Tweeds Collab: Like Custom Homebuilding, Suit Making Can Be a Singular Experience
Designing and building incomparable custom homes – it’s what our team at Lee Wetherington Homes has achieved for Suncoast homebuyers for over 40 years. And bringing bold finishes, innovative features and everlasting style from just an idea to a finished masterpiece requires a tailored customer experience that truly takes a close look at each customer’s wants and needs. The same can be said for statement-making custom clothing, made with care and consideration for the wearer.
The two industries share many similarities, which is why Lee Wetherington Homes’ latest collaboration with Donald Carlson, a Sarasota local and founder of Tweeds, was only natural. Our CEO, David Hunihan, recently caught up with him in our newest video series set in the Haven – our award-winning model in Everly at Wellen Park! Explore how Tweeds is redefining the custom suit buying experience in these excerpts from their conversation and look out for parts of David and Donald’s interview on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram!
Q: Our team creates custom homes, tailored to singular homebuyers. How is your custom suit buying experience similar?
The first part of our process, when you come into Tweeds, is we’re going to take all your measurements. Typically, we’re taking 29 different measurement points. It’s truly custom – we’re making everything from scratch.
When a client comes to us, maybe they’re going to a business conference, getting married or going to their daughter’s wedding, so it’s super important to understand what the client is looking for. … When we’re working with a client who’s coming in, like a groom, to get measured up for a suit for his wedding, typically there are colors involved – maybe like a classic navy, black or forest green has been really popular. We source from a number of fabric mills, so we can find whatever color a client is looking for. A lot of guys come in for, say a business conference, and they want a custom pair of jeans with a shirt and a sport coat.
Q: Spacious closets have become a personalized focal point of the primary suite. What are some ‘must-haves’ to include?
Say you don’t have any suits; a navy and a charcoal suit would be great to have. They’re versatile. They play well with each other – you could have a navy suit over jeans. You just get a lot of versatility out of it.
You can mix and match. And if you have your classic navy and charcoal, then you can get into the fun windowpanes and those types of designs. Start with the basics – have a few white shirts, blue shirts, some loafers, brown shoes, black shoes, and a basic brown belt and black belt. For the most part, you’ll have a pretty good core collection.
Q: For us, quality is a standard. How do you determine what quality materials look like – and what should a customer look for?
This English cloth is super, super soft and really breathable – there are no synthetic fibers. Synthetic fibers can trap heat, and they don’t last as long. … They’re not as quality of a material. We do carry things like that because people do want it.Say you don’t have any suits; a navy and a charcoal suit would be great to have. They’re versatile. They play well with each other – you could have a navy suit over jeans. You just get a lot of versatility out of it.
If someone is looking for a high-quality suit, we’ll typically point them toward the Loro Pianas, the Scabals… higher-end, gourmet cloths. The 100% worsted wool – these are really, really great for Florida. … A suit like this typically lasts seven to ten years or longer. It’s not just the fabric but the construction. We don’t use any glue when we’re making the suit. It’s all a half or full canvas, so that adds a lot of life to the fabric.
Q: There are a lot of deciding factors to look for in a homebuilder. What are the details customers should consider when investing in custom clothing?
You’d want to know about the material, construction and if it’s true custom – those are three good starting points. When it comes to true custom versus bespoke or “ready-to-wear,” if you’re going to a custom suit shop, you want to make sure they’re cutting from scratch and they’re not just taking a preexisting garment and modifying it.
With material, we’re in Florida, so make sure you’re getting a lightweight material and that you know what you’re getting. The construction, like we said before – make sure there’s no fusing in the garment because it won’t breathe, it won’t last as long. Either half canvas or full canvas is the best way to go.
