Black Lapel

Black Lapel is a US-based company specialising in custom-made suits, shirts, blazers, trousers, and tuxedos for men of all shapes and sizes. Founded in 2012, the company offers made-to-measure clothing with a strong emphasis on quality craftsmanship, premium materials, and personalised customer service.

Black Lapel cuts out middlemen to provide premium fabrics from renowned mills worldwide at affordable prices, making quality custom suits more accessible.

Customers can design their suits and shirts with many customisation options, ensuring a tailored fit. The brand uses data from cutting hundreds of unique patterns daily to refine their algorithms for a better fit.

Short history of Black Lapel

Black Lapel is a menswear-focused custom clothing company founded in 2012 by Derek Tian and Warren Liao. It is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has showrooms in New York City and Denver, Colorado. The founders, both former finance professionals in New York City, started Black Lapel to address the lack of affordable, well-fitting suiting options suitable for professional environments, leveraging a proprietary sizing algorithm that reduces return rates to below 2%, significantly better than the industry average of 20-30%.

In January 2024, Black Lapel announced a significant merger with two other custom clothing brands, Blank Label and Ratio Clothing. This strategic union, led by a prominent US-based manufacturer, aims to combine over 50 years of collective expertise to enhance customer experience, garment quality, and expand customisation options. The merger promises faster turnaround times, more boutique showrooms, and advanced technological innovations, marking a new chapter in Black Lapel’s growth and industry presence.

What is Black Lapel all about?

Black Lapel has received awards for the best classic suits under $1,000 and is praised for its customisation options and quality at an affordable price.

The company offers a “Flawless Fit Promise”, meaning if the first garment does not fit perfectly, they will alter or remake it for free.

Customers appreciate Black Lapel for delivering elegant, affordable custom suits with a modern and respectable style, although the fabric selection is somewhat limited compared to other custom tailors.

Black Lapel also maintains an active style journal called The Compass, providing style advice and lifestyle content to support their customers.

Besides suits, Black Lapel offers accessories and has collaborated with brands like Quero for handmade shoes and Stuart & Lau for bags and briefcases.

The company also offers in-person fittings by appointment at their New York office and has affiliates in multiple US cities.

Shipping is free to many countries worldwide, and personal assistance is available via phone or email.

What do they have to offer?

Black Lapel offerings include custom suits, tuxedos, blazers, pants, vests, shirts, and overcoats. They provide both half-canvassed and full-canvassed suits, with fabrics mainly sourced from mills like Filarte, known for Super 110s wool.

A wide selection of polished suits tailored to individual measurements and style preferences is available, suitable for weddings, work, or everyday business wear.

Customers can choose from a variety of high-end fabrics sourced from renowned mills worldwide and customise details such as lapel style, fabric colour, and fit.

Made-to-measure dress shirts are on offer with numerous options for fabric, pattern, colour, and fit, designed to complement their suits and enhance personal style. Custom blazers and pants are crafted to match the quality and fit of their suits, allowing for mix-and-match options or standalone pieces. Specialised formal wear is also available, including tuxedos with options for different lapel styles such as peak and shawl lapels, tailored for black tie events and formal occasions.

Additional offerings include ties, pocket squares, cufflinks, and outerwear to complete formal and business outfits.

All products are handcrafted with meticulous tailoring focused on the customer’s measurements and preferences.

What is the user experience like?

The Black Lapel website focuses on delivering a seamless, user-friendly experience centred around custom-fitted suits and shirts. The design favours a modern, minimalist aesthetic with a focus on clean lines and balance, mirroring the style philosophy promoted by Black Lapel’s designers and stylists. The site guides users smoothly through the process of building a custom suit, with clear steps to select styles, fabrics, and design details, making it easy to create a personalised garment.

The homepage and product pages emphasise quality, craftsmanship, and customisation options with concise, persuasive copy and clean layouts that highlight key benefits like free worldwide shipping and fit guarantees.

Black Lapel offers virtual styling consultations via live video, integrated into the site, where users can get expert measurement and style advice, enhancing the online shopping experience with personal interaction.

Black Lapel is active on social networks, notably Instagram, where they share photos and videos related to their custom suits and fabrics.

What are the prices like?

Entry-level suits start around $700 for half-canvassed suits with quality features such as Bemberg lining and horn buttons.

Full-canvassed suits start at about $1100. The brand is recognised for delivering good value in the made-to-measure category.

Premium suits with fabrics from renowned mills like Vitale Barberis Canonico can cost up to $1,699.

Navy suits range from about $699 to $1,199, depending on fabric and style.

The majority of shirts are around $100, with some going up to $169. Ties and bow ties are priced uniformly at $49 each.

Pants go from around $200 to $500, and blazers are between $500 and $1000.

What are their shipping options?

Black Lapel offers free shipping to many countries worldwide on all orders, including custom-fitted suits, shirts, blazers, trousers, and tuxedos. The average production and shipping turnaround time is approximately 4 weeks, though it can vary based on fabric availability and order volume.

Customers are asked to check their confirmation emails for more specific information.

Conclusion!

Black Lapel is a reputable online custom clothier known for quality, affordability, and extensive customisation, with a growing presence following its recent merger with other industry leaders.

The site combines elegant, straightforward design with rich customisation tools and expert support to create a premium online bespoke tailoring experience.

This design strategy effectively supports their brand promise of affordable, high-quality, custom-made suits tailored to individual customers.

Black Lapel is highly regarded for delivering quality custom suits with excellent service at a fair price, especially for customers who value fit and customisation and are willing to wait for their garment.