I was first made aware of Tailorable&Co as a cafe last year, but later came to realize that it is a center of an philosophy, or perhaps ‘trend’ is a more accurate term, that I have noticed gather pace around the streets of Seoul. Koreans are more aware of what happens at Pitti Uomo and other fashion weeks than ever before and it shows. I was lucky enough to get a chance to speak to the owner of Tailorable&Co recently and chat over a coffee.
“In my early twenties I worked at a select shop which gave me first-hand experience with high fashion brand suits. I was always interested in suits, but I noticed that the cut and the details of these off-the-rack suits were not that good. This is when I began to explore the art of bespoke suits as well as the history and culture that surrounds it. I began Tailorable&Co, inspired to introduce authentic tailored suit culture to my home city, Seoul.”
Behind a potted plant and a beautifully tailored suit, you can see the master tailor at work. He carefully cuts lengths of fabric, all the while going back and forth between the measurements to make sure it’s of the correct size.
Fabric is obviously important, but what makes a good suit?
“A good suit is defined by the same things that inspire all great art: craftsmanship, attention to detail, a respect for the history of the suit. But most importantly, a good suit starts with recognizing the individual needs and inherent style of each unique customer. An important thing about suits that I think some people forget is that the suit one wears shows their level in society. A suit is a status symbol.”
Considering the plethora of different cuts and finishes that a suit can have, where do you draw your inspiration from?
“I am inspired by the suits in classic movies and the style of presidents and business owners of the past. I take great inspiration in classic elegance, particularly from the 1930’s and 40’s. My style is a reflection of these inspirations combined with an awareness of the present.”
Do trends not play a big part in how you plan your collections?
“I do not trust trends – trends are a result of fashion and I don’t make fashion. I make suits.”
I explain that I first saw a photo of him at Pitti Uomo and he laughs.
“I do not attend foreign fashion weeks, but I am a regular at Pitti Uomo.”
The conversation moves onto this season’s current collection and what makes it different from previous collections.
As a Brit, I hear that there are parts of the collection that I might be especially interested in.
“This season’s collection is Tailorable and Co.’s tenth collection. The collection contains both Italian and old England-inspired suits and a wide range of world-class fabrics.”
That’s fantastic. Assuming I was to ask you for a recommendation, what would you suggest?
“Because you are tall and thin, I recommend a three piece suit in a light grey, checked fabric. You will look like Fred Astaire!”You can’t really do better than that.
This trend looks like it’s here to stay and while the followers are quite few and far between, it’s reassuring to know that some are taking the timeless look of a tailored suit very seriously.
