FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Appointments & Process
No, appointments are obligation-free, and we are more than happy to show you the collection of fabrics and styles available.
At your consultation, we will discuss your needs and lifestyle. We will go through the various styling options to create your ideal look. You will be fitted and sized for the suit at this initial appointment. You should allow up to an hour for this initial consultation.
Initial consultations typically take around one hour to explore fit, fabric, and style. Follow-up fittings are usually shorter, but may vary depending on any adjustments needed.
Think about when and where you’ll be wearing your suit, the style you prefer, and any inspiration images you’d like to bring. Having a sense of your needs helps guide fabric selection and design.
The most important thing to understand is that a tailored suit is built around you. Your body, your lifestyle, and the occasions you’ll wear it for. Unlike off-the-rack options, every detail is considered: from fabric and construction to lining, buttons, and fit.
It’s helpful to think about how and where you’ll be wearing your suit, the style you’d like to project, and any preferences in colour or fabric weight. This way, your consultation becomes a collaborative process, ensuring the final garment reflects both your needs and your personal style.
Generally, two fittings are required: an initial consultation and a follow-up for adjustments. Minor alterations may be made at the second fitting to perfect your garment.
Yes. Once you’ve been fitted, your measurements are kept on record, making it easy to order additional garments in the future.
From our first consultation, your suit will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks to complete, including your second fitting and final alterations. Please note that special requests, including sourcing specialised textiles, may take longer despite our best efforts to keep them within this time frame.
We are committed to customer satisfaction, and our process means we will make a suit appropriate for the intended purpose. Blatant misuse, over-wearing and damage caused by a non-recommended dry cleaner may affect our ability to help.
Please Note: Made-to-order items are in the final sale and cannot be returned or exchanged. Once placed, orders cannot be cancelled.
The Patrick Mackenzie Showroom is located on Level 2, Suite 201, Embassy Chambers building at 214 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City. The Showroom is via appointment only.
Garments & Styles
Patrick Mackenzie suiting starts from $999 and range upwards depending on your choice of cloth and details. Separate jackets start at $699, trousers $300 and shirting $250
Investing in a custom suit guarantees that you will get a unique masterpiece tailored to your preferences and aspirations. Fit is crucial, and purchasing off-the-rack suits cannot compare to made-to-measure.
Every person's body shape is entirely different, and it is impossible to have a perfect fit off the rack. Off-the-rack options are often of lower quality and lack individuality. Our made-to-measure suits are meticulously crafted, ensuring that you will be amazed by the attention to detail and quality of your purchase.
Yes. A tailored shirt provides superior comfort, fit, and durability compared to mass-produced options. It also complements your suit by ensuring a seamless, polished look.
With options ranging from double-breasted tuxedos, lounge suits, sports coats and everything in between, and more than 4000 fabrics, the limit of styles is endless. We can range between soft and structured constructions, lined or unlined; you have the freedom to determine every detail and even have it monogrammed so your style becomes quintessentially your own.
The Patrick Mackenzie Made to Measure service allows you to create, with a designer's advice, something appropriate and styled to you; we can offer a more hands-off approach that defers our designer's expert judgement if you prefer.
Clients often bring reference images, and they can be a great starting point for discussing style. While we do not create direct replicas, we can take inspiration from the details you like, such as the lapel shape, fabric, or overall cut, and then adapt them to your proportions and lifestyle. Every body is different, so our role is to interpret the look in a way that complements you. The result is a suit that reflects the essence of what inspired you while remaining distinctly your own.
Fabric sets the tone for your suit’s look, feel, and performance. Your designer will guide you through options based on climate, lifestyle, and occasion — from lightweight wools and linens for warm weather to heavier cloths for cooler months. We’ll also consider drape, durability, and style so the fabric you choose complements both your needs and your personal aesthetic.
Our job is always to make your day… but sometimes our customers make ours. We do this because we are honoured enough to be asked to make a suit for your big day. Please see our wedding suits page for more information.
We are equipped to consult a wedding party all at once, or we can arrange an off-site fitting if your groomsman cannot join us at your consultation. We would love to be part of your celebration and create a seamless style; we will happily help you choose the perfect accessories.
We recommend booking your first consultation at least 3–4 months before the wedding. This allows time for your initial consultation, fabric selection, and the multiple fittings required to perfect the suit. Starting early also gives you more choice with fabrics, especially if you’d like something rare or seasonal, and ensures there’s no rush in the final weeks leading up to your day.
Accessories are the finishing touches that bring a suit to life, and we’re here to guide you through every detail. From ties and pocket squares to cufflinks, belts, and shoes, we’ll help you choose pieces that complement your suit rather than compete with it.
For weddings and special occasions, we can also advise on accessories that coordinate with your bridal party or event theme, ensuring your look feels complete and considered from head to toe.
A bespoke garment is the perfect opportunity to weave in subtle personal touches that make it truly yours. Clients often choose embroidered initials, monograms, contrasting stitching, or colour accents inside the lining as a discreet nod to their personality.
We can also incorporate unique design elements or heritage details, such as a family crest or meaningful motif. These refinements elevate your suit from custom-made to deeply personal, giving it a story and significance that off-the-rack garments simply cannot match.
Fabrics & Construction
Australian merino wool is the best in the world; a mixture of climate and wool growers’ dedication to innovation means Australia is the source of the finest wool available. Most of the raw material is sent to Italy to be turned into luxurious cloth. Many of the finest mills are located in northern Italy, and we offer fabrics from many of them. These mills include Loro Piana, Vitale Barberis Canonico, Holland and Sherry.
Simply put, the higher the number, the finer the wool. Especially for Brisbane's heat, you will find finer wool that is lighter, more breathable, and more luxurious. During your consultation, please speak to the designer to select the best wool count for you.
If it's a 'work' suit that you're looking for, a Super 150s may be too fine. The micron thickness of the individual strands of wool determines the super count. Wools between 11.8 microns (the world record) and 19.5 microns are considered superfine wools. For context, the average human hair is between 60 and 80 microns.
Patrick Mackenzie does not make fused suits. Instead, we opt for full canvas and half canvas or deconstructed; these are more luxurious garments and offer a range of benefits, including (in the case of full canvas) a sharper look.
Suits can have many different appearances based on how the fabric moves. A casual linen suit, for example, will have more flow; it will give off a more dropped appearance off the shoulder. On the other hand, a formal, pure wool suit will be slightly neater fitting; it will have more structure. We are talking about these elements when referring to shape and drape.
The canvas of the suit is vital; it lies between the lining and the outer fabric and gives the suit its shape. Four types of construction are mainly used in making suits: completely un-canvassed and deconstructed, half canvas, full canvas and fused.
Fully canvas is considered the best, meaning the chest piece runs across your chest and to the bottom of your jacket. The main difference between canvassing and fusing is how it is attached.
Fused suits are glued down, which we believe doesn't allow the fabric to achieve its best drape or flow. We prefer fully canvas suits, as they reflect the luxury of a garment. You may not see the canvas itself, but you will see its benefits. Fully canvas has many benefits; it's natural and therefore breathes. It will help form the suit to your shape over time, giving it a lighter and easier feel and extending its life if taken care of properly.
Care & Alterations
We aim to get your suit as close as we can, but there may be a need for some minor adjustments at your second fitting. We want you to leave looking and feeling confident and stylish, which is why all alterations are complimentary.
A bespoke suit is an investment in both style and craftsmanship, and with the proper care, it will reward you for years to come. Allow your suit time to rest between wears so the fabric can recover, lightly brush it to remove dust, and use steam to ease out creases without disturbing the cloth. Dry cleaning should be occasional rather than routine, and proper storage on a broad hanger in a breathable garment bag will help preserve its shape and character.Simply put, the higher the number, the finer the wool. Especially for Brisbane's heat, you will find finer wool that is lighter, more breathable, and more luxurious. During your consultation, please speak to the designer to select the best wool count for you.
For more detailed guidance, explore our Garment Care Advice.
Protecting your suit while travelling comes down to avoiding pressure on the shoulders and minimising creases. Use a garment bag and a wide hanger where possible, and fold only along natural seams if you must pack it. Remove your jacket when seated for long periods to prevent fabric wear, then hang and steam it on arrival to restore its shape.