The word bespoke is derived from the verb bespeak, meaning to "speak for something". The particular meaning of the verb form is first cited from 1583 and given in the Oxford English Dictionary: "to speak for, to arrange for, engage beforehand: to 'order' (goods)”.
And as such the phrase crept into the haberdasher's lexicon. The gentleman would arrange, or speak for, his desired cloth, ensuring that it would not be sold to somebody else.
Over the years, bespoke has become synonymous with the top end of men's tailoring and finely crafted goods. Rather than being a reference to the cloth, bespoke now denotes the way in which the suit or accoutrements are created.
Our host, Michael Armanno, is the Principal Designer at Kalypso Couture. Part of being the Jacksonville Haberdasher is finding fine quality bespoke products and services across Northeast Florida! You can watch as Michael travels across the city introducing the finest that Jacksonville, Florida has to offer.
Before we begin, we want to know your Favorite Downtown Business. As we begin our journey, we want to feature you, your business, or even just one you admire. Let us know in the comments below or tag us on Instagram at BespokeJax or by using the hashtag #Bespoke904
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