How did you get into fashion?

My father took me to San Francisco when I was a sophomore in high school. We went to Union Square, the upscale shopping district of San Francisco, and browsed through a number of high-end men’s
haberdasheries. When I walked into the legendary Wilkes Bashford shop I felt totally inspired to become a menswear designer and to have my own flagship store full of my creations. With that goal in mind, I landed my first job as a stock boy at one of Los Angeles' premier men’s clothing store. Before long, the management saw I had some talent for the business and gave me a shot at a sales position. Despite only being sixteen, I excelled quickly as a salesman and wardrobe consultant. I was putting together
complete outfits for successful lawyers, real estate developers, and entertainment executives who were 3 or 4 times my age. I quickly became one of the firm's top salesmen. By the time I turned twenty, I became obsessed with the concept of bespoke tailoring and began apprenticing with an experienced tailor to learn all the nuances of custom clothing.

How are you different from other custom tailors?

First of all, I specialize in bespoke which means more than just "custom-made for the individual". Bespoke defines a distinct British styling point of view. What makes me different from other tailors and so-called custom clothiers is my set up: I have re-created a Savile Row-inspired bespoke tailor shop with a traditional, cozy atmosphere, and most importantly on-site production. My suits are all hand-made by my team of master tailors at my Mid-Wilshire District Shop.

Furthermore, men specialty stores have become extinct. So, a gentleman, whether he be easy to fit off the rack, tall, athletic, or large framed have very few options to where he can buy a polished tailored suit. That is why a bespoke tailor is so important: I can create clothes that can fit any frame.

What inspires your designs for men? What sparks your creativity?

I am very inspired by the mid sixties music and style of swinging London: the Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Beatles all made regular visits to Savile Row tailor shops to get suited up. I am also very inspired and influenced by classic jazz musicians like Wes Montgomery and Miles Davis. These musicians embraced East coast conservatism and favored the collegiate look better known as "Ivy -League" style (i.e. Brooks Brothers and J. Press). They made the suit cool. These men made wearing a tie cool! In addition, classic movies are probably my biggest influence. Cary Grant, Clark Gable, and Humphrey Bogart are all style icons that have had a huge impact on my design perspective.

And how does traveling around Europe help you tailor suits for your clients?

Traveling keeps me up to date on the trends. In London, there are always new twists and takes on traditionalism. I am very inspired by Savile Row tailors like Anderson & Sheppard, Gieves & Hawkes, and Huntsman. In Italy, the "Neapolitan style" of Kiton and Brioni is influential to my designs because of their unique take on British traditionalism and use of color. Italian men don colors like melon, lime, and orange that most American men would never have the courage to wear. There is also quite a lot of nice men’s clothing coming out of Switzerland.

I would imagine you get a lot of orders for standard-colored suits in traditional colors like gray and navy blue. What makes bespoke fun and creative for you?

My goal is to create clothing that truly represents the individual style of the man for whom I am designing. Several years ago, I made a three-piece suit for a long time client who loves to be flamboyant and colorful. It was a chalk-stripe on a regal shade of purple! Since I knew the client loved unusual linings, I found a lining fabric that had vintage 1950's playboy playmates embossed on queen of hearts playing cards and used it as the lining. I take special care in getting to know my clients so that not only
do their suits have a perfect fit but that the suit also captures my clients’ individuality