When I hear the term "haberdasher," I envision dapper old British men on Saville Row. But I discovered recently that Seattle has its very own haberdasher in Jeff Collins [1], and he is neither British nor old. The 36-year-old Mill Creek native has been designing men's custom and ready-to-wear attire for the past decade.
Collins will travel to a client's home or office and work with him to create a complete wardrobe intended to last for years. His clients consist mainly of executives and CEOs in search of business attire. His custom suits cost between $795 and $3,000, depending on the fabric.
"Contrary to the belief that Seattle is a casual town, I sell a lot of suits," he says. He encourages his clients to select a "transitional suit," which is typically striped, textured or patterned and can be worn with or without a tie, making it the perfect suit to transition between daytime and nighttime activities.
If suits are the meat of Collins' operation, then his custom shirts are the bread and butter. For about the same price one might pay at a department store ($85-$200), a man can own a custom-designed shirt based on at least 16 independent measurements, and have input into countless features such as pockets, cuffs and collars.
For those willing to spend more (up to $395), Collins will design a shirt using the same luxurious multi-ply cottons used by prominent European menswear designers such as Loro Piana and Thomas Mason.
Collins can also help Seattle men stretch beyond their fashion comfort zone, with checked, striped and plaid trousers, and colored shirts. "Pink is popular, but not all men have the confidence to pull it off," he says. "Lavender is an easy compromise and their confidence is bolstered when compliments start coming their way."
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