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WHEN James Wakefield and Robin McGowan (pictured) graduated from university together, the one thing they desperately needed before commencing the job hunt was a couple of legendary business suits.
After spending weeks trying to find the perfect fit, the pair discovered that the only sharp tailored items around had price tags which broke the bank, and the affordable suits they were picking off the rack didn't quite make the cut.
Upon finding this gap in the market, McGowan and Wakefield decided to merge their respective experience in online marketing and finance to create InStitchu, a company that delivers affordable and uniquely tailored suits to men around the globe.
"As we started building our own suit wardrobes for work, we realised there was definitely a gap in the market for young corporate males entering the workforce that needed to find affordable suiting," says McGowan.
"The business began after we first spread the word to our friends asking if any of them were interested in buying work shirts and suits. We were lucky because a lot of them were in the same position of starting new jobs and needing those things."
When the high demand from their mates turned into a high demand from the public, the duo launched the InStitchu website.
"Word spread from our friends and the business took off, with a lot of the customer relationships we have now being built on referrals" says McGowan.
In the short three years that the business has been officially operating, average order value has increased by 112 per cent and the clientele has expanded from uni-leavers and job-seekers to corporate clients and wedding parties.
The company's staffing capacity has also tripled within the past year.
InStitchu has recently launched its second bricks-and-mortar establishment in Melbourne, hoping to match the success of its highly popular store at George Street in Sydney.
"Our new heritage Lonsdale Street location incorporates a mix of old-world charm and luxury, where customers can be fitted by experienced professionals and try on physical samples," says Wakefield.
"For those who prefer to come into the showroom, we've created a tactile experience that gives them the confidence that what they are ordering is in line with how they pictured it."
Wakefield and McGowan have set their sights on expansion, with plans to establish InStitchu stores in every major city around Australia in addition to breaking further into the overseas markets where their product ships regularly.
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