Up until recently, haute couture — which refers to clothing that is made-to-measure for a specific person — was something only the most affluent had in their closets. Today, however, a range of companies are making tailor-made clothes much more accessible — and affordable.

Now that most clothing, accessories and shoes are massed produced, we end up seeing a lot of the same apparel. If you buy something at H&M, for example, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to spot the same item if you head downtown on a sunny Saturday afternoon. But if you have something that’s custom-made for you, you’ll have something much more unique.

But the most obvious benefit of tailor-made fashion is that the clothing will actually fit you perfectly, a rare trait for many people, particularly those who are taller or shorter than average, or thinner, larger, or whose bodies that aren’t perfectly proportionate.

Finding a dress if you have a flatter chest and curvy hips, for example, can be very tricky, especially when it comes to semi-formal or formal dresses. If you’ve been in a similar situation when it comes to professional business dresses, you’ll appreciate Carrie Hammer‘s vision.

The young New York-based entrepreneur and former ad sales exec launched a company that makes made-to-measure professional women’s apparel, after she grew tired of hearing she should “dress for the job she wanted, not the job she had.” That’s expensive advice.

“As a solution she began getting made to measure, custom pieces made for herself through tailors online,” CarrieHammer.com explains.

“Since many of Carrie’s friends and colleagues commiserated with her dilemma, she would get stopped on the street and in her meetings about her professional wardrobe. Some of it was the style, but most of it was a true and unparalleled fit.”

All of her dresses sell for $295.

With men, it becomes even more challenging. So many men don’t know how to fit themselves when they buy suits, or they don’t have their clothes tailored after they buy it. Or if they do have it done properly, it can often end up costing them hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Indochino has a more affordable answer.

“Indochino is the leader in custom online menswear,” the Indochino website explains. “We provide the modern gentleman with high quality menswear that fits your body perfectly. Our quick 10 minute measurement process can be done from the comfort of your own home; no tailor required. All of our products are hand tailored and delivered to any part of the world within 3 weeks.”

What are your thoughts on this new evolution of accessible couture? Do you think tailor-made clothing can become mainstream?