the client bringing in his own fabric, especially if the bolt is unusual, vintage, or otherwise hard to find. I have never tried to do so, but I’m guessing my tailor (in Rome) would do it, and charge me the same rate he charges for all his suits, as labor is the main cost. He already gives me a “good customer” discount (in the sense he still charges me what he charged me years ago, even though his nominal rates have gone up). So I would just pay, and thank him.
 

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