Book a Visit
Bespoke Shirts

The Monogrammed Shirt.

Your initials, embroidered with care — the understated mark of a garment made for one person.

A monogram on a bespoke shirt is not decoration. It is identification — a quiet mark that confirms the shirt was made for one person and no other. Placed on the cuff, the breast pocket, or below the collar point, an embroidered monogram in two or three letters, in a thread colour that reads cleanly against the cloth, is one of the most satisfying small decisions in a bespoke commission. At The Black Lapel, we offer monogramming on all our bespoke shirts, in a range of lettering styles discussed at the consultation.

Photograph to follow

Placement, lettering and thread — how a monogram is done

Monogram placement varies by preference and tradition. The most common position is on the left cuff — visible when the jacket sleeve is open, just above the cuff link. An alternative is the breast pocket, or below the collar point on the body of the shirt where it is visible when the shirt is worn open-collar. We advise on placement based on the shirt style and the client's preference.

Lettering style ranges from a simple, clean block letter to ornate intertwined script. We discuss the options at the consultation and have reference examples for every style. Thread colour is typically the same as the cloth (white thread on white cloth, which reads in the light without announcing itself) or in a contrasting colour — navy on white, burgundy on blue — that makes the monogram more visible. Both approaches are correct; the choice is entirely personal.

Commission your shirts.

Visit us at 4 Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Chennai — Mon–Sat, 11am–9pm. First consultation free.

Book a VisitWhatsApp Us