In the world of luxury and high-end experiences, customisation is key. This is especially true for private jets, where the aircraft should be a perfect reflection of its owner’s needs, tastes, and lifestyle. Stephan Theis, Senior Technical Manager at Camber Aviation Management, recently discovered a striking parallel between the process of creating a truly personalised flying experience and another realm of bespoke luxury: the crafting of a bespoke suit.
Stephan’s journey into bespoke tailoring began unexpectedly. “While we were on vacation, a friend told me about a fantastic experience they’d had with a tailor: Roland at Schmidt & Schallmey in Frankfurt” he recalls. “Having a bespoke suit created for me has always been something I’ve wanted to do.” Upon meeting the tailor his knowledge and experience was obvious from the very first meeting and Stephan was struck by the complexity of choices and the depth of expertise required to create a truly bespoke product.
Little did he know that this experience would provide fresh insights into his work in private jet completion management.
“Roland asked many questions,” Stephan recalls. “Starting with the ones I expected – like which style of suit you want – but the questioning went far beyond just style preferences.” He continues, “there were also lifestyle questions like: ‘When will you be wearing the suit? Is it for special occasions, and which ones? Or will it be used regularly for business meetings, or an everyday suit for the office?'”
The fabric selection process was equally detailed. “You go through lots of booklets to find the right fabric from the weight and the material. Is there silk in there? Is it just wool? Do you want something more for the summer or something that you can wear all year long or more in the wintertime?”
Even minute details were explored: “The corners, should they point up? Should they point down? Should they be neutral? How many pockets do you want? What type of pockets do you want? Do you want to have one with a flap or no flap?” Stephan explains. “There were three different angles that you can select just for the chest pocket. And I think there were five different ways how to angle the side pockets.”
It was an eye-opening experience for Stephan. “I would have had no idea if I’d been doing this alone,” he reflects. “And this is where it felt very much like the completion management process – because you have all these different options you weren’t expecting and it’s difficult to know which choices will give you the best result.”
Stephan realised that in the bespoke suit process, much like in private aircraft completions, clients often come with a general idea of what they want but aren’t aware of all the factors to consider. It takes knowledge and experience to ask the right questions, discover unstated needs and guide the client. He says: “You need an expert to determine what factors need to be considered. Only then can you make an informed selection, which actually turns out to be what you really wanted all along.”
Similarly, when designing a private jet interior, clients might know they want luxury and comfort, or have a certain style in mind. But they might not have considered factors like flight distances, how many passengers they’ll usually carry, how these guests should be accommodated or how the cabin layout might affect in-flight productivity or comfort. This is where a skilled completion manager can ask the right questions needed to articulate and achieve a client’s vision – even when they didn’t initially know how to express it.
Throughout the process, Stephan appreciated Roland’s tailoring expertise. “He’d created a special sheet that he worked through, like a checklist,” he notes. Roland explained to Stephan that creating a truly bespoke suit requires multiple fittings. Stephan recalls: “The first was for initial measurements and fabric selection. The second, a few weeks later, was to try on a partially completed suit for adjustments. The final fitting would be to ensure everything was perfect before the suit was finished.” This approach allowed for adjustments at each stage to achieve the perfect fit.
The iterative nature of the suit-making process resonated strongly with Stephan. “It’s much like when we supervise the fitting of monuments on an aircraft,” he explained. “For instance, a cabinet for the aft bathroom would be brought in and temporarily attached. We then check if everything fits or if adjustments are needed before it’s fixed into place.”
However, aircraft completions demand a far more stringent process: “As meticulous as a suit fitting is, we go even further in completion management,” he said. “We’ll carry out a detailed inspection before elements even reach the aircraft, inspecting for perfect finishes, proper linings, looking for scratches etc. Then we’ll request changes if it’s needed.”
This, crucially, demonstrates the need for expert oversight. In the world of private aviation, a completion manager brings together a diverse team of experts, each specialising in different aspects of aircraft customisation. Like a tailor is expert in selecting the best materials and understanding how the pieces come together, a completion manager knows which suppliers and craftsmen are best suited for each unique aircraft project. And, while specialists excel in their specific areas, they may not always see the bigger picture. For instance, an interior designer might create a stunning cabin concept, but may not be aware of all the technical constraints or safety regulations that could impact the design’s feasibility.
“That’s where our role becomes critical,” Stephan emphasises. “We have the technical knowledge to understand where compromises can be made to improve safety and performance without sacrificing the aesthetic vision. It’s about finding that perfect balance, like a tailor would balance comfort, style, and durability in a suit.”
This is the core truth which results in a final product transcending the sum of its parts.
The emotional impact of the bespoke experience was a profound – and transformative – one for Stephan. When he first put on his completed suit, he was struck by how different it felt from anything he’d worn before. He says: “The fit was impeccable, and it moved with me perfectly.” But the transformation went beyond mere comfort. Stephan found himself standing straighter and feeling more confident. The suit wasn’t just tailored to his body; he felt it enhanced his entire presence. “It’s hard to explain,” he reflected, “but wearing something made just for you, considering every aspect of who you are and what you need – it changes how you feel about yourself.”
Comparing his new suit to a previous high-end purchase, he notes, “I bought a suit a while ago from Ralph Lauren… but when I tried it on after my bespoke suit, it just wasn’t the same anymore.”
In both bespoke tailoring and jet completion management, the process is about creating something unique that perfectly fits the client’s needs and preferences and having an expert who understands the complexities and can guide you through the process is invaluable.
As Stephan concludes, “In both tailoring and jet completion, the magic happens when you have someone who can see the entire picture, understand each component, and bring it all together into something truly extraordinary. That’s the art of bespoke creation – and this is the feeling we want to give to our customers.”
Images courtesy of Roland Schmidt, bespoke tailor at Schmidt & Schallmey.