Custom & Bespoke

In addition to the ready-to-wear clothing and shoes you’ll find throughout Old House Provisions, we’re also proud to offer made-to-measure and bespoke options for those in need of a personalized fit.

But first, in a world where the word “Bespoke” is overused, it’s important to know thedistinction between custom, made-to-measure, bespoke, etc. Here’s a quick glossary:

Premade clothes/shoes on a standard pattern to fit most people reasonably well. Usually made in a factory.

This takes the standard pattern used for ready to wear garments and makes slight adjustments to fit a given individual. Made-to-measure items are usually made in a factory setting alongside ready-to-wear production, but occasionally
brands take this as an opportunity to introduce more handwork.

A fully personalized pattern is drafted from scratch. Bespoke also implies truly handmade construction by a skilled artisan. In the truest sense of the word, the person measuring the client will be the same person making the item. This level of customization typically requires multiple fittings.

As a true bespoke shoemaking firm, we take these terms seriously. When we say handmade, we don’t just mean a hand guided a piece through a machine, we mean true artisanal handwork.

Available anytime in-store

Old House Provisions was founded by a bespoke shoemaker for the overarching purpose of growing the craft of shoemaking in the US. All shoes are fully hand-made on-site in Old Town Alexandria to the measurements of each client. Please reach out directly to drew@oldhouseprovisions.com to check if any order slots are open or to enquire about pricing.

Akshat was working as an Investment Banker in Amsterdam when he decided to pivot his life to what he considers the only other thing he knew. Raised in a textile family spanning generations, he had an intimate knowledge of fabrics, thread, and tailoring. He and his wife Varvara decided to launch 100Hands after receiving enthusiastic praise from Savile Row tailors in London. The name comes from what Akshat and Varvara determined would be the minimum number of people needed to create the perfect handmade shirt: 50 people - 100 Hands. Though they've since expanded to around 340 skilled hands, they retain the small workshop craftsmanship and attention to detail that continues to impress everyone the same as those initial tailors on Savile Row.

For over 60 years, Rota Pantaloni has been exclusively focussed on making tailored dress trousers at the pinnacle of the ready-to-wear / made-to-measure market. They've faced pressures to expand into different offerings and produce in other countries, but they are principally committed to both specializing in trousers alone and passing the skills down the generations of Italian craftsmen and women. Their trousers are entirely made in Italy at their Fidenza production site using the finest fabrics in the world.

Edward Green established his shoemaking workshop in Northampton in 1890. His name soon became synonymous with the finest English Goodyear welted footwear. In 1978, amidst the movement toward lowering costs and outsourcing production, Edward Green was sold to an American who thought they could turn the company around. This failed tremendously, and the company was again sold to an employee and former refugee from communism, John Hlustik, this time for £1. John then managed to turn the company around by pursuing 'the best shoes without compromise.' In the process, he also introduced a wider range of leather colors to the London business scene, which traditionally only wore black. After Hlustik's death in 2000, the company has been run by his partner, Hilary Freeman, remaining true to the principles it set in 1890.

Available through Trunk Shows

See our Events for upcoming trunk shows →

J.Mueser is a custom and ready-to-wear tailor based in New York City. Named for the founder, Jake Mueser, who studied menswear and tailoring at FIT before launching his career in the field. Their style is primarily inspired by the Neapolitan school and is made in Naples, but like any great American tailoring house, it includes design elements from other traditions as well.

Jake sources fabrics from the most historic mills in the world like most custom tailors, but in order to find particularly unique options for his clients, he expanded his search to innovative mills still committed to quality, natural materials in countries like Japan.

They offer a range of options for every client up to fully bespoke suits made in their compact West Village store. They're spreading good taste in a much larger area now with their expansion into other stores like Old House Provisions, where periodic trunk shows are held to provide the same full range of options that would be found in their NYC store.

Jean-Baptiste Rosseeuw created Lutays after working a decade in Paris steeped in couture culture. He started as a bespoke shoemaker at Corthay before evolving at Bottega Veneta, and then served as the director of the haute couture glove atelier Lavabre Cadet. Lutays is thus the culmination of years of experience and appreciation for French design and exquisite execution of craft.

Lutays focuses mainly, but not exclusively, on casual jacketing inspired by historic French work and military wear made from the finest fabrics by the most experienced local artisans. The goal is nothing short of creating the finest version of whatever is being commissioned. No detail is overlooked.

Couture at root means garments made to the specific requirements and measurements of each client, so Lutays specializes in person interaction between the customer and Jean-Baptiste himself, which is why we’re proud to host him for trunk shows in addition to the stock we normally have available.

Sartoria Trama, led by master tailor Aldo Toscano, represents the finest Neapolitan tailoring tradition — where craftsmanship, style, and timeless elegance converge. Each garment is entirely handmade, using only the most exquisite fabrics, offering a truly made-to-measure experience that blends heritage with a modern vision. Sartoria Trama’s creations are beloved by connoisseurs in Italy, the USA, the UAE, Russia, China, and the UK.

Alongside Trama’s jackets and suits, Lino Pommella brings his experience as a world-renowned bespoke trouser maker. A former cutter at Rubinacci, Lino has earned an international reputation for his unparalleled precision, exceptional fit, and attention to every sartorial detail. His work is a tribute to the Neapolitan school of tailoring, elevated by a distinctly personal touch.

Inquire

To enquire about any of the above options, please reach out using the form below.
Appointments are preferred to ensure our undivided attention.