Brits have had a fancy for bespoke tailoring ever since the twelfth century. At the time, only men of certain stature and royalty were able to afford such fine suits. I guess you could blame the gentlemen down at London’s famous Savile Row—where the term originated—for doing such a fantastic job.

“Bespoke” means a suit’s measurements were its to “be spoken” for specific people. It became sort of a status symbol throughout the years. Nowadays, we’ve adapted the term to incredible extent ranging from perfumes to caps, bags to weddings, and even home improvements.

Perhaps the main reason why we have taken a fancy for bespoke creations is that, aside from comfort, it exudes luxury. As one bespoke designer puts it,

“For me, ‘bespoke’ is exactly what luxury should be. Old-fashioned luxury is about having something especially made for you. It’s something that has a story.”

After all, luxury goes hand-in-hand with royalty, which is not far from Britain at all, don’t you think? Although now, bespoke gained a somewhat less expensive alternative: Do-it-yourself (DIY). Both young and old engage themselves in DIY projects. The idea was then quickly adopted by businessmen, as many went to the DIY industry and built their own DIY centres, from fashionable quality clothing to sporting goods to even home improvements like different kinds of verandas! Now it seems everything can be done at your fingertips.

So why have we resorted to DIY? And how does it parallel with bespoke?

We are in control.

I think the significant commonality of bespoke and DIY merchandise is that the customer, so to speak, is in control. Whether having someone else do the job for you or you do it yourself, your specifications will be followed. Just a wee bit of a heads-up: bespoke leans towards the professional side, while DIY to amateurish (but with some quite surprising results, mind you). This is fitting for the perfectionist sort who cannot and would not be satisfied unless things get done his way.

Exercises self-expression.

Both methods require your own take on how you want things in a certain way. Not only are you in control but you, too, are able to express your individuality. Whether it be as simple as designing a piece of clothing or something as grand as furnishing a home, rest assured it speaks of one thing: YOU.

And signed!

Gives you one-of-a-kind.

There is something appealing and exciting about owning something that’s one-of-a-kind and that’s what bespoke and DIY are about. Rarely will you find something that looks the same precisely because you designed it yourself. You transform and create something out of the ordinary that sets you apart from the rest.

Invokes sentimentality.

DIY and bespoke speak volumes of sentimentality and romanticism, and isn’t that what we love about them? They add an extra value to what would otherwise be ordinary. I mean, this is what gets passed on from generations to generations. Perhaps that’s the reason why we’re barmy about heirlooms: because they remind us of a time when things were custom-made or self-made. It then gives us a feeling of pride and excitement to pass on something of our own to our children and our children’s children.

Introduces a learning process.

Whether you’re having something custom-made or you’re doing it yourself, both are opportunities for learning. You learn about what you want and how to execute it. At the same time, you also educate those around you and encourage them to go after what they want.

Why don’t we consult that YouTube video one last time? Just to be REALLY sure.

Makes for a proud moment.

Lastly, they give you both a feeling of pride and accomplishment. Knowing that you are part of the creative process, from planning to executing, gives you something to be proud about. It inspires you to embark on such projects in the future that build up a better and stronger character. Not to mention, it implies that you won’t settle for anything less than what you want.

With both bespoke and DIY, the possibilities are endless (or at least as long as where somebody’s or your own capabilities take you). Without a doubt uniqueness is central to both ideas and I think that’s what draws us to them the most. So whichever you find to your liking, I’m quite certain you’ll end up feeling more accomplished with either one than with industrially manufactured items. I do think that DIY and bespoke are here to stick with us for a long time, thank goodness.