If you’re debating whether to stock custom clothing or ready-to-wear (RTW) fashion in your store, the answer depends on your goals: custom suits offer premium margins and personalization, while RTW suits bring speed, affordability, and inventory convenience. Many successful retailers blend both, but understanding their differences is key to long-term profitability.
This article compares ready-to-wear vs bespoke suits. You’ll learn what made-to-order clothing means. We’ll help you choose between custom suits and RTW fashion for your store. We’ll also introduce Baoxiniao, a high-end manufacturer and trusted partner in custom suit production, ready to support your store with quality, flexibility, and innovation.
A RTW suit, or off-the-rack suit, is mass-produced in standard sizes and ready for immediate sale. These garments follow general sizing charts (like 38R or 42L) and are ideal for shoppers who want convenience, fast turnaround, and lower prices.
Key Takeaways:
A bespoke suit is made entirely from scratch using a client’s measurements, body shape, posture, and style preferences. It’s the highest tier of suiting, involving personal fittings, premium materials, and craftsmanship that can take weeks—or even months.
Key Takeaways:
MTM (Made-to-Measure) suits are a middle-ground between RTW and bespoke. The suit starts from a base pattern and is adjusted based on the customer’s basic measurements. Think of it as a semi-custom option—faster and cheaper than bespoke but more refined than RTW.
Key Takeaways:
RTW is attractive to many retailers because it offers predictable inventory management. You can order in bulk, benefit from economies of scale, and cater to impulse shoppers. However, due to the volume nature, margins per piece are thinner unless sold under a strong brand.
Pros for Your Store:
Cons:
Custom suiting comes with higher price tags and stronger brand loyalty. Customers are paying for an experience, not just a product. While lead times are longer, the return rate is dramatically lower, and clients are often willing to reorder once trust is established.
Advantages for Retailers:
Challenges:
Made-to-order (MTO) refers to garments that are only produced after a purchase is made. Unlike RTW, there’s no pre-made stock—each order triggers a unique production cycle.
This model is popular in both custom tailoring and eco-conscious brands because it reduces waste and aligns production with actual demand.
Why It Matters to Your Store:
By partnering with a capable factory like Baoxiniao, you can easily integrate MTO systems, allowing you to offer customers an elite suiting experience without holding large volumes of finished stock.
If your store sells to:
…then ready-to-wear fashion is a safe, foundational choice. Pairing it with basic tailoring services (like sleeve or trouser adjustments) can enhance the customer experience.
If your store:
…then custom suiting gives you a competitive edge. It allows you to build deeper relationships, charge more per client, and create brand loyalty that lasts years.
Baoxiniao is a trusted name in premium men’s tailoring, combining smart manufacturing with traditional craftsmanship. With over 1600 retail outlets and decades of experience, Baoxiniao is one of China’s top suit producers—and a reliable B2B partner for custom clothing stores globally.
Why Retailers Partner With Baoxiniao:
From business suiting to formalwear, Baoxiniao helps brands create custom suits that meet international standards, with efficiency and scale.
RTW suits are pre-made and mass-produced, while bespoke suits are made from scratch to fit an individual’s exact body and preferences.
MTM (made-to-measure) suits are altered from a standard pattern to match a customer’s measurements—less custom than bespoke, but better fit than RTW.
Made-to-order clothing is produced only after the customer places an order. It’s not pre-stocked and is often used in custom fashion.
Yes—RTW offers fast sales and scalability, though profit margins are lower compared to custom. It suits stores with high foot traffic and fast-moving inventory.
Custom suiting provides higher margins, deeper customer loyalty, and brand differentiation—especially when supported by a reliable production partner like Baoxiniao.
Choosing between ready to wear vs bespoke isn’t about which is better—it’s about what works best for your store’s identity and audience. RTW brings convenience and fast turnover. Custom and MTM offer premium pricing, strong loyalty, and exclusivity. Many successful stores offer both.
If you’re ready to expand into custom suiting, explore Baoxiniao’s tailored solutions and elevate your product offerings with confidence.
In the world of high-end tailoring, choosing the right suit manufacturer can make or break your fashion business. Whether you’re a boutique looking to scale your collection or a designer searching for quality craftsmanship, working with reliable bespoke suit manufacturers is key. In this article, we introduce eight trusted names in the European market. From […]
If you’re debating whether to stock custom clothing or ready-to-wear (RTW) fashion in your store, the answer depends on your goals: custom suits offer premium margins and personalization, while RTW suits bring speed, affordability, and inventory convenience. Many successful retailers blend both, but understanding their differences is key to long-term profitability. This article compares ready-to-wear […]
Italian fabrics play a central role in global suiting because of their unmatched quality, timeless style, and deep-rooted heritage in craftsmanship. From bespoke suits made with superfine wool to fabric blends tailored for every climate, Italian textiles have become the benchmark for premium menswear around the world. If you’re wondering what fabric suits are made […]
ADDRESS: BAOXINIAO OFFICE BUILDING, BAOXINIAO INDUSTRIAL PARK, YONGJIA, ZHEJIANG
