Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Dress Shirts
Why should I buy a custom dress shirt?
“A shirt that is made for everyone seldom is best for everyone.” Whether it’s the collar style, cuff style, or more importantly, the way it fits. When you purchase a shirt from The Custom Shop, you express your personal style by your detailing preferences. Your new shirts will not only look exceptional, but will feel great because they were made for you, and no one else.
How do the measurements differ?
When you purchase a custom dress shirt from The Custom Shop, we take a complete set of your measurements. Your shirts will be made for precisely you. Ready-made shirts are sold in standard proportions governed by collar size. Regrettably, if your neck and body measurement do not coincide exactly with the “standard curve”, (and very few people’s measurements actually do match perfectly), you must compromise, or settle for a less than optimal fit, in a number of import areas.
Most of our popular fabrics for custom dress shirts range from $155 to $200. Occasionally, we have special promotions in place that affect prices advantageously. We also have a broad range of luxury fabrics for the connoisseur. Among these are some of the finest fabrics available. The price of a custom dress shirt is determined primarily by the fabric of which it is made. However, whether you choose a premium fabric, or our least expensive fabric, you are assured of the same fine fit. Please inquire if you have any special extras or detailing requests. Our designers will be glad to assist you with the particulars.
How do you measure for a custom dress shirt?
You can gather all of the needed measurements by having someone help measure your body dimensions or by measuring your favorite shirt. Directions for both can be found by clinking on this link. Or, perhaps you would feel more comfortable sending us the shirt and letting us know if you would like any changes. We would retain the measurements on file for future use.
When you visit our trunk show you can see our entire line of fabrics for both custom dress shirts and clothing. The representatives at the show can take new measurements and answer any questions you might have, or you can also contact us at 1-888-744-7806 if you have any additional questions or concerns.
For more information about each show please click on the more info link.
For more information about each show please click on the more info link.
What is the expected delivery time to receive my custom dress shirt(s)?
Depending upon the time of year it generally takes between six to eight weeks for you to receive your custom dress shirt. Our shirts are hand crafted one at a time, and NOT mass-produced. I usually expect the longer time quoted and anything before that will be even better! During this time, your shirts are hand crafted and taken through a series of quality checks to ensure your shirt meet all expectations.
Is it difficult to place a re-order a custom dress shirt?
Not at all. Since we already have all your prior information on file, the process is simplified. Just let us know if you would prefer any changes, and we are ready to proceed. If you are placing an order over the Internet, just click the file images.
Do all of the custom dress shirts I order have to have the same details?
No, that’s half the fun! Most develop their own preferences, however, there is always the opportunity to try something new.
How often do the fabrics change?
We always have an updated selection of the latest fabric trends. We also have a classic collection of “time honored” shirting that we would never be able to remove from the collection due to “popular demand”. These are the favorite “staple” custom dress shirts in our wardrobe that everyone remembers!
Will I be able to order the same shirt years now, even if I only need to make minor adjustments?
This will depend on the availability of the fabric. Also, we are continuously looking for ways to improve productivity and quality of our garments to stay ahead of our competition. There may be subtle differences between your new garments and your custom dress shirts from a few years ago, but the fit and many style features will be consistent.
Why are 100% cotton shirts preferred over cotton/poly blends?
This is simply because cotton custom dress shirts breath better and last longer. Although some people preferred the ease of care they get from blends, 100% cotton dress shirts have better color retention and last longer.
Will my new custom dress shirts shrink?
Yes, there are some dimensions of your new custom dress shirts that will shrink. However, our factory takes all of the shrinkage into account and adds the proper amount to those dimensions. We always recommend around 6 commercial launderings to take out most or all of the shrinkage that is built into the shirt(s).
Can I replace the collars and cuffs on my shirts I purchased from The Custom Shop 10 years ago?
We do not recommend replacing parts on old custom dress shirts. This is due to the fact that fabrics may not match and most importantly, older shirts have a tendency not to be able to support a new collar or cuff because the fibers that hold those parts to the shirt become brittle over time.
What is your guarantee and return policy on custom dress shirts and clothing?
We guarantee your satisfaction with our clothing for the following:
*FABRIC: On issues of fabric, previous Custom Shop records do not reflect the prior information on what you may have ordered in terms of color, type or pattern. Therefore, we do not claim or guarantee your fabric selection as being the exact same as what you may have ordered in the past. Fabric selection is the responsibility of the individual customer. Due to inconsistencies of computer monitors, we cannot be held liable for fabric selections made on our web site. If you have issues with your order, they need to be addressed within 120 days of when the order was placed.
*ORDER PROCESSING & DELIVERY: Orders typically take 6-8 weeks for delivery; please do not call for status until 6 weeks have passed. We are not able to track your order status until after the 6th week. The delivery time frame of your garments is not guaranteed.
*Return Policy: Custom clothing, made to your measurements and styling is non-refundable.
*FIT: On issue of fit, we reserve the right to correct size and fit problems if possible.
*STYLE: On issues of style we also reserve the right to correct styling features if possible.*FABRIC: On issues of fabric, previous Custom Shop records do not reflect the prior information on what you may have ordered in terms of color, type or pattern. Therefore, we do not claim or guarantee your fabric selection as being the exact same as what you may have ordered in the past. Fabric selection is the responsibility of the individual customer. Due to inconsistencies of computer monitors, we cannot be held liable for fabric selections made on our web site. If you have issues with your order, they need to be addressed within 120 days of when the order was placed.
*ORDER PROCESSING & DELIVERY: Orders typically take 6-8 weeks for delivery; please do not call for status until 6 weeks have passed. We are not able to track your order status until after the 6th week. The delivery time frame of your garments is not guaranteed.
*Return Policy: Custom clothing, made to your measurements and styling is non-refundable.
What happens if there is something wrong with my order once I receive it?
If, for any reason, there is anything wrong with your custom dress shirt order, we ask that you contact our customer service department at: (888) 744-7806 so that we can document the issue and send you a return the label to have the shirts repaired or re-made.
How do I contact The Custom Shop?
You can contact The Custom Shop the following ways:
The Custom Shop
6475 Wheatstone Ct.
Maumee, OH 43537
Toll Free: 1 (888) 744-7806
Email: sales@customshop.comThe Custom Shop
6475 Wheatstone Ct.
Maumee, OH 43537
What are the differences in fabric types for custom dress shirts?
Egyptian Cotton: Regarded as the finest cotton in the world with long fine fibers. It is used to make very fine yarns and expensive, high quality fabric. The fertile soil of the Nile delta and warm climate provide excellent conditions for growing long staple cotton.
Sea Island Cotton: The temperamental aristocrat of cottons. The very white, lustrous fiber is strong, fine and remarkably uniform. The extra-long staple ranges from 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches long. It is usually combed, sometimes two or three times, before being spun into the finest of yarns and made into expensive fabrics.
Ply: Ply yarns indicate quality. In a 2x1 broadcloth, the warp is two ply and the filling is singles. In a 2x2, the warp and fill yarns are both two-ply. If a yarn is not ply, it is not referred to as single ply, but as singles. When speaking of fabrics, the term “2 ply” actually refers to the cotton yarns themselves and not to the fabric as many consumers think. You may ask, “Does 2 ply mean thicker?” No, not necessarily, since two-ply just refers to the cotton yarns and not the fabric itself.
Rugby Oxford – this is the fabric you will usually find in department stores and is traditionally considered a preppy or prep school type fabric. Typically this cloth is very coarse and has a thick texture.
Pinpoint Oxford – this is the preferred version of oxford cloth and is usually used for suiting, you will see a majority of Mid-Atlantic and New England business men wearing this fabric. Pinpoint oxford uses a longer stem cotton in order to form a tighter weave, and generally in white cloth is hard to distinguish from broadcloth. In other colors this fabric will show the white thread as little pin dots, hence the name.
Royal Oxford – this is made from a much finer cotton fiber. General this fabric will seam to have an open type looping weave, similar to a pique polo shirt, but much softer in texture. Also because of the better grad cotton fiber this shirt also has a slightly shiny texture. This is also made from a 2 ply process, and will have a thread count between 80-110 threads per inch. This fabric will also hold a press much better than a broadcloth or even a pinpoint oxford. Jacquard – generally are white and are often called white-on-white shirts. A jacquard weave is basically a fabric woven on more than one level, to provide a raised texture.
End-on-End – broadcloth fabrics with a randomly dropped stitch, which normally appears as a white thread in the cloth. This is a very traditional fabric and many customers believe this drop stitch causes the fabric to wrinkle less. This is an optical illusion caused by the drop stitch, since this shirt is a broadcloth, it will wrinkle the same as any other fabric in this category.
Herringbone – basically a jacquard fabric, and has a slightly raised “V” pattern stacked on top of itself aligned in rows.
Twills – one of the most durable fabrics available. Twill is the pattern you see when you look up close to jeans of Khaki’s, the lines run at an angle in parallel lines.
Sea Island Cotton: The temperamental aristocrat of cottons. The very white, lustrous fiber is strong, fine and remarkably uniform. The extra-long staple ranges from 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches long. It is usually combed, sometimes two or three times, before being spun into the finest of yarns and made into expensive fabrics.
Ply: Ply yarns indicate quality. In a 2x1 broadcloth, the warp is two ply and the filling is singles. In a 2x2, the warp and fill yarns are both two-ply. If a yarn is not ply, it is not referred to as single ply, but as singles. When speaking of fabrics, the term “2 ply” actually refers to the cotton yarns themselves and not to the fabric as many consumers think. You may ask, “Does 2 ply mean thicker?” No, not necessarily, since two-ply just refers to the cotton yarns and not the fabric itself.
Basic Fabric Types:
Broadcloth – this is the smoothest of all cotton fabrics, but not necessarily the softest. Broadcloth comes in 4 basic weaves:- Single Ply – the most basic version of broadcloth, this is the least expensive. These are typically made up of 50 threads or less per inch and because of the lower thread count these shirts wrinkle very easily
- 2x1 Weave – this fabric combines the inexpensive single ply with the better 2 ply fabrics. This fabric will generally have 80-100 thread count per inch.
- 2 Ply – this is our preferred broadcloth fabric. 2 Ply fabric is made by stretching the cotton fiber and wrapping a 2nd thread around it. This causes the cloth to want to drape itself versus wrinkling. Cloth manufacturers need to use the more expensive, longer staple cotton such as Egyptian or Japanese Pima cotton.
- Sea Island cotton – this is the most expensive cotton you can buy, and is considered a luxury fabric. These fabrics will feel lighter than any of the other types of broadcloths.
Rugby Oxford – this is the fabric you will usually find in department stores and is traditionally considered a preppy or prep school type fabric. Typically this cloth is very coarse and has a thick texture.
Pinpoint Oxford – this is the preferred version of oxford cloth and is usually used for suiting, you will see a majority of Mid-Atlantic and New England business men wearing this fabric. Pinpoint oxford uses a longer stem cotton in order to form a tighter weave, and generally in white cloth is hard to distinguish from broadcloth. In other colors this fabric will show the white thread as little pin dots, hence the name.
Royal Oxford – this is made from a much finer cotton fiber. General this fabric will seam to have an open type looping weave, similar to a pique polo shirt, but much softer in texture. Also because of the better grad cotton fiber this shirt also has a slightly shiny texture. This is also made from a 2 ply process, and will have a thread count between 80-110 threads per inch. This fabric will also hold a press much better than a broadcloth or even a pinpoint oxford. Jacquard – generally are white and are often called white-on-white shirts. A jacquard weave is basically a fabric woven on more than one level, to provide a raised texture.
End-on-End – broadcloth fabrics with a randomly dropped stitch, which normally appears as a white thread in the cloth. This is a very traditional fabric and many customers believe this drop stitch causes the fabric to wrinkle less. This is an optical illusion caused by the drop stitch, since this shirt is a broadcloth, it will wrinkle the same as any other fabric in this category.
Herringbone – basically a jacquard fabric, and has a slightly raised “V” pattern stacked on top of itself aligned in rows.
Twills – one of the most durable fabrics available. Twill is the pattern you see when you look up close to jeans of Khaki’s, the lines run at an angle in parallel lines.