Suiting is overwhelming to say the least. There are so many options and prices can easily soar. Like we have seen with the success of Warby Parker, Jack Erwin and Harrys, Strong Suit is helping men look spectacular at a fraction of the price of your standard designer suit. Don’t worry, quality is never sacrificed.
We have been big fans of Strong Suit and their founder, Jamie Davidson since their early days. It is great to see their success continue to grow. We caught up with Jamie this week to hear more about the direction of the company.
What are you seeing in the suiting market?
We see the trend moving toward a softer shoulder. In some of our sport coats and seasonal suits (which tend to be worn as sport coats) we have a completely unconstructed shoulder (often called a soft or empty shoulder). Normally this is executed by labels like Kiton and Boglioli at a very high price point. We will be able to offer ours at a range of $595-$695.
George Bass in New Orleans has been promoting Neopolitan tailoring (soft shoulder or empty shoulder) for some time and educating men on the look.
It takes a lot of time and patience to tailor the right soft shoulder. Some people leave extra fabric and it doesn’t look right. A soft shoulder may sound relaxed, it can definitely look great in the office while providing comfort and movement.
Related: Shop Class – George Bass
Where are you sourcing your cloth?
Our linen this year comes from the Solbiati mill in Italy (which was purchased by Loro Piana last year). We see this as a trend that will move into dressier suiting over the next couple of seasons. This season we are also launching our shirt and tie collection too, which we are very excited about.
How is business?
We had a fantastic fall season. We launched in three Nordstrom doors and are expanding to ten for next month. Our complete collection is available at Nordtsrom.com as well as our website.
Who did your illustrations this season?
Matthew Miller, but he goes by SunFlowerMan. We met him at the trade shows in Vegas and I was immediately a huge fan. He has worked with some great brands and we thought it would be a fresh direction for us.
Sign up below for a chance to win a Strong Suit linen soft shoulder suit, shirt and tie. A winner will be chosen next Thursday January 14th.
