SPONSORED: Kashiyama Wants to Outfit You in a Bespoke Suit

Confidence is everything.

Confidence gets you a raise, it gets you a first-class upgrade, it gets you free dessert, and it gets you a second date. After three years of existing predominantly in sweatpants, few things make you feel instantly as good about yourself as putting on a new suit, particularly one tailored to fit your exact body, at its exact size right now.

Enter Kashiyama, a clothing company with roots dating back to 1920s Japan. Kashiyama’s current technology focuses predominantly on made-to-order garments, particularly suits. The company is well established in Japan, outfitting more than 200,000 clients per year, and has recently broken into the U.S. market, bringing with it the efficiency, stylishness, and sustainability that its Asian audience demands. The process is so dialed in—from measurements and selection to laser-cut, robot-assisted production at Kashiyama’s own factories in China and Japan—that clients can expect their suit on their doorstep in as little as 10 days, an expediency virtually unheard of in the domestic industry.

Vice President BJ McCahill says Kashiyama has seen how excited people are to return to in-person events, causing a comeback in suiting as well. And though he’s understandably biased, he’s a big proponent of purchasing custom rather than ready-to-wear.

"The first thing people notice about your suit is the fit, so going the made-to-measure route is always the best,” McCahill says. “An expensive suit that is ill-fitting is going to look worse than an affordable one with the perfect fit. Once you start wearing custom garments, it can be difficult to return to off-the-rack styles, since they can be made exactly to your preferences and not based off the mass market's body proportions. Additionally, taking a person's posture into account for a custom garment and tweaking those posture settings goes a long way to ensure the garment sits more cleanly on someone's frame."

And don’t think of “affordable” here as synonymous with cheap. Kashiyama’s suits start at $300—less than mall chain stores like J.Crew. But because of the company’s high standards when it comes to fabric and construction—and because you are ultimately in charge of the fit and look of the final product—you’re guaranteed a more unique set of garments. Are you one of the folks misguidedly wearing the same suit to your wedding, your uncle’s funeral, and your office holiday party? Kashiyama’s styles are affordable enough to own in multiples, and each one can be expanded to accommodate custom shirts, extra pants, vests, and more, to build multiple unique looks from a single suit.

Though suits are considered classic and timeless, suit trends do exist, and they tend to follow silhouettes and styles similar to more casual clothing. What’s hot now? McCahill says he’s seen a rise in women ordering up for that oversized look that’s so trendy right now, especially in blazers. Brighter and bolder colors, too, have seen a resurgence, whether as the main fabric or a fun accent lining fabric. McCahill says men have been shying away from the ultra-skinny suit in favor of a more relaxed, though still fitted, silhouette.

Whether your fitting process starts online at home, in one of Kashiyama’s permanent locations (the NYC flagship, plus Boston, D.C., and Philadelphia), or at one of the company’s roving pop-ups, you’ll first need accurate measurements. From there, customizations are virtually endless: silhouette, fabric, half-canvas or full, lapel size, pocket style, buttons, interior lining, contrast stitching, pleats, creases, you name it. Obviously, one of Kashiyama’s trained tailors may have the edge over your partner when it comes to wielding a measuring tape, but the online prompts set you up for success; once your profile is created, your measurements are saved, so if you get measured in store, you can then order from home anytime.

So maybe we’re not ready to say goodbye to sweatpants forever, but we’re definitely ready to refresh that dusty, outdated wardrobe with some looks that feel fresh enough for the upcoming onslaught of conferences, weddings, and parties. “I think people are really excited to wear tailored clothing again after the pandemic,” McCahill says. Bottom line: you deserve to feel good about yourself, and a new suit may just be the key.

Kashiyama and JoySauce have teamed up to give five lucky readers the chance to win a free made-to-order suit of their choice. To enter, click here.