The Bespoke Revolution
I’ve been a big proponent of (affordable) bespoke items for a while now. Most of all it’s fun for me to add my own flavor and details to pieces. The New York Times runs down the bespoke trend and identifies that there are far more items you can get custom-made than just a suit or shirt. My favorite bit of the article is some of the reasoning for why guys chose the bespoke route.
Part of the appeal of custom culture is that it taps into the connoisseurship and one-upmanship that has long been central to guy culture. But whereas this was once the province of a certain tax bracket and its implicit fixations — Savile Row suits, golf clubs, cigars and single-malt Scotch — it now includes youthful fetishes with the coolest surfboards, sneakers and skateboards.