Bespoke
bih-SPOHK
/bɪˈspoʊk/
Made specially to an individual customer's exact specifications; custom-made.
Implies complete customization from scratch rather than altering a pre-made garment.
The story behind the word. The term originates from London tailors in the 17th century. When a customer selected a bolt of cloth, that specific fabric was said to 'be spoken for' by the buyer, preventing anyone else from purchasing it.
Word relationships
- custom-made: Custom-made is broader and used for any non-standard item, whereas bespoke emphasizes traditional hand-crafting.
- tailor-made: Tailor-made highlights the fitting aspect, while bespoke emphasizes that the raw materials were spoken for prior to cutting.
- ready-to-wear: Ready-to-wear garments are manufactured in standard factory sizes.
- off-the-rack: Off-the-rack implies mass-produced clothing sold directly from store displays.
Commonly confused with
- made-to-measure: Made-to-measure uses a pre-existing pattern adjusted to measurements, while bespoke creates an original pattern from scratch.
Word family
- bespeak (verb): To indicate, suggest, or order in advance.
Collocations
- bespoke suit
- bespoke tailoring
- bespoke footwear
- bespoke service
Example sentences
- "He arrived at the gala wearing a bespoke silk tuxedo crafted by London artisans." Fashion journalism
- "His bespoke suit fitted his broad frame with effortless mathematical precision." Literature
Memory hook
Think of fabric that 'BE-SPOKE' to the tailor, saying 'I belong to this specific customer!' Spoken for before it is cut.
When not to use
Do not use for mass-produced items or standard off-the-rack clothes.
Fun facts
- In 2008, the Savile Row Bespoke Association trademarked criteria to protect the word from being diluted by mass-market retailers.
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