Where to Shop DC: Enzo Custom

With the amount of lobbyists, attorneys, bankers and congressman populating DC, the tailored suiting industry in the District will not disappear anytime soon. Which is one reason the rise in custom clothing is now becoming a big part of the Washington market. In fact existing retail stores such as Paul Stuart, Canali and Polo have now placed a greater emphasis on the custom programs and made to measure shops like Indochino have even expanded their presence in the DC metropolitan area. Enzo Custom is another one of these custom shops that is committed to upping their presence in Washington area.

Photo by Anthony Bolognese

Background

Enzo Custom was started in 2011 by Eli Sved. Originally the company was a fabric seller reselling fabrics to custom companies similar to what the company does today. However, having developed some great relationships with many of the better millhouses, Sved jumped into the production of the suits and created Enzo.

The company’s custom program includes everything from suits, tuxedo jackets, trousers, vests, overcoats and shirting. Purchases of shirting receive a new tie. Suit prices start at a base price of $495 and go as high as $8K. What primarily drives the price is the fabric selected. Enzo works with such houses as Loro Piano, Ermenegildo Zegna, Vitale Barberis, Reda and Holland & Sherry to provide fabrics for their clothing. In addition, they also have their own line, Enzo Sartori. All suits are manufactured in Shanghai. The company’s line is on hand at the factory while the others need to be exported from Italy or England. As a result, the delivery of a custom suit is 4 -6 weeks.

The company does not have an on the street presence and it’s unlikely you’ll just happen to stumble across its showroom and that might not be a bad thing. Located in a non-descript office building on Connecticut and K, Enzo has that classic made to measure showroom feel. Open and airy with ample room space (they can accommodate up to 6 – 8 clients at once), the showroom overlooks Farragut Square. If you look closely, you can just make out the White House.

Made to Measure Program

Enzo believes they set themselves apart from other made to measure programs on two fronts: price and measure. Because of the excellent relationship with the millhouses, they believe they have some of the best pricing for Loro Piano and Zegna. As a result, they estimate that suits made with these fabrics can come in as much as 50% less than that of the competition. Their other advantage is their measurement system. Enzo takes roughly 40 different body measures as well as perform a posture analysis before a pattern is created. It really is about all about customization. They can do thousands of little tricks. These include jumping from quarters of inches and playing with length and width. These adjustments are based off the fit of try on garments.

Photo by Anthony Bolognese

Photo by Anthony Bolognese

My assumption was guys opted for made to measure because of body issues that make it hard to fit in off the rack styles (too big, too short, too tall, longer arms, broader shoulders, etc.) however that’s not the case. While body issues do play a part in some guy’s decision to custom, more of their customers know about suiting and want to design something uniquely for themselves. Whether it’s expressing their personality or recreating something they’ve seen on the runway, Enzo Custom customers tend to know suiting or how to fit their body.

Photo by Anthony Bolognese

My Experience

I was given the opportunity to try design a suit using the company’s Enzo Sartori fabric. The fabric is a Super 150 so it’s a great fabric with a luxurious feel. The fabric I chose is great for year round wear. Typically for my custom suits, I’ve gone for the bolder more expressive patterns but for this suit I opted for something a little more subtle. With a more subdued pattern, I thought it would be fun to exploit the details.

Photo by Anthony Bolognese

I chose a double breasted suit but the difference here is that I went with a six on one button stance. That means the bottom button is how the jacket closes. Typically, you see the six on two stance where it’s the second from the bottom where the jacket starts to close. Secondly, I went with wide lapels. Channeling my inner Tom Ford, I wanted a very wide lapel look. I’m tall and I figured I could get away with it. What’s nice is with Enzo, they didn’t question my choices. With some other made to measure companies, they might steer your towards more traditional choices which can hinder creativity.

While there are a multitude of choices, the process is pretty simple. My Enzo Custom rep, Romeo, guided me as I selected the fabric, style details, lining, buttons, pocket styles, lapels, pant details and monograms. If you know what you want you can easily walk yourself through the process with minimal guidance using your rep as a sounding board. However if you are trying to recreate a specific look or need more hand holding, your rep is a pretty skilled stylist to help you achieve that look that’s right for you.

Photo by Anthony Bolognese

Typically, once the suit is delivered there is at least one round of alterations. This is mainly for the hem of the trousers, the sleeve length or letting something in or out. A body can change in 6 weeks. In my case, the suit fit pretty well. The suit could be taken in slightly (I did lose a little weight). Plus,  I’m still slightly undecided about the pant length (a little short). Ultimately, I decided to rock it as it is.

Why you should shop at Enzo Custom

Custom suiting is a way to get a great fit and allow your creativity to flow. Enzo affords you the opportunity to create that unique look or recreate that runway style at pretty reasonable price. While it is not at the lower end of the custom market, the price points for some of its premium fabrics comes in at a lower price point than its competitors. The quality of my suit was excellent and I was able to design a terrific suit on my own terms. Thanks Romeo!

Enzo also offers a wedding party program. The groom and the groomsmen can get custom suiting for that special day. The showroom offers private fittings for the party. In addition, they will do suit for women. The caveat is that it is a man’s suit cut to fit a woman. Other shops do not provide this option.

To create your own Enzo suit, use my link and receive $50 off.