There is much more to a needle and thread when it comes to tailoring. These multi-talented co-founders work together to build their brand from scratch.
Written by Risa Wong
Photos by Sharanjit Kaur
When you first step into Suit Commune, you will be greeted with bright smiles from co-founders, Sharanjit Kaur and Priscilla Tan Si Jia. Leading you inside the showroom, you are invited to sit on the comfortable blue velvety couch placed in between the fitting room and shelves of leather shoes from their parent company, Arden Teal.
Formal shirts, blazers and dress pants neatly hung on clothing racks; a serene ambience fills the air as you slowly sink into the chair. On your right, you glance over the rows of fabric arranged like a book collection with compartments of buttons and clasps.
Established in 2020, Suit Commune wanted to do away with the notion that tailoring is reserved for the well off. It aims to help men make apparel more accessible and embrace their individual unique style.
In comparison to today’s fashion, where fast fashion brands offer cheap and, thus, low-quality clothing, Suit Commune does the opposite. They help customers build a classic capsule wardrobe with stylish, seasonless and sustainable pieces.
“Suit Commune is about bringing style to your everyday wardrobe – practical, comfortable and tailored to your taste,” Priscilla shares.
The two co-founders believe that tailor-made styles bring out their customers’ personalities better than off-the-rack garments.
“We hope that men can express themselves through Suit Commune and trust us to tailor to their individual bodies so it looks perfect for them,” Priscilla continues.
Combining Two Creatives Form A Brand
Sharanjit, better known as Sharan, is a passionate 39-year-old who has over 10 years of luxury e-commerce industry experience. In-charge of strategising plans, she helps to increase brand awareness and customer loyalty.
Priscilla, a 30-year-old who has innate talent in fashion and style, is the style consultant for Suit Commune.
With that, Suit Commune was born.
In The Showroom
“Many customers are not sure of where to begin whenever they visit Suit Commune. This is where the talented Priscilla comes in,” Sharan says with praise about her partner.
Customers start off their personal fitting session by consulting Priscilla, where she seeks to understand the customer’s preferences.
After which, they will be guided through a fabric selection process, where they can choose from over 1,000 fabric samples. Priscilla ensures that a customer’s needs and wants are met by attempting to marry the two factors together.
Once the above have been completed, over 15 body measurements will be taken by hand before it goes in the works. Subsequently, there would be multiple fittings to ensure the piece fits customers well.
“It is challenging but we feel satisfied when the project is complete. The process takes about six to eight weeks, depending on how intricate the customisations are,” Priscilla expresses.
Materials and Prices Offered
Suit Commune works with multiple suppliers from Italy, England and Asia.
Currently holding a five-star review on Google, many customers have commended them for exceptional service and quality garments.
Needless to say, the prices offered are worth it. Suit Commune tailors shirts from 59 dollars to three-piece suits from 399 dollars. They also have a variety of customisation add-ons which include monogramming, priced at 8 dollars per two letters.
Challenges They Overcame
“We are proud to share that we have had many happy customers who are satisfied with Suit Commune’s service and efforts,” Priscilla says with a smile while Sharan nods in agreement.
In contrast, Suit Commune has faced some tough situations with clients.
“Sometimes, we have customers who are not pleased with the suit because they do not look like the reference image they showed us,” Priscilla shares.
“It was hard for us to explain body shapes to our clients without sounding offensive. We learnt to speak diplomatically,” Sharan continues.
However, such challenges only made the duo stronger.
“Regardless of the situation, we will always try to compromise with our customers so that both parties are agreeable to the final piece. We also try our best to share our knowledge with our customers,” Priscilla says.
“Such cases validate the reason for starting Suit Commune because it helps our customers solve such problems and fills up the gap in the market,” Sharan expresses.
The Future Of Tailors
It is evident that such projects involve intricate work that can only be done by veterans. These co-founders share a common goal to provide the best for customers and build customer relationships.
In 10 years, Suit Commune aims to be the go-to for men to get their tailored wear. Sharan and Priscilla agree that they want Suit Commune to top-of-the-mind awareness among customers locally and regionally.
“The best appreciation you can get is when your work is widely known and gets noticed. Looking at someone wearing a suit you made. It just proves that you are going in the right direction,” Sharan says, while beaming.
