Bespoke suits and precise alterations in Seattle, sewn by hand.

What customers say on Yelp

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In the press

“The best known-tailor in Seattle.”GQ Magazine

“I’ve walked around Carnaby Street in London, and there’s shop after shop and everybody’s making suits there... But I can’t think of anyone around here who does it the way Scott does, one suit at a time. I thought, ‘I’m gonna get a suit made — this is so cool.” — Jason Finn, Presidents of the United States of America Read the article in The Seattle Times

Bespoke suits and custom shirts

A well-made garment starts with the person who will wear it. We begin by understanding what you want, how you intend to wear it, and how you like your clothes to fit. We take detailed measurements, account for your posture and proportions, and cut the garment specifically for you.

From there, the garment takes shape through a series of fittings. We adjust the balance, shape, and fit directly on your body, refining the details before completing the work by hand. This is individual tailoring, not a standard garment adjusted to your measurements.

Every Kuhlman bespoke suit is fully canvassed. The canvas gives the jacket its structure and helps it drape naturally, while allowing it to move with you. We make suits, jackets, trousers, vests, coats, and shirts for men and women, one garment at a time.

Have a favorite jacket or shirt you can no longer find? Bring it in. We can make a new garment based on the one you already love, preserving the details and fit that made it a favorite.

A bespoke suit typically takes six to eight weeks and three to four fittings, all conducted in person at our Belltown shop. You work directly with a tailor throughout the process.

You’re welcome to stop in and browse fabrics without an appointment. When you’re ready to start a suit, call the shop to schedule your first fitting.

Starting prices - fully bespoke projects

Tailoring alterations and repairs in Seattle

A dry cleaner shortens hems. A tailor reshapes the garment.

Kuhlman is a working tailor’s studio, and the same hands that build bespoke suits do the alterations. We take on complex, exacting work on suits, formalwear, jackets, coats, shirts, dresses and pants for men and women, where precision matters more than speed.

Bring in the suit you’ve owned for ten years or the jacket you just bought. Tell us how it should fit, and we’ll tell you what can be done.

Walk-ins are welcome during open hours, or call ahead.

• Pants and jeans
  Hemming and tapering, taking in or letting out the waist and seat, plus denim repair.
• Suit alterations
  Fit work on a suit you just bought or have owned for years: the jacket body and waist, sleeves at the cuff or shoulder, and reshaped shoulders.
• Jackets and coats
  Outerwear alterations, relining worn jackets and coats, and zipper replacement.
• Wedding and formalwear
  Tuxedo and wedding-party fittings, plus bridal and formal dress alterations.
• Shirts
  Alterations to the fit and sleeves of dress and casual shirts, collars and cuffs turned or replaced when frayed, and buttons replaced.
• Dresses and women’s clothing
  Dress alterations, skirt and dress hems, and fixes such as shortened straps.
• Mending and repairs
  Invisible mending of moth holes, tears and burns; buttons, buttonholes and pockets; zippers on any garment.
• Recutting and restyling
  Updating an older suit or jacket: tapering trousers, reshaping lapels, adding or closing vents, changing shoulder pads, and adjusting pocket and button placement.
• Costume and theater work
  Alterations and builds for costumes and the stage.
• Made-to-measure measuring support
  Measured in person for your made-to-measure orders, with posture and remake guidance.
• Fit checks and pre-purchase advice
  A tailor’s assessment of how any garment fits and what to adjust, including whether an off-the-rack piece can be fixed while you can still return it.
• Adaptive clothing
  Magnetic closures, easier fastenings, and alterations for wheelchair users or limited mobility.
• Bespoke and custom work
  Suits, coats, pants, vests and shirts, made to your measurements, or copied from a favorite garment you can no longer find.

Made-to-measure fitting and measuring support in Seattle

Order made-to-measure with confidence. Get measured by a trained tailor first.

A made-to-measure garment is only as good as the measurements behind it. We measure you in person, the way a tailor would, and translate that into what each brand asks for.

We account for your posture and the details of your frame, such as sloped or uneven shoulders, a forward head, a prominent seat or a long torso, and advise where to adjust the order so the garment fits you, not the average body.

If an order arrives and something is off, we’ll tell you exactly what to change on the remake, with adjustment recommendations from a trained tailor. You won’t be left guessing from forum threads or chatbots.

• In-person measuring
  Measured by a tailor for your made-to-measure order, whichever house you’re ordering from.
• Posture and frame corrections
  Guidance on adjusting the order for posture and unique builds.
• Remake and adjustment advice
  If you already have a garment and you are sending back for a remake, we can help you dial in the adjustments.
• Fit checks and pre-purchase advice
  A separate service: a tailor’s read on how any garment fits and what to adjust, including whether an off-the-rack piece can be fixed while you can still return it.

We know the major made-to-measure houses, including:

• Proper Cloth
• Suitsupply
• Charles Tyrwhitt
• Rota
• Black Lapel
• Knot Standard
• J.Hilburn
• Spier & Mackay
• Luxire
• Hockerty

Kuhlman is an independent tailor and is not affiliated with these brands.

Walk-ins welcome.

Scott Kuhlman

Scott studied art at Western Washington University and found that sewing was the one thing he never got bored of. He spent four years in Japan studying textiles and the visual arts, then learned garment construction at Seattle Children’s Theater.

In 1999 he opened the shop around English tailoring, which fits close to the body instead of hiding it.

Common questions

Visit our Belltown tailor shop

• First and Battery, across from Macrina BakeryWe’re at 2403 1st Ave, at First Avenue and Battery Street in Belltown, across the street from Macrina Bakery.
• Street-level doorThe entrance is a single door right off the sidewalk.
• Watch for the numberLook for 2403 above the door and the small “Custom Tailor” sign in the door window. The sign is small, so check the numbers as you walk.
• Walk-ins welcomeCome in during open hours, or call ahead.