SuitArt

A made-to-measure brand with 3 stores

SuitArt describes itself as "Die Schweizer Marke für Massanzüge" (the Swiss brand for made-to-measure suits). The company, SuitArt Massanzug AG, lists addresses at Mühlegasse 17 in Zurich (8001), Zentralstrasse 95 in Wettingen (5430) and Klosterberg 15 in Basel, where the store is next to the Elisabethenkirche. Its footer calls it an Italian family business in Wettingen and Zurich, and the copyright line runs from 2009. The site is published in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Russian, which helps a groom or best men who do not read German.

The Basel page, which carries the most detail, sums up the offer in 4 points: advice tailored to the customer, with a trained adviser who takes time and accompanies him from choosing the fabric to trying on the finished made-to-measure suit; made-to-measure suits under the SuitArt brand with many design and detail options; fabrics from brand makers such as Dormeuil and Scabal, "aber auch günstigere Qualitätsstoffe für ein bescheideneres Budget" (but also cheaper quality fabrics for a more modest budget); and "eine Zufriedenheitsgarantie, dass der Anzug sitzt" (a satisfaction guarantee that the suit fits).

What it offers a groom

The site's menu has a whole style section that reads like a wedding checklist: a page on the dress code for weddings, one on the groom's suit ("Der Bräutigam Anzug"), one on the gray tuxedo and one on the tailcoat ("Der Frack"), next to style pages on pinstripes, tweed, the Stresemann and the dark blue suit. The product menu covers made-to-measure suits, women's suits, exclusive suits, blazers and jackets, business suits, made-to-measure shirts and trousers, waistcoats, coats and accessories such as cufflinks, wallets and ties. There is also a section for "Übergrössen & Überlängen" (large and extra-long sizes), which matters for a wedding party where not everyone fits standard sizes.

The Basel page shows how far the made-to-measure goes. Under "Maßgeschneiderte Spezialwünsche" (made-to-measure special requests), it says the adviser is prepared for unusual wishes, and gives a wedding example: a waistcoat made from the same fabric as the wedding dress, or a special cut the customer has seen in a photo online or in a catalog. It says there is hardly a shade or quality the store does not carry, and that the suits are made to last with frequent wear. For special occasions like a wedding or a gala, the adviser helps choose a color that suits the event, and shirts and accessories complete the outfit from head to toe.

The page also explains the part of made-to-measure that is not just measuring: the allowances the tailor adds at different points of the body to balance comfort, appearance and taste, such as how long a customer likes his trousers, regardless of current fashion. In Basel, the page names the tailor Philipp Strieffler as the person who takes measurements and advises on style and fabric.

Themed looks and the wider range

The style section goes beyond the classics. It has pages on named looks, the "Barney Stinson" suit, the "Johnny Cash" suit and a Peaky Blinders suit, alongside the tweed suit, the Stresemann and the duffle coat. For a couple planning a themed or vintage wedding, those pages are a quick way to show the adviser the look the groom and his best men have in mind, and the special-requests promise (a cut copied from a photo is "kein Problem für SuitArt", no problem for SuitArt) covers the rest. A photo gallery, a news section and a free download of Mark van Huisseling's 10 style rules round out the site and a corporate fashion service is listed in the menu. For a wedding party spread across the country, the 3 store locations let the groom and his best men each be measured in the store nearest to them, though they should check with the company that orders from different stores can be coordinated.

Reputation

The Basel page says SuitArt has made more than 6000 customers happy, including dozens of well-known figures from business and politics. It names the DJ Antoine, who has had over 20 outfits made there, and the journalist and style critic Mark van Huisseling. It also mentions a presentation with the watch brand Carl F. Bucherer at Baselworld and says SuitArt is the official outfitter of the management team of the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament. The menu includes pages on quality, a quality manifesto and fair trade.

Booking

SuitArt works by appointment only ("Nur nach vorheriger Terminvereinbarung"). The Basel page explains why: choosing the fabric, the consultation and the measuring take 1 to 2 hours on average. Appointments are made by phone on +41 44 516 83 93 or through the contact form. The Basel page lists opening hours of 10:00 to 18:30 from Monday to Thursday and 10:00 to 16:00 on Friday.

For a groom from abroad, the language menu is the first practical advantage: the site can be read in English, and the Zurich store has its own English-language page. The site does not say which languages the advisers speak in the store, so the groom should confirm English when he books.

What the site does not settle

The site publishes no prices, only the Basel page's promise of the largest fabric selection in Basel "zu sehr attraktiven Preisen" (at very attractive prices) and the mention of cheaper fabrics for a smaller budget. It does not say how long production takes after the first appointment, how many fittings there are, or whether a rush order is possible. Opening hours are given on the Basel page only, and the Zurich and Wettingen stores' hours should be checked when booking. There is nothing about group rates for best men, or about remote measuring for a groom who cannot come in person.

Who it suits

SuitArt suits a groom who wants a made-to-measure suit, tuxedo or tailcoat with a wide choice of cloth, from Dormeuil and Scabal down to cheaper fabrics, and who can visit Zurich, Wettingen or Basel. The multilingual website, the large-size range and the waistcoat-from-the-dress idea make it a flexible choice for a mixed wedding party. It suits less well a groom who needs a price before the first visit, or whose timetable leaves no room for a 1 to 2 hour appointment and a later fitting.