nisago GmbH

nisago GmbH is a made-to-measure menswear label with an atelier at Metzgergasse 25, in the heart of the old town of St. Gallen. Its idea, summed up in the slogan "YOU MADE IT.", is that the customer designs his own clothes: suits, shirts, jackets, chinos and more, made individually for him, with the atelier measuring and advising. For weddings, it publishes a page of complete groom's looks, each described down to the lining and buttonhole thread, and each with a set price.

The wedding looks

The wedding page is unusually specific. It shows a series of named looks, most of them variations of the "Hochzeits-Look Luca", plus looks named Marcel, Ricardo, Josua, Yanick, Philipp, Philipp M., Lukas and Samuel. Each look lists the suit, and often a waistcoat, shirt, tie or bow tie and pocket square, and ends with a "Set-Preis" for the whole outfit. The prices shown run from CHF 2,260 (the Philipp look, labeled "Brautpaar des Jahres 2017", couple of the year 2017) to CHF 2,890 (the Samuel look). The Luca variations range from CHF 2,360 for a version with an unlined silk-and-wool jacket and cotton chinos with hidden buttons for suspenders, to CHF 2,820 for a mocha version with a bamboo waistcoat.

The details give a sense of what the price buys. The suits are cut from Scabal cloth, mostly 100% wool in Super 100's to Super 150's qualities, with superfine merino and silk-and-wool options. Recurring features include a colored or patterned lining with contrast piping and decorative stitching, fine edge stitching, an open sleeve vent with real buttonholes and "4 küssenden Knöpfen" (4 kissing buttons), a contrast-colored lapel buttonhole and last sleeve buttonhole, and embroidery of the groom's name and on the collar. Shirts are 100% cotton, often easy-care, with a Kent or shark collar, contrasting inner collar and cuffs, and initials on the cuff. Ties, bow ties and pocket squares are silk (one Luca look uses wool), and one look includes a self-tie bow tie. There is also a tuxedo version of the Luca look at CHF 2,480, with a silk shawl lapel, silk buttons and a wing-collar shirt with double cuffs.

A groom can pick one of these looks as it stands, or use them as a starting point. The "Wie Sie designen" section says customers create their suit and shirt entirely to their own taste or choose one of the current designs.

How the process works

For measuring, nisago invites the customer to a personal appointment in the atelier, where trained staff take his measurements and advise on style. The customer then decides on the features on the spot: cuts, collar shapes, cuffs, buttonholes, contrasts and combinations, and monograms, from a large range of high-quality fabrics. On request, the Swiss styling figure Luisa Rossi can advise on the design, at a price on request.

The range page lists made-to-measure suits (jacket, trousers, waistcoat) with the "grösste Auswahl an englischen SCABAL-Stoffen, hergestellt in Portugal" (largest selection of English Scabal fabrics, made in Portugal). The company says it works exclusively with renowned fabric suppliers and experienced made-to-measure producers in Europe with whom it keeps personal contact, and that every nisago product is a one-off made individually for the customer.

Beyond the suit

The rest of the range can complete a wedding outfit. The site lists made-to-measure shirts with many contrast options, casual jackets, chinos and jeans, sweaters in cashmere, merino or cotton, coats, ties, bow ties and pocket squares in 100% silk handmade in Italy, Goodyear-welted calf leather shoes (exclusively from PRIME SHOES), cowhide belts handmade in Switzerland, and cashmere scarves made in England. Belts can also be designed online on a separate belt-designer site.

The "Wie wir arbeiten" section adds that the company takes its responsibility as an employer and partner seriously, considers the social and ecological effects of its work and keeps trying to improve them. Its stated ambition is to become the market leader for individuality in fashion, letting customers design their clothes both in a personal consultation and online.

Who is behind it

The company was founded on 28 March 2012. Its owners and managing directors are Sandro Agosti and Stefan Niederer, both with economics degrees from the University of St. Gallen (lic.oec.HSG). Former Mister Switzerland Luca Ruch has been the label's ambassador since it started, and the company works with fashion and styling experts alongside its own team of advisers.

Visiting the atelier

The atelier is open Tuesday and Wednesday 09.00 to 12.00 and 13.30 to 17.30, Thursday and Friday 09.00 to 12.00 and 13.30 to 20.00, and Saturday 09.00 to 17.00; it is closed on Monday and Sunday. Appointments outside those hours can be arranged, "auch frühmorgens, über Mittag oder abends" (also early in the morning, over lunch or in the evening). For advice and measuring appointments, the site asks customers to register in advance by phone or email so that enough time can be reserved.

The contact page says the atelier is a ten-minute walk from St. Gallen main station, and recommends the Brühltor car park at Torstrasse 12, five minutes' walk away. Contact is +41 (0)71 220 81 88 or welcome@nisago.com.

What the site does not settle

The site gives no lead time from measuring to delivery and does not say how many fittings a wedding suit needs. It does not say whether the set prices change if the groom alters a look, or what a suit alone costs outside a set. It is in German only and does not mention English-language advice, so a groom from abroad should ask when booking. Nothing on the site covers group orders for best men.

Who it suits

nisago suits a groom who wants to design his suit in detail, likes the idea of contrast linings, embroidered names and colored buttonholes, and wants to know the price of a complete look before the first appointment. The out-of-hours appointments help a groom who works full time or travels in. It suits less well a groom who wants a classic, understated suit at a lower price, or one who cannot come to St. Gallen at least for measuring.