Most clothes are made long before anyone wants them. A brand guesses how many it will sell, produces that number, and hopes. Made to order flips that. Nothing is made until it is ordered, so every piece has someone waiting for it.
Every Vazzari piece is made to order. Here is what that means in practice.
What does "made to order" mean in clothing?
Made to order means a garment is produced after a customer places an order, rather than being made in bulk and stored. You choose your design, colour and size, check out, and that order starts production. The piece is then printed and finished for you and shipped with tracking.
It is different from:
- Ready-to-wear stock: made in advance in large batches, then sold off a shelf or from a warehouse.
- Bespoke: fully custom-made to your individual measurements. Made to order uses standard sizes; bespoke does not.
How it works at Vazzari, in three steps
01. You pick it
Choose your piece, colour and size, and check out.
02. We make it, just for you
Your piece is made after you order. It was never sitting on a shelf.
03. It is sent to you
It is packed and sent with tracking, and you get the tracking link by email.
The full explanation is on our made-to-order page.
How long does made to order take?
Because your piece is made after you order, it takes a little longer than grabbing something already on a shelf. The making time is included in our delivery estimates. Most orders to the UK, Ireland, the EU, Norway, Switzerland, the US and Canada arrive in about 5 to 7 working days; further destinations usually take 7 to 14 working days. These are estimates, not guarantees, and orders with more than one piece can arrive in separate parcels, each with its own tracking.
Why made to order is better for the planet
The overproduction problem
The fashion industry produces a lot of clothing that is never worn, or worn very little. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that the equivalent of a rubbish truck of clothes is burnt or sent to landfill every second (Ellen MacArthur Foundation). The European Commission estimates that 4 to 9% of unsold textiles in Europe are destroyed before ever being worn (European Commission).
In the UK, the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee's "Fixing Fashion" report found that people in the UK buy more new clothing per person than anywhere else in Europe (UK Parliament), and WRAP says around 300,000 tonnes of used clothing goes to landfill in the UK each year (WRAP).
What made to order changes
Made to order tackles the guessing part of the problem. Here is what it means for Vazzari, in plain terms:
- Nothing made till you order. One piece ordered, one piece made.
- No unsold piles. There are no mountains of our clothes nobody bought.
- Less waste. Making only what is wanted means less made for nothing, and less thrown away.
We are careful not to over-claim. Made to order does not make clothing impact-free: fabric still has to be grown and made, and parcels still have to travel. What it does is remove the overproduction step that sends unsold stock to waste.
The law is moving in the same direction
From 19 July 2026, large companies in the EU have been banned from destroying unsold clothes, clothing accessories and footwear under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, with medium-sized companies following in 2030 (European Commission). The UK is not covered by this EU rule, but it shows where expectations are heading: make what is needed, and stop wasting what is not.
What made to order means for you
Every size, every design
Because nothing is pre-made, designs are not limited to whatever is left in the warehouse. Most of our hoodies and men's tees go up to 5XL, and some pieces go to 6XL; see our big sizes collection.
Returns still apply
Changed your mind? Made to order does not change your rights with us. Returns are free within 30 days.
Designs with a story
Made to order lets us build collections as ideas rather than seasons. Collections such as Nouveau Noir 2075 and the DCR Astute Society tees carry an idea from piece to piece, and the designs do not disappear when a season ends.
Is made to order the same as slow fashion?
They overlap. Slow fashion is a broader idea about buying less, choosing well and keeping clothes longer. Made to order is a production method that fits that idea, because it avoids making things nobody asked for. You can make it even slower by caring for your clothes well, washing cooler and wearing them for longer.
FAQ
Is made-to-order clothing more expensive?
Not necessarily. Prices depend on fabric, print and design. Our Experimental hoodies are £95 and our Nouveau Noir and Blanc Éclat organic hoodies are £125 at the time of writing.
Can I cancel a made-to-order item?
Contact us as soon as possible at contact@vazzari.co.uk. Once production has started, we may not be able to stop it, but our 30-day free returns still apply.
Does made to order mean handmade?
No. Made to order is about when something is made (after you order), not how. Our pieces are printed and finished after you buy.
Why do multiple items arrive separately?
Different pieces can be made in different places, so they may arrive in separate parcels, each with tracking.
Is made to order sustainable?
It reduces one of fashion's biggest sources of waste, overproduction. It is a better way to make clothes, but no clothing is completely impact-free.
Sources
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Fashion and the circular economy: ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
- European Commission, ban on destruction of unsold clothes and shoes: environment.ec.europa.eu
- UK Parliament, Environmental Audit Committee, "Fixing Fashion": publications.parliament.uk
- WRAP, guidance on consumer behaviour: wrap.ngo
