Nicholas Joseph, Custom Suits You

What Nicholas Joseph, Custom Suits You does

Nicholas Joseph, Custom Suits You is a Chicago-based custom menswear house founded in 2005 by Nicholas Hansen, a former Big Four consultant, and operated today from a single showroom in the River North neighborhood. The company designs, measures, and manufactures bespoke and custom-tailored suits, tuxedos, shirts, sportcoats, trousers, overcoats, polos, and accessories, with bespoke suits hand-cut and finished in Chicago from fabric imported from Italian mills such as Ermenegildo Zegna, Loro Piana, and Vitale Barberis Canonico. Its technical differentiator is a paper pattern system maintained per client: 24+ individual measurements plus shoulder and posture photographs are captured at the showroom, a master pattern is filed on the tailor's wall, and bespoke garments go through multiple basted fittings before final construction, allowing subsequent orders to bypass the initial fitting. Headcount is under twelve full-time custom clothiers, supported by a Master Tailor on site and a six-person custom shirt team.

The business operates a one-time, unit-priced revenue model with no subscription or recurring component. Pricing is published transparently online, with custom shirts from $119, custom suits from $895, custom sportcoats from $675, and Made in Chicago bespoke suits starting at $2,795, the latter consuming approximately 50 man-hours per garment and delivered within a 3-week window. Go-to-market is appointment-based, high-touch showroom sales augmented by virtual consultations introduced during COVID-19, and supported by earned media (Esquire, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, Inc.), Instagram content, a blog covering groom trends and styling, and partnerships with wedding photographers, bridal shops, and venues. Beyond individual consumers, the company also designs and produces uniforms for fine-dining and hospitality clients across North America and runs corporate discount programs with KPMG and Deloitte.

The firm is privately held, founder-controlled, with no external equity rounds and no acquisitions or exits on record. It holds CTDA membership, alumni status in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, and an Inc. 5000 listing from 2016, and is exclusively recommended by Esquire Magazine for bespoke suits in Chicago.

Name

Nicholas Joseph, Custom Suits You

Legal name

Nicholas Joseph Custom Tailors

Website

https://customsuitsyou.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nicholas Joseph, Custom Suits You is a Chicago-based custom menswear house founded in 2005 that designs, measures, and hand-finishes bespoke and custom suits, tuxedos, shirts, and accessories for individual professional men, wedding parties, and select hospitality clients from a single River North showroom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Tailoring and Bespoke Menswear

NAICS

Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (3152), Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) (31525), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110)

SIC

Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments (2320), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

Men’s Styling & Tailoring Coordination (HSACAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dresses, Skirts & Tailored Apparel Cut & Sew (Suits/Formalwear) (IMAOAEAF), Men’s Apparel Retail (CRAAABAC)

Keywords

• Custom tailoring
• Bespoke suits
• Made-to-measure menswear
• Wedding tuxedos
• Custom dress shirts

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Custom Clothing Sales: One-time purchase model for bespoke and custom suits, shirts, tuxedos, sportcoats, trousers, overcoats, and accessories. Individual garment purchases with measurements kept on file for easy reordering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nicholas Joseph designs, manufactures, and sells custom and bespoke tailored menswear including suits, tuxedos, shirts, sportcoats, trousers, polos, overcoats, and accessories. Each garment is built to individual client measurements taken in the Chicago showroom, with paper patterns kept on file to enable easy reorders. Approximately 50 man hours go into each Made in Chicago bespoke suit, with fabric sourced from premium Italian mills such as Ermenegildo Zegna, Loro Piana, and Vitale Barberis Canonico.

Product overview

Nicholas Joseph Custom Suits You is a Chicago-based custom tailoring company offering a comprehensive suite of bespoke and custom-tailored menswear products. The core offering centers on custom suits (starting at $895) and Made in Chicago bespoke suits (starting at $2795 with 3-week delivery), complemented by custom tuxedos, shirts, polos, sportcoats, trousers, and overcoats. The product portfolio also includes accessories (ties, cufflinks, belts, pocket squares, socks), gift certificates, and corporate uniform services. The company partners with premium brands including Magnanni shoes and Paige denim. Services include in-showroom appointments, virtual appointments for remote clients, and alterations. A Master Tailor is on-site, and the company is exclusively recommended by Esquire magazine for bespoke suits in Chicago.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Suits Custom-tailored suits built to individual measurements with fabrics from mills like Ermenegildo Zegna, Vitale Barberis Canonico, and Loro Piana. Starting at $895 for custom suits.
• Bespoke Suits Made in Chicago Premier bespoke suits hand-cut and handmade in Chicago with multiple basted fittings, featuring a Master Tailor on-site. Approximately 50 man hours per suit. Starting at $2,795 with 3-week delivery available.
• Custom Tuxedos Custom-tailored tuxedos for weddings and formal events, available in classic black or patterned fabrics. Priced from $895.
• Custom Shirts True custom shirts made by hand with options for collars, cuffs, lengths, sleeves, and monograms. Made by a team of six custom shirt tailors with superior collar and cuff construction. Starting at $119.
• Custom Sportcoats Custom sport coats and blazers with various fabric options including DiPrima cashmere. Starting at $675.
• Custom Trousers Custom-tailored trousers made to individual measurements. Starting at $225.
• Custom Polos Custom-fitted polo shirts in wicking performance or vibrant pique fabrics with contrasting details available. Starting at $165-$188.
• Custom Overcoats Custom overcoats for colder months, available in various fabrics including Zegna overcoat fabrics.
• Zip-Up Sportcoats Custom zip-up sportcoats offering a modern, casual alternative to traditional sportcoats. Priced from $1,095.
• Accessories Complete accessories including handmade Italian neckties ($110+), socks ($15-30), cufflinks ($65-225), pocket squares ($45-65), custom leather belts ($225+), and bespoke Deumer 1863 sterling silver cufflinks ($225+).
• Gift Certificates Gift certificates available in any amount for custom clothing purchases, redeemable for any items sold by Nicholas Joseph Custom Tailors.
• Corporate Uniforms Custom design and construction of uniforms for fine dining restaurants, hotels, and upscale hospitality centers throughout North America.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600 five-star reviews across Google and Yelp
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wall Street JournalcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 June 2020Wall Street Journal featured Nicholas Joseph in June 2020 article on virtual appointments for custom suits and bespoke clothing during COVID-19 pandemic.
• CNBCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 February 2015CNBC featured Nicholas Joseph in February 2015 article 'How far do men go for a bespoke suit? Around the world' exploring the lengths men will go for custom tailoring.
• Esquire MagazinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEsquire Magazine exclusively recommends Nicholas Joseph for bespoke suits in Chicago in their Big Black Book. Only Chicago recommendation for bespoke suits.
• Magnanni ShoesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMagnanni Shoes partnered with Nicholas Joseph to offer dress shoes as accessories for custom suits. Magnanni is a Spanish brand of supremely crafted dress shoes.
• Paige DenimminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaige Denim, California-born brand of supremely soft performance-driven denim, offered as casual pairing with sportcoats and custom wardrobes.
• Custom Tailors & Designers Association (CTDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicholas Joseph is a member of the CTDA, the oldest continuously operating trade organization in the United States, comprised of distinguished master tailors, designers, custom clothiers and luxury retailers.
• Mayor's Fashion CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicholas Hansen was appointed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to the Mayor's Fashion Council to advise on citywide plan for fashion industry opportunities.
• Lee Allison TiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLee Allison Ties company supplies Chicago-based handmade bowties in whimsical patterns and colors for weddings and formal occasions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Indochino: Direct-to-consumer custom menswear brand offering made-to-measure suits online and through showrooms at lower price points. Comparable custom-suit category but mass-market positioning versus Nicholas Joseph's bespoke tier.
• Suitsupply: Global menswear retailer offering ready-to-wear and custom suits at accessible price points with strong in-store experience. Overlaps on the custom and tailored suit category but competes primarily in ready-to-wear.
• Brooks Brothers: Iconic American menswear retailer offering made-to-measure suiting alongside ready-to-wear. Comparable customer profile and tailoring heritage but operates at much broader scale across multiple channels.
• Hugo Boss Made to Measure: Premium global fashion brand offering a made-to-measure suiting program in addition to ready-to-wear. Overlaps on the custom menswear category with brand-driven positioning comparable to Nicholas Joseph's premium positioning.

Direct peers

• Proper Cloth: Online custom shirt maker that has expanded into custom suits and casualwear. Directly comparable custom-menswear category with strong digital customer experience and made-to-measure focus.
• Tom James Company: Largest custom clothing company in North America with traveling clothiers visiting clients at offices and homes. Directly comparable bespoke and custom-tailored suiting model; one of the customers even cited switching from Tom James to Nicholas Joseph.
• Black Lapel: Online custom menswear company offering made-to-measure suits and shirts with at-home measurement kits and showrooms. Directly comparable custom-suit category with overlapping customer profile of professional men seeking personalized fit.
• Oliver Wicks: Online custom suit brand offering made-to-measure suits and shirts with virtual consultations and global shipping. Comparable custom-suit category targeting professional men seeking personalized fit at mid-market price points.

Regional players

• Henricks Bespoke Clothiers: Bespoke tailor in Chicago offering custom and bespoke suiting with similar showroom and Master Tailor positioning. Regional peer with overlapping Chicago market and bespoke service model.
• Mr. Ned Custom Clothiers: Chicago-based custom clothier with similar showroom-based bespoke model and personal styling services. Direct geographic and service-model overlap with Nicholas Joseph in the Chicago market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/customsuitsyou
• Facebookfacebook.com/customsuitsyou
• Instagraminstagram.com/customsuitsyou
• Pinterestpinterest.com/customsuitsyou/nicholas-joseph-clothing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nicholas-joseph

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nicholas Joseph, Custom Suits You