Truly bespoke clothing is rare in today’s market due to cost and time to meticulously measure and create garments. In fact, buying ready-to-wear clothing from department stores or menswear shops in the city have become the more economical and convenient option for guys… that is until the folks at Alton Lane have mastered a way to keep costs down and quality (+experience) exceptionally high. State of the art technologies are defining a new era in bespoke clothing by offering a variety of design, fit, and fabric options like we’ve never seen before. Co-founder and CEO of Alton Lane had his aha moment one day while walking through a TSA scanner when he realized this could revolutionize the way men shop. Few years and a lot of hard work later, Colin and Co-founder Peyton Jenkins opened up their first shop in NYC. Upon entering the 1,200 ft space at 49 E Oak, you’ll see a masculine showroom surrounded with accents that make it unique to it’s Chicago location. Here, you’ll be greeted by one of two friendly gents, Showroom Manager – Paul Arnow or Showroom Director – Jason Mahadik. By operating solely on a private appointments, they’re able to provide individualized attention to all your sartorial needs based on comfort, personal preference, and convenience.
Our vision has always been to create a new way for men to get the clothing they want.
Expect to dedicate about an hour for your initial appointment that’ll change the way you think about shopping. First you’ll sit at the bar enjoying your favorite cocktail or glass of whiskey while you browse through over 10,000 fabrics sourced from Asian and European mills. Shirts start at $89 and suits range from $595 to over $12,000 for an exclusive wool woven with flecks of emerald-WOW! Once you’ve decided on the garment and fabric, you enter the futuristic 3-D body scanner in your boxer briefs so it can take over 160 precise measurements. Almost instantly, a 3-D figure will pop up on the computer screen, all quirks and imperfections included. Lastly, you’ll try on some sample garments and talk to Paul or Jason about how you like your clothing to fit and they’ll spend a few minutes measuring the small nuances unique to your personal fit. In about 4-5 weeks your custom garment will arrive at your door and your measurements will be on file for future orders.
Visit: Alton LaneInterview: Colin Hunter (CEO + Co-Founder)
Give us some background on the Alton Lane label. What kind of man are you dressing?
One of the great things about the Alton Lane experience is that we are able to serve all different types of men. Our youngest customer is 7 and our eldest is 85. Our clients range from recent graduates getting their first suit to professional athletes, actors, business leaders, former Presidents etc. We dress men who love style and want to design every detail of their garments to guys who can’t stand shopping and want to be guided through all of the details by one of our Style Experts. Because all of our garments are made from scratch, we are able to produce garments that fully reflect the measurements, body types and style preferences of all of these men.
Can you explain how you came up with the idea for the body scanner and how it works?
How do you keep your prices down while still maintaining quality and a personalized customer experience?
Why did you pick Chicago? How do you think the Chicago location will be unique compared to your other stores?
If you could pick one favorite or essential item from your store, what would it be?
What do you see for the future of Alton Lane?
Photography: Nancy Rahman
