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An InStitchu Love Story

19 January, 2026

Weddings have a funny way of making you slow down and pay attention to the details — not just the suit, but the moments around it. For our General Manager, Mauricio, the journey to his wedding day started long before the first fitting. It began with a chance meeting, turned into years of working side by side, and eventually became the kind of partnership you build a life on.

In this Q&A, Mauricio shares how he and Alana met, the design choices behind his made-to-measure wedding suit (including a few personal touches you don’t see every day), and what the InStitchu process feels like from the groom’s point of view. If you’re currently planning your own suit, his advice is simple: start early, trust your stylist, and enjoy the experience — it’s one of the most memorable parts of the lead-up.

1. How did your love story begin?

Ours started quietly — the kind of connection that grows before you even realise it’s happening. We first crossed paths years ago when I was at university, doing some casual work in a concession store. It was brief, and life kept moving.

But later on, we both found ourselves at InStitchu, with the chance to open the very first Canberra showroom together. That’s where everything really began. Alana was the showroom manager, and pretty quickly she became much more than that. Working side by side and building something from the ground up, we got to know each other in a way that felt natural — effortless, even.

Once we properly connected, there was this calm certainty between us. We started dating not long after, and we honestly haven’t looked back. What began as a work partnership turned into a life partnership — and now she’s my wife… and, as we like to joke, my life manager too.

2. Talk us through your design — what fabric, fit and personal touches did you go with, and why?

I always knew I wanted something a little different. I chose a colour that felt true to me, and went with a double-breasted silhouette with peak lapels — it has that strong, confident feel, without being over the top. The goal was to step away from the “standard wedding suit” look, but still keep it timeless and sharp.

That’s the best part of made to measure: you can keep the outside clean and elegant, then make it personal in the details. Inside the jacket, I added a custom lining featuring my (now) wife’s face — which still makes me smile — plus a monogram with our wedding date. I even added the date again on my made-to-measure shirt.

In the end it felt like the perfect mix: structured and refined on the outside, meaningful on the inside. Completely personal, and completely mine.

3. What was it like going through the made-to-measure process from a groom’s perspective?

Honestly — easy, and genuinely enjoyable. People sometimes assume made to measure will be intimidating, but that disappears pretty fast once you’re in it. I’d had friends go through the InStitchu process already, and they all told me the same thing.

It starts with a dedicated wedding consultation, which is great because it’s not just “pick a suit.” You talk about the venue, the vibe of the day, what you’re wearing it with — the whole picture. Like most grooms, I didn’t walk in with a perfectly formed plan, so having a stylist guide me based on the wedding itself gave me a lot of clarity (and calm).

The measurement appointment was easily the most fun part. Once the suit was designed, it became a relaxed session with my groomsmen — finalising details like the lining and monograms, having a whisky, and enjoying the moment together. It felt less like an errand and more like part of the celebration.

Overall, it was seamless, professional, and actually memorable — which is exactly what you want in the lead-up to your wedding.

4. As someone who knows the brand inside and out — what advice would you give grooms designing their suit with InStitchu?

Trust your stylist, and be really honest about what you want. The best result always comes from that balance: your personality, guided by someone who knows fit, proportion, and what will photograph beautifully on the day.

Also — don’t leave it late. We can make a suit in as little as four weeks, but this is your wedding suit. Give yourself at least twelve weeks so you’ve got time to make thoughtful choices, do fittings properly, and enjoy the process without pressure.

And finally: have fun with the details. Add the custom lining. Go for the monogram. Choose functional buttonholes if you love them. Those touches are where your suit becomes yours — and that’s what makes it special.