THE PURVEYOR OF STYLE

Common Suits Founder JAVIN THEY elevates what bespoke tailoring can do for his customers.

Javin They turns heads most places he goes because more often than not, he’s dapper as hell.

The Founder of local bespoke menswear brand Common Suits is a great ambassador for the brand that he founded in 2014 ̶ straight after graduating from NUS with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He played for the faculty basketball team and performed with the university’s instrumentalist and vocalist group NUS Voices.

When he founded Common Suits, it was, for all intents and purposes, a stab in the dark.

“I’m a believer in diving into the unknown,” he told us in a 2021 interview. “I started my company in 2021 without any prior knowledge of tailoring.”

But he had clear ideas of branding and, most importantly, of service. Javin understood the importance of giving his customers something they cannot get anywhere else. Common Suits takes personalisation and precision to the next level ̶ in a consultation session with them, the artisans at Common Suits take over 40 precise body measurements and a 3D scan to ensure the perfect fit.

He explained: “It is all about the finest details and upholding the traditions of master craftsmanship. It is important to be precise, even to an eighth of an inch. A small change in angle when measuring can make or break the drape of the jacket and the pitch of the sleeve.”

Suits are subjective, and Javin is determined to ensure he matches the needs of every subject. He has a clear idea of what makes a good suit. “My idea of a good suit is something that looks small and fitting on the outside, but feels big on the inside,” he shares with us.

“Small on the outside in that it looks sharp and elegant. Big on the inside because it needs to feel like a second skin, where you feel comfortable even sleeping in it.”

Common Suits has grown from strength to strength over the past decade, and it bears testament to Javin’s commitment and dedication to his work. But through it all, Javin remains grounded and humble.

“My most treasured possession are the values that my grandmother imparted to me,” he says. “It’s the values of hard work, of being responsible to my loved ones and my family. She taught me to not let down anyone who believes in me.”