Hockerty custom clothing company provides endless options for suits, outerwear and much more for men and woman. I had the recent opportunity to work with Hockerty and test out their partnership with local tailors here in Chicago. Hockerty is an international company, but they offer a program to work on any tailoring with local tailors which was something I found to be really unique.
Summary of my experience:
The quality of the suit is solid for the $300-$400 range
There are a lot of customization options with an easy to use online interface for ordering
The fabric selection is also really strong, but for the price do not expect superior quality fabrics
The process was very lengthy from start to finish with a lot of challenges using the local tailoring option
Communication with the team was okay at best for the remake and alterations that were required
Their packaging was very disappointing and the suit came smashed in a tiny plastic mailing envelope
Selection and Customization Options Options
When considering purchasing a suit from Hockerty, I would focus on the wool blend fabrics or the linen fabrics as their pure wool fabrics at their premium price will put you above the $500 range. As for the actual fabric choices, I found they had a nice offering ranging from spring/summer weight fabrics (e.g. linen) to the fall/winter fabrics (flannels). The pattern and colors choices were also very plentiful.
The customization options were endless and allowed me to basically add any customization that I typically apply to my custom orders. This includes contrast threads, functional buttonholes, monogrammed inside pocket, peak lapels, etc.
The waistcoat option is also a great way to add a bit extra to your custom order. I get a lot of wear out of mixing and matching a suit waistcoat with denim or even just a dress shirt and slacks.
Online Interface
Overall, I was very pleased with their online interface for the selection and customization process. Each page was easy to scroll through and the features selected were applied to the image to assist with the selection. The zoom feature was a bit clunky, but it got the job done if you wanted to see a close up of the fabric.
From the fabric I selected online to the fabric I received, I would say the fabric was darker on the website and lighter when received in person.
Custom Fit
The measurement process was easy to follow and I did my best to follow the videos exactly as any other consumer would. The process seemed to go well and they had explanations each step of the way that were easy to follow.
This is where the process started to get super complicated for me. When I received the suit it really didn’t fit well. It was actually one of the worst first garments I have received from a custom suit company in quite some time. The jacket was oversized in many places and the pants were baggy beyond wear.
I participated in the option to work with a local tailor to do the adjustments which was about a 15 minute drive from my place. I figured this would actually be the easiest process since a trained expert could make the adjustments or send to Hockerty what needed to be done for the remake.
For starters, it took 3 weeks just to get an appointment with the tailor because they were so booked up for wedding season. Maybe that was just bad luck, so I remained optimistic and carried onward with the process.
When I arrived at the tailor shop, they were very diligent and completed the necessary form that Hockerty required to send back the changes. Then, Hockerty would assess if they were going to alter or remake the garment. There were some challenges with the form and a lot of notes had to be passed back and forth between Hockerty and the tailor. I ended up getting a handful of additional question from Hockerty that I had to reference the copy of the alteration form that I received to answer. This was a handwritten form that was scanned and submitted by the tailor.
Once it was determined that the remake would be processed, that took another several weeks to complete. So at this point, we’re already 6+ weeks into the process from start to finish which was challenging as a consumer. I also had several exchanges with the customer service team with some delays in between their responses and follow up.
On a positive note, when I received the remake items they fit spot on. There were no adjustments required and I actually felt as if the entire process paid off. I typically advise consumers with any of my custom suit reviews that the process will take time. In the case, it took even longer than I would have initially thought.
Packaging
Their packaging is something that is really bad for a brand charging this much for a custom suit. The way they package their product is similar to as if I purchased a suit from H&M or Zara. I’m sure it’s better for the environment, but more likely it makes shipping much cheaper. At the very least, I would expect it to be in a slim garment box folded over nicely. See pictures below, so you aren’t surprised when your suit arrives like this.
Would I recommend Hockerty?
If you’re located in the United States, I would recommend testing Hockerty with a shirt or potentially even their outerwear prior to stepping into the custom suiting. I think this would give you an opportunity to work on your fit profile with them and get to know the brand a bit more. In the $400-$500 range there are other options worth considering.
If you’re located outside of the United States, from what I have been told and based on individuals that I have talked with, this is a really good option. They ship internationally and their speed to ship once everything is entered is on point with other brands.
From what I have gathered from others who have purchased from and worked with Hockerty, they had positive experiences and very little issues with the custom profile. Perhaps I just got unlucky or maybe I entered things incorrect, but I can only write about my actual experience.
Suiting Details
I typically find it helpful to share my customization options, so if you’re struggling to make your own selections, feel free to use the below as guidance.
Jacket Details:
Style: Single-breasted
Fit: Narrow
Length: Normal
Lapels: Peak
Lapel Width: Wide
Number of Buttons: 1
Breast Pocket: Yes
Jacket pockets: 2 pockets
Pocket style: Patched
Jacket bottom: casual
Cut: Side vents
Sleeve buttons: 3
Buttonholes: Functional
Pants Details:
Rise: Medium Rise
Pants bottom: Half break
Fit: Slim Fit
Pleats: Double Pleats
Backpocket: 1 back pocket
Pocket style: piped pocket with button
Cuffs: Pants Cuffs
Pockets: Diagonal Pocket
Pants Fastening: Off-centered
Vest Details:
Waistcoat: 3 piece suit
Style: Single Breasted
Edge: Diagonal
Number of Buttons: 4
Breast Pocket: Yes
Number of pockets: 2 pockets
Front Pockets: Welt Pockets
Lapels: Peak
Lapel Width: Standard
Fabric:
KEGLEY
Material: 100% Linen
Season: Summer
Brightness:Standard
As always, don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions!