Nathan Tailors vs Hickey Freeman vs Oliver Wicks
An honest, data-driven breakdown of price, canvas construction, customization and real value — updated from live market research. No affiliate spin.
The verdict
Nathan Tailors is the best value of the 3 — 77/100
Across these 3 brands, Nathan Tailors delivers the most construction and customization per dollar: half-canvas and a true bespoke pattern from $149 all-in.
Side-by-side
Highlighted cells win the row. The “all-in” price bakes in typical alterations so off-the-rack and custom compare fairly.
Where each one wins — and doesn’t
Nathan Tailors
Anyone who wants true canvassed, body-pattern bespoke at off-the-rack money — and is fine waiting 2–3 weeks.
- True half-canvas + bespoke pattern from $149 — undercuts every canvassed rival by 2–6×
- Human pre-cut measurement review, not an algorithm
- Unlimited design control; 5.0★ across 400+ reviews, 50+ countries
- 2–3 week wait on remote orders (no same-day try-on)
- No US showroom; relies on guided self-measurement + photos
- Less mainstream brand recognition than a mall chain
Hickey Freeman
Buyers wanting a recognizable heritage American name and decent fabric at mid-to-upper department-store price points, typically shopping sales rather than paying full MSRP.
- Recognizable heritage brand with long U.S. tailoring history, which appeals to traditional customers.[2]
- Generally better wool fabrics and Bemberg linings than many entry-level mall labels at similar ticket prices.[3]
- Wide availability through large department stores and specialty shops, often discounted from MSRP.[6]
- Brand now separated from its original Rochester factory; quality and construction are more typical of licensed Peerless production than historic full-canvas Hickey.[2]
- Off-the-rack only with no real made-to-measure or bespoke option under the main brand, limiting fit/customization versus MTM competitors.[4][6]
- Value proposition is weaker at full price versus similarly priced half- or full-canvas competitors and strong DTC MTM brands that offer more customization at similar money.
- homepage":"https://hickeyfreeman.com
Oliver Wicks
Men wanting European-made, canvassed MTM suits with good Italian/English fabrics and a strong alteration/remake policy at an upper-midrange online price point.
- Half-canvas standard with optional full canvas at competitive MTM pricing.[3]
- Good fabric sourcing from reputable Italian and English mills, including VBC.[1][4][6]
- Generous 1-year alteration credit and willingness to remake or adjust patterns to dial in fit over time.[1][3][10]
- Online-only MTM fit can require iteration and at least one round of alterations or a remake versus in-person bespoke.[1][10]
- Style and pattern block skew to a clean, contemporary European look, which may not suit those wanting very structured or very relaxed silhouettes.[2][3]
- Price after sales is higher than low-cost Asian MTM players and some entry RTW, so not ideal for very tight budgets.[2][8]
- homepage":"https://www.oliverwicks.com
Why Nathan wins
True half-canvas, cut to your body — from $149.
Nathan Tailors cuts genuine half-canvas suits to your exact measurements from a Hoi An, Vietnam workshop — no retail markup. A master tailor reviews your measurements and photos before cutting and works with you over WhatsApp until the fit is right. Every suit ships with generous seam allowances and spare matching cloth so a local tailor can fine-tune it. Shipped worldwide in 2–3 weeks.
True canvas, not fused
Genuine half-canvas where rivals glue.
Bespoke pattern
Cut to your body — not a size off a rack.
5.0★ · 400+ reviews
5,000+ clients across 50+ countries.
“They did such an amazing job, my suit fits perfectly and the craftsmanship is superb! Linda was a great help and she knows exactly what she is doing. I can't recommend this place enough and I will be getting more suits from them in the future guaranteed!”
“Great place to get perfect suit, they send me to Poland with no problems.”
“WOW! Ordered a suit online with Linda. She contacted me by video call to go through the measuring process and once confirmed measurements again, around 4 weeks later a made to measure suit arrived in the UK. Fitted perfectly and I didn't even visit! Fantastic quality and customer service from Linda. Would definitely recommend!”
“Exceptional experience from start to finish. I ordered a fully custom two-piece double-breasted suit remotely from France, Linda and Jennifer guided me through every step with patience and professionalism. The suit arrived in under 3 weeks and the result is flawless: fabric, cut, lining, silhouette, everything is perfect. Nathan Tailors delivered exactly the vision I had in mind. I will absolutely be ordering again. Highly recommended.”
“This was my first time buying suits online so I was a bit apprehensive. However, the online order form was both easy to use and very thorough, and they did a video call with me to make sure of a couple of measurements that were out of the normal range. Two suits and a shirt arrived here in New Zealand in less than two weeks, are well-made, and fit perfectly. I'm thrilled with the service.”
Best value in this comparison · 77/100
Data provenance
Figures for the brands below were researched with live web sources via Perplexity and should be verified against the brand’s current listings before purchase.
Hickey Freeman · researched July 2026 · confidence 53%
Oliver Wicks · researched July 2026 · confidence 86%
Nathan Tailors vs Hickey Freeman vs Oliver Wicks — common questions
Which is the best value: Nathan Tailors, Hickey Freeman and Oliver Wicks?
By construction and customization per all-in dollar, Nathan Tailors scores 77/100 — the best of the group. A half-canvas bespoke suit from Nathan Tailors in Hoi An starts at $149 and outscores every off-the-rack and made-to-measure option here.
Which of these is cheapest?
Nathan Tailors is the lowest all-in at $149 (entry $149), including typical alterations.
How do these brands differ on construction?
Nathan Tailors: half-canvas; Hickey Freeman: mixed (fused to half-canvas); Oliver Wicks: half & full-canvas options. Canvassed jackets drape and last far better than fused (glued) ones.
Care for whatever suit you choose
However this comparison shakes out, these four cheap things make any suit look sharper and last years longer.
Wide wooden shoulders keep a jacket’s shape — the cheapest way to make any suit last.
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Shaves pills off wool so a two-year-old suit reads brand-new. 140k+ five-star buyers.
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Folds a suit for a carry-on without the creases. Under ten dollars.
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Cedar pulls moisture and holds the shape — dress shoes last years longer.
View on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, Nathan Tailors earns from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. Prices are approximate; see Amazon for current pricing.