CottonBrew Review: Online Made-to-Measure Clothier

This is a review of CottonBrew, an online custom suit manufacturer for men.

Being able to buy a custom suit online is a blessing and a curse, which is why many guys have a love/hate relationship with online made-to-measure clothiers.

On one hand, you can get a suit that looks almost near bespoke for a fraction of true bespoke prices.

Note: CottonBrew has apparently gone out of business. This review will remain published for reference.

On the other hand, the whole process is riddled with problems. From taking your measurements to waiting for your suit to arrive to getting it tailored, there’s just so much room for error.

SEE ALSO: When Custom Goes Wrong 

Many guys give up on MTM after their first attempt because they have such a bad experience (i.e., their suit fits terribly).

All things considered, I think buying made-to-measure suits online is still one of the best ways for guys with non-average body types to get suits that actually fit well.

But I always try to set people’s expectations because, the truth is, it’s not a hassle-free, magical solution that just works.

Every custom suit maker knows this, and they all have different strategies to try to mitigate problems and ensure proper fit (or at least a good enough fit that can be tweaked by a local tailor).

After all, they don’t want customers returning their suits and requesting remakes. This would kill their profit margins.

So they try different things to really hone in on the perfect fit.

Some brands just ask for a ton of detailed measurements. Others try to use body scanning technology to get your measurements for you.

And some even claim that they can guess your measurements just by looking at one selfie – which is ridiculous.

An underlying theme is the use of technology. Most MTM companies have some sort of sizing algorithm that helps predict your exact dimensions based on a set of inputs.

CottonBrew is no exception.

In fact, they rely more on their data collection process and their algorithm than they do on traditional body measurements.

This isn’t surprising, considering the fact that founder George Li used to work at Google, a company who knows a thing or two about algorithms.

But still, I never have high expectations for a new MTM brand, especially one that relies heavily on tech.

In fact, I sent George (founder and CEO) a bunch of screenshots of my measurements from various MTM profiles, pics of me wearing other suits, and bunch of other data he didn’t ask for.

He basically told me to trust their process, and I reluctantly agreed.

Their Process

Rather than trying to measurement yourself or having a friend help with your measurements, CottonBrew asks for a handful or more reliable data points, including:

• Your typical off-the-rack suit jacket and trouser sizes
• 2 photos of you wearing a dress shirt from a popular brand (like J. Crew or Hugo Boss)
• Comments about how that shirt fits your build

They claim that, using this information, they can make the perfect fitting suit and shirt, and that their system is more accurate than self-measuring.

This isn’t too far fetched, as taking one’s own measurements is difficult, and there’s a lot of variance between how each person measures – especially if you’re not trained on proper technique.

Still, thought, I was a bit skeptical about this claim…

The Results

As a first time customer at a relatively new MTM shop, I’m surprised to say that my suit fits pretty well.

It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely ready to wear out of the box (which is not often the case, even with MTM):

Not bad, huh? The fabric is beautiful. It’s a dark navy with light subtle light blue stripes, and I love the way it catches natural light.

Plus, check out this killer tie / pocket square combo:

So nice! You really can’t go wrong with a subtly patterned navy suit and a light blue shirt.

Whoa, got a little carried away with the pictures there. Sorry about that! Let’s get back to the review.

What I Like About the Fit

Here’s how this suit fits right out of the box – no alterations or ironing:

The pants are slim, tapered and have a relatively high rise, which is flattering on most shorter men.

RELATED: Why Low Rise Isn’t Always Your Best Choice 

The jacket has just enough suppression through the torso, and the sleeve length is spot on.

There’s no collar gap, which is a pet peeve of mine, since this jacket’s collar sits snugly against my shirt collar.

What I Don’t Like About the Fit

There’s definitely some room for improvement. Let’s look at each piece:

The Jacket: On the jacket, there’s some mild horizontal bunching under the collar, behind my neck:

This could probably be fixed by shortening the back of the jacket from the top, right under the collar seam. But it might have to do with something more complex like sleeve pitch.

With an issue like this, you want to go to the best tailor you can find.

The Shirt: The shirt is just a bit tight across the chest. Maybe it’s my fault for skipping leg day and being totally swoll?

Also, the collar point length is too long. This is a small but important detail on any button up shirts, especially dress shirts.

When I buy a custom button up, I make sure to request a shorter collar point length. Unfortunately, CottonBrew wasn’t able to accommodate this request when I placed my order.

According to George, however, they are able to make shirts with shorter collar points. You just have to make this request in the “Notes to Tailor” section when you place your order.

The Tie: CottonBrew has a nice lineup of accessories, including neckties. While I like fabric choices, I really wish they would make some shorter length ties.

I don’t know why more companies don’t do this. A standard length tie (say 58-60″) is way too long for a shorter man. So I have to tuck the excess length of my CottonBrew ties into my shirt.

My Thoughts About CottonBrew

Fit and quality are paramount, but there’s something to be said for branding and customer experience. When you spend several hundred dollars on something, you should enjoy the unboxing experience.

Branding & Packaging

For too many MTM brands, packaging is an afterthought. Your suit arrives in an unmarked, cheap and often damaged box from China.

CottonBrew is different. I can honestly say that they have the best branding and packaging I’ve seen in the online MTM suit industry.

It was a real pleasure unboxing the suit and accessories. The whole experience felt very premium and thoughtful, which is refreshing.

Free Worldwide Shipping

It’s also worth mentioning that CottonBrew offers free shipping worldwide, which is very rare among small, young menswear brands.

Affordable Prices

This whole getup – the suit, shirt, tie and pocket square – costs $585. That’s a very affordable price compared to the competition.

Final Recommendation

While the fit wasn’t perfect, CottonBrew deserves a spot on my list of approved MTM brands.

Assuming my experience wasn’t unique, I think their process and algorithm is pretty accurate.

Plus, their customer service, branding and packaging are all top notch, and they ship everywhere for free.

What do you think about this suit? Leave a comment below!