Men's Shirt Industry Facing Significant Changes
As the men's fashion world continues to evolve, some people are automatically incorporating the latest trends into their lifestyle, but an industry insider says that one recent trend is completely unnecessary. “The $100 custom shirt is the latest trend to hit the men's fashion world," says the expert. “But unless you work in an industry where you're judged by the make of your shirt, or your peers all wear custom shirts, it's just not necessary. Fortunately, there are quality alternatives that are just as attractive."
There have been a good many online startup businesses recently that are buying quality fabrics, and then setting up sewing shops to produce custom shirts for men. These companies typically charge men upwards of $100 per shirt—more if the shirts ordered are for formal occasions. “When men order these shirts online, which is the trend, they aren't measured by a tailor, as is the norm for custom shirts," said the insider. “Instead, they are instructed about how to measure themselves, and then they send in those measurements to have their shirts made. But without the eye and experience of a tailor, we don't believe the men are truly getting what they are paying for." Another problem with these pseudo custom shirts is that if the shirt doesn't fit right, the men have to ship the shirt back to the seller and wait for another one to arrive, which takes away the benefit of convenience.
The expert says that if men truly understood the alternatives, they would not only be able to fill their closets with high quality, attractive men's shirts, but they would save a considerable amount of money in the process. “There are men's shirts on the market that are made of the best fabric money can buy, and designed to fit men in a way that gives the shirts the look of a custom garment. Fortunately, men can buy shirts of this quality for well under the $100 price point."
As the men's fashion world continues to evolve, everyday men are struggling to keep up with the changes. But according to the industry insider, it's not necessary to automatically assume that everything that comes through the pipeline is right. “Men should use their own judgement as new options come into focus. The goal should be to look as good as you can, while being mindful of the true value of the products purchased."