When you go in to get a custom suit or garment made, having a good idea of what you’re looking for will aid in the process. Our tailors can pre-select swatches that best fit your needs and have it prepared for your appointment. Fabric options are nearly endless, so knowing what you want ahead of time is highly recommended. We are happy to offer suggestions, but reference pictures are always helpful. We’re here to help bring YOUR vision to life!

Here are some of the most common fabric patterns used in suiting:

HERRINGBONE

The pattern is called herringbone because it resembles the skeleton of a herring fish. Herringbone-patterned fabric is usually wool, and is one of the most popular cloths used for suits and outerwear.

PINSTRIPE

Stripes are a classic choice that make look wearer look taller, thinner, and draws the eyes up to the face instead of the body shape. There are a variety of thicknesses, width, and colors. However, consult your tailor on which width and thickness is best for your body shape.

PLAID

As you can see in the photo above, there are several different kinds of plaid. They often get clumped under the one name, but they are very different from each other! Knowing the difference between them makes you a more educated consumer.

DONEGAL TWEED

While the weavers in County Donegal provide a number of different tweed fabrics, including herringbone and check patterns, the area is best known for a plain-weave cloth of differently-coloured warp and weft, with small pieces of yarn in various colours woven in at irregular intervals to produce a heathered effect.

SHARKSIN

Most sharkskin suits are usually made from mohair or wool and sometimes created with acetate or rayon. It’s a smooth fabric with a two-toned woven appearance, it has a soft texture that is very light and wrinkle free making it perfect for a suit.

NAILHEAD

For something more subtle, take a look at Nailhead fabrics. This pattern contain little dots upon a darker background, and when looking at them together, they resemble somewhat of a solid finish.