Suits remain a wardrobe staple, and while the styles and elements have changed since the early nineteenth century—when only men could wear them—so have the rules on who can pull them off and how much they cost. SuitShop, the newest brick-and-mortar located at M-K-T Heights, has been a game changer for people looking to own their own suit at a reasonable price point. The Houston location is the company’s fifth opening in the U.S.

In 2013, SuitShop cofounder Jeanne Foley was planning her wedding and noticed the lack of affordable tuxedo options for her groomsmen. They could either rent an overpriced and ill-fitted suit or buy one that’s well above the average person's price range. The market was flawed, she says. Diana Ganz, Foley’s business partner, bridesmaid, and childhood friend, echoed her sentiment. With Ganz fresh out of business school and Foley’s background in fashion design, they decided to start their own suit business.

“The way suits are sold in the U.S. is broken,” Ganz says. “The industry has led people to believe, especially around the tuxedo rental, that if you want to wear a tuxedo you have to buy one for $500 to $1,000, or you have to rent for $200 to $250, and nobody has tried to disrupt that process.”

Within three years, The Groomsman Suit was born. Ganz and Foley did everything themselves from their New York City apartments, from order fulfillment to customer service. Aside from a few family and friend investors, funding was difficult.

“This is very much a male-dominated industry, so it’s hard enough for women to raise money, and as two women trying to start a menswear company—excuse me?” Ganz says. “Even though men have been designing women’s clothes forever, we just got looked at like we were crazy.”

At first, the objective was to provide high-quality and affordable suits for men, and within a year, their business took off. During the last few years, their business goals have expanded, creating suits for all sizes, women, children, and coming soon this year, a nonbinary fit. Putting emphasis on inclusivity also inspired them to rebrand their company as the SuitShop.

“While our whole concept started as a way to address the lack of tuxedo options for men, we started to receive requests from women wanting to wear suits for their formal events as well,” Ganz says. “That’s when we noticed an overall lack of options for inclusive suiting for all types of people and sizes, and we wanted to address that. Fitting preference is as unique as a fingerprint, and it’s so critical to our brand.”

SuitShop has turned into one of the most versatile suit brands on the market, offering interchangeable pieces and the broadest size range in the industry (sizes 00–60). “We've worked hard to expand our size range and fit types, and this is especially important and relevant as wedding parties are becoming less traditional,” Ganz says. “Plus, you don’t have to pay a fortune to find a great fit anymore.”

The majority of SuitShop’s pieces hover around $200. Ganz and Foley also wanted to ensure that their impact on the environment was minimal. Ganz says that other brands following this type of low-cost model are in the fast-fashion industry, which is extremely wasteful and lacks quality. In every suit from SuitShop, there are 20 recycled water bottles, which Ganz says make the suits lighter and more durable. 

“With the way that we’ve curated our catalog, our suiting never goes bad, we never retire styles, and we’re not launching seasonal collections, so nothing ever goes to a landfill,” Ganz says. “We’re even starting to make uniforms for airlines, hotels, and restaurants, because our suiting can be worn that much without being worn down.”

When Ganz and Foley decided on Texas for their next showroom location, Ganz says it was for obvious reasons: “It’s true what they say, everything’s bigger in Texas; that includes weddings and events!” 

SuitShop's vision for the store was a unique space that strays from the old-school men's-focused store settings, and instead offers a fun and welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable and excited to get suited up. For the full experience, you can visit the new M-K-T Heights location and try on any suit available in store, as well as take home free color swatches before making a decision. If you want to walk out with a complete look, there are neckties, bowties, cufflinks, and shoes for purchase in the shop. Have a beer, glass of Champagne, or bring your own drinks. SuitShop’s website also has a fitting guide that asks you a series of questions to help determine your right size.

“We are so happy to be in Houston and want people to learn that they don’t have to pay a fortune to find a great fit,” Ganz says. “You have to find a brand with a wide range of sizes and fit types, and that lets you mix and match according to however you want. That’s what SuitShop’s all about.”