Brooks Brothers v. J. Press v. The Custom Shop

[BigLaw98]

I received one response in another forum, but have been directed here. So, I'll try my luck.

Does anyone have experience or comments about the MTM service at Brooks Brothers, J. Press, or the Custom Shop?

Additionally, someone has kindly recommended J. Press and I must say that I like that store (I'm in DC, but I know their MTM service is in NYC). The problem is that every single time I have gone into ANY J. Press store in the 15 years I've been familiar with them, it honestly gives off the image that it could go out of business any day now. I'm 33 and I'd rather not make an investment with a store that I just can't see surviving. Have I received the wrong impression?

[pagean]

I had some shirts made by brooks brothers 8 years ago which I believe were MTM-certainly not bespoke and referred to by BB as special order.

Had a minor falling out with the store manager over quantity discounts but have been happy with the shirts. Still wear them occasionally and have yet to wear one out. Mind you, gaining 20 pounds does nothing for the fit of one's shirts.

Would definitely recommend them but make sure you're clear in communicating your needs.

[Hartline]

I have a few orders through the MTM program at Brooks from the old store in Newport Beach, California and in New York. The man who runs the program at 346 Madison Avenue is a real treasure. While Brooks has tried to upgrade the quality of its products generally, this program has not yet received the attention from mgt. it deserves, which like many things there is sad. The costs of the shirts are high in relation to their value. The buttons Brooks uses are the same plastic buttons as the RTW, and the program won't match stripes. If, however, you want some of Brooks' iconic features -- the shirring at the cuff, wider front placket, their buttondown collar, or the tennis collar then the program provides that. You can do a little tweaking with the fit.

There are other places that make good/very good MTM shirts, such as Mel Gambert Shirts that lots of places use and re-brand with their in-house label that offer a little higher quality. Just be very careful of places that use Gambert or Individualized Shirts and call them bespoke or custom rather than MTM. You will be paying for their sophistry and be on the receiving end of the five fingers of fraud.