Sicily & Savile crafts true bespoke suits at our atelier in Parkhurst, Johannesburg. Each commission is built from a fresh paper pattern by master tailors with over thirty years’ experience — using full canvas construction, hand-padded lapels, and traditional basted fittings. The result is a suit that fits only one body in the world: yours.

What Makes a True Bespoke Suit

The word “bespoke” is often borrowed loosely. In our atelier it means one specific thing: every suit begins as a sheet of cloth and a freshly drafted pattern unique to you. We do not adjust pre-existing templates. We do not send measurements offshore. We do not glue our canvases. From the first measurement to the final delivery, every garment is shaped by hand on-site in Parkhurst.

This matters because the construction of a suit is what determines how it sits on your shoulders, how it drapes across the chest, how it moves with you across a ten-hour day. A glued (fused) suit is fast and cheap; a hand-padded, fully canvassed bespoke suit ages with you, softens against your body, and lasts decades. That is what we make.

The Sicily & Savile Process

1. Consultation & Cloth Selection (45 minutes)

Your first visit is unhurried. We discuss the suit’s purpose — business, wedding, special occasion, daily wear — and recommend cloth based on Johannesburg’s climate, your colouring, and the occasion. You’ll see swatches from leading international mills: pure worsted wools for sharp drape, finer super-numbered cloths for softer hand, linens and cottons for our summer months.

2. Pattern Drafting & Measurement

We take fifteen to twenty measurements: chest, waist, hips, sleeve length, shoulder slope, posture, stance. From these we draft a paper pattern unique to you. No two patterns in our atelier are identical.

3. Baste Fitting (Week 2–3)

We sew the suit together loosely — “basted” — with white thread, so we can see the construction and adjust the fit before any commitment. You try it on. We pin, mark, and refine.

4. Forward Fitting (Week 4–5)

The suit comes back, this time properly stitched, for fine adjustments. We look at how the collar sits, how the back drapes, where the trouser breaks.

5. Final Delivery (Week 6–8)

The suit is finished — hand-padded lapels, hand-pick-stitched edges, working button-holes (Milanese or surgeon’s cuff, your call), bespoke lining if desired. We deliver in a garment bag with full care instructions, and the option to bring the suit back for free alterations within the first three months as your body settles into it.

What’s Included

Full canvas construction — natural hair canvas hand-stitched into the chest piece, not glued. This is how the suit gets its shape.
Hand-padded lapels — each lapel is shaped by hundreds of tiny hidden stitches that pull the cloth into its final roll.
Pick-stitching — visible hand-stitching along lapel edges and pockets, the hallmark of a hand-finished garment.
Working button-holes on the cuffs (your option — purely classic detail).
Bespoke linings — choose from our curated selection of plain, patterned and contrast linings.
Generous inlays — extra cloth in every seam so the suit can be let out or taken in later as your body changes.
3-month adjustment guarantee — free alterations as the suit settles into your daily wear.

Cloth Options

We hold swatch books from leading international mills, sourced personally on our buying trips. Your cloth is chosen for its weight, weave, hand and how it will live in the Highveld climate.

Pure worsted wools (260g–320g) — the everyday business suit; sharp drape, year-round wear.
Super 120s–180s wools — finer, softer hand; best for important occasions and lighter wear.
Wool blends with silk, cashmere or mohair — added lustre and softness, slightly more delicate.
Linen and cotton — lighter weights for summer, weddings and travel.
Chinos and casual cloth — for less formal commissions.

Pricing

A bespoke two-piece suit from Sicily & Savile typically starts at the mid-range of the South African bespoke market and rises with the cloth and detail you select. The full price is confirmed in writing at the end of your consultation — no surprises later. We typically take a 50% deposit at consultation, with the balance due on final delivery. We accept cash, all major cards and EFT.

For a specific quote, book a consultation or call +27 84 798 0359.

Who We Build For

Grooms who want a wedding suit they’ll wear for life, not store in a cupboard.
Executives investing in a wardrobe of three to five suits worn in rotation.
Lawyers, advocates and consultants who need precision and authority in court or boardroom.
Anyone in the Johannesburg area who values craft over fast fashion and wants a garment built to fit only them.

Visit Us in Parkhurst

Our atelier is at 70 12th Street, Parkhurst, Johannesburg — easy access from Rosebank, Sandton, Randburg, Northcliff, Greenside and the wider northern suburbs. Free street parking. Bring a partner if you’d like a second opinion during fittings.

Book your consultation: Online, by phone on +27 84 798 0359, or via WhatsApp using the chat button on this page.

Frequently Asked

How long does a bespoke suit take?

4 to 8 weeks from first measurement to final fitting, depending on cloth availability and how many fittings we schedule. We can sometimes accommodate rush orders — call us early.

Can the suit be altered later if my body changes?

Yes. We build extra cloth into the seams so the suit can be let out or taken in by several centimetres at any point in its life. Bring it back to us whenever you need.

Do you offer made-to-measure as a cheaper option?

We focus on full bespoke because that’s where the craft lives. For lighter budgets, our alterations service can dramatically improve the fit of a suit you already own — often a smarter spend than another off-the-peg purchase.

What if I don’t know what I want?

Most clients don’t, at first — that’s why the consultation is unhurried. We’ll guide you through cloth, colour, lapel shape, button stance, trouser style and everything else, with examples on hand.