---
title: "The origins of \"Bespoke\" (via Thomas Mahon)"
date: 2005-01-20T00:48:05Z
modified: 2005-01-20T00:48:05Z
permalink: "https://redmonk.com/jgovernor/the-origins-of-bespoke-via-thomas-mahon/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 114
categories:
  - Uncategorized
timestamp: 2005-01-20T00:48:05Z
tags:
  - Uncategorized
---

For those that like language, this new [tailor’s blog just told me something](http://www.englishcut.com/archives/000004.html) new.

> Bespoke is actually a term which dates from the 17th century, when tailors held the full lengths of cloth in their premises. When a customer chose a length of material it was said to have “been spoken for”, hence a tailor who makes your clothes individually to your specific personal requirements, is called bespoke. Unlike “made to measure” which simply uses a basic pattern which is then simply adjusted to your measurements.

I had no idea. Thanks [Hugh](http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/000823.html)!

So has your IT “[solution](http://www.redmonk.com/jgovernor/archives/000127.html)” been spoken for?