Suiting material

When making a suit, the first thing to start with is choosing the fabric, synthetic materials such as polyester, microfiber should be avoided, they are not natural and they do not breathe. What you should be looking for is 100% wool, it is the fabric of choice for a good suit—it's natural, it breathes well, and it's durable. Pure wool would cost minimum RM200 per meter, and a two-piece suit would require approximately three and a half meters. If you're trying to keep your cost down, look for wool mixed with cashmere as both are natural fibers and they bond well. Wool and cashmere mix would cost about RM100 per meter.

Certainly you can just purchase materials from your tailor, but where's the fun in that? Plus there's much more varieties to choose from by visiting textile stores. If you're looking for materials, head down to Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and spend some time looking at the different fabrics available and gain some knowledge in the process.

I've been hunting for some materials lately for a new suit and this is what I chose, it's a navy colored Super 130's wool mixed with a little cashmere which cost RM170 per meter. The reason I picked this is because of its exquisite detailing but at the same time has a touch of subtlety to it. From afar, the fabric appears to be a solid navy, but when up-close, the excellent details can be clearly seen.