Oxxford factory visit

[zegnamtl]

Many thanks for this in-depth & excellent Oxxford tour report. As always... your pictures are 2/3 of the post.

After reading this, my main question--or should I say main concern is that why the heck Oxxford can't do something for their Chicago / Mid-west clientele (directly)?

For example, years ago before venturing into the Bespoke land I repeatedly went to Chicago in search of a better quality true MTM suit & each time the people @ their office / factory... kept telling me to go to Neiman Marcus. This is way before Saks had a separate Men's store adjacent to Neiman… at Michigan Ave.

At Neiman's the sales people were jokers. Not all perhaps... but most that I ran into. I placed an order for $4000 4-pc suit through Oxxford but had to cancel it because the sales men at Neiman could not properly convey (what I asked for) to Oxxford & they didn't let me talk to the oxxford personnel--Rocco I guess-- directly.


regards
etutee

I do not wish to speak for Mr. Cohen, but there seems to be a complete change in management style since he has taken over (only a few years ago as CEO).

He likes the idea of a more hands on approach as it makes the client feel more attached and involved with the purchase as opposed to straight off the peg.
I am left with the impression that one can not carry their past experiences in dealing with Oxxford thinking it is status quo today.

During my two visits, I witnessed Rocco checking on the progress of several suits and there were some clients who were at the factory for these sessions. But Mr. Cohen was very clear that the garment will be shipped to the local retailer. This is not a step to a factory store. These clients have started and will close the transaction with their retailer. The party of three I watched leave the offices seemed to enjoy the experience very much. Oxxford is not available Canada so I have no experience in tis regard, but I believe this to be breaking new ground for the company.


regards,
Z

[zegnamtl]

Mr. Alden wrote:

But customers can change the patterns or simply modify the detailing choices..ie ticket pocket or not.

~~~~

Dear Mr. Alden,

I went through some notes tonight and listened to part of the tape.
While Mr. Cohen never says outright one way or the other and I will ask him for clarity before the final piece is prepared, I do not believe they make a new pattern for clients, but modify existing patterns.

But there are permanent files on clients orders and there is a fairly large file that travels with the suit as it winds it's way through the factory.

In the photograph below, Mr. Cohen and head tailor Rocco discuss a special order. There appears to be a series of colored tags to warm tailors and seamstresses of the modifications and there is a plastic bag containing all the instructions and order sheet that travels with the suit. In my limited experience with MTM, I found the examples he quoted of past special requests to be very liberal.

[le.gentleman]

Dear all,

Just recently I had a chance to visit Oxxford Clothes in Chicago, which was really informative and interesting. Fellow member Frank Morganti helped me to write up that article, so feel free to stop by if you are interested in a few more pictures and background.
Thanks.

[Mark Seitelman]

Excellent article. It makes me want to place another suit order!

Thanks.