Dapper Bespoke is a Dhaka based bespoke tailoring house with an ongoing commitment to revive classical elegance using old-world tailoring with a modern sense of style. Press Xpress sat down with Shezzane Mozumder and Sartaj Turja, the managing director and the creative director respectively, to talk about their story and their philosophy for the fashion industry in general.
What is Dapper’s philosophy for fashion in general?
Shezzane: I’d say the core philosophy has always been to re-introduce classical menswear in a way that’s relevant to the modern era. If you look at the images from the 1930s and 40s, you’d find men dressed in elegant and fuller cut clothing, carrying themselves in a nonchalant way. However, this might not be completely relevant in today’s contemporary setting. So we aim to achieve that similar sense of elegance with the use of classical proportion, by understanding the wearer’s unique physique and then introducing tailored clothing that has a laid-back silhouette and shape without losing that classical masculine physique.
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It allows the individual to dress elegantly without looking and feeling rigid at all, taking away the stuffiness that are associated with tailored suits in general. Fit and proportion is the king if you ask me. This, combined with the best quality materials available that are uniquely tailored to you with a softer construction will result in an outfit that compliments the wearer’s body without sacrificing any of that comfort. To put it all together, it’s to dress in a way that’s classically elegant, without taking yourself too seriously and to enjoy what you’re wearing. To put on the highest quality of garment with care, and then not be too self aware about it.
Dapper’s vision for our fashion industry?
Turja: I think a part of the answer can be found in the previous reply. Honestly, we find that so many people go for superficial details and status symbols instead of actual quality products. Products that are well designed, with enough thoughts and knowledge injected in it. We aim to help men dress in a way with a classically proven sense of style but also with their own uniqueness. Just because you’ve decided to wear a tailored outfit doesn’t mean it has to be a suit and tie. You can easily do that without breaking too much out of your comfort zone.
If you’re a person used to wearing jeans and t-shirts, you can simply elevate it by simply swapping the jeans with a pair of dress pants, or putting on one of our safari jackets on top. From a customer’s perspective, we encourage to be more aware and to experiment to find one’s own personal style without forgoing what makes one truly elegant. And choosing brands and businesses that create thoughtfully designed products and stand firmly behind their philosophy. And from a brand’s perspective, it is aiming to offer products that were well designed with enough care and consideration.
Doesn’t matter if it’s a simple t-shirt or a high end custom suit, its design and creation should be well-considered, and offer an improved experience to their customers. Brands should be inspirational and aspirational at the same time. That’s what we’ve continuously been striving to do with Dapper, why our customers trust us. Because we believe what a brand like ours should offer is beyond just well made products. It should be a transformation.
What has Dapper achieved since its inception?
Shezzane: The founder Shahzaman Mozumder, my father started this company solely out of his passion. He didn’t come from a fashion background, yet he was known everywhere for his impeccable taste and sense of elegance. He saw there is a huge lack of quality tailored garments and proper knowledge in the market, so he decided to start his own tailoring brand along with his trusted tailor of 25 years. He had the same goal as we have now, that is to help men dress in a classical way, to make classical menswear relevant in today’s setting. So our core philosophy has always been the same, but back then we used to use a more English structured cut.
As we’ve evolved over the years, we now use more of a Neapolitan cut with English drape to create a laid-back yet masculine appearance. We’ve also introduced casual clothing such as various outerwears and casual shirts along with a line of accessories to easily fit into the modern gentleman’s wardrobe. All these, combined with our efforts to educate and help our customers has led to them appreciating classical menswear more. We now see more men using our products not just for big occasions, but also as part of their day to day life. Honestly, that has been the true goal all along and that has been our biggest achievement so far. That more men are now appreciating classical fashion and are finding ways to incorporate it in their life. Regardless of your background, whether you’re a corporate banker or an artist, there’s always something for you here.
