A Tailor’s Tale: From Circus Costumes to Bespoke Suits
The world of bespoke tailoring is steeped in tradition, a lineage of master craftsmen meticulously crafting garments that exude elegance and individuality. At Mr. Cuff Bespoke Tailors in Melbourne, this tradition finds a vibrant continuation under the leadership of Jarrad Cuff, Menswear Designer and the creative force behind the brand. But Jarrad’s story is anything but ordinary.
Forget the stereotypical image of a tailor hunched over a workbench. Jarrad’s journey began amidst the vibrant world of circus. A life on stage consists of non top touring. You live overseas, get exposed to many cultures and pick up a thing or two along the way. Jarrad has always loved the middle east. This kick started his passion for menswear living in the UAE and seeing men dress and the fabrics available. One day with a small sewing machine in a hotel room, Mr. Cuff started sewing. Having travelled extensively exposed Jarrad to a kaleidoscope of fashion styles, from the bold flamboyance of America to the intricate details of European tailoring and the rich textures of the Middle East. This constant immersion in the world of fashion ignited a passion within him, a passion that later found its academic grounding when he graduated with high distinctions from RMIT’s Fashion Design program.
Beyond the Label: Building Trust Through Expertise
However, Jarrad’s journey didn’t end there. He honed his skills across various design disciplines, from the delicate artistry of bridal wear to the structured elegance of menswear. While his experience is diverse, what sets Mr. Cuff apart is a deep understanding of what a bespoke suit truly represents – a high-involvement, deeply personal expression of your style. This understanding comes not just from years of experience, but from countless customer interactions.
And this is just the beginning. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into his design philosophy and the bespoke tailoring process at Mr. Cuff Bespoke Tailoring.
Why Mr. Cuff? Can you tell us the significance of the bespoke tailoring?
For me, it’s always been about craftsmanship. I’m curious how something is put together. Bespoke tailoring is one of the hardest sewing construction techniques in fashion and I’ve always sewn. I’m good when it comes to making things so a challenge has never deterred me from something. I guess that’s why circus was and still is such a big part of my life. It makes the impossible possible. With tailoring, I can wear it and I think that’s important. I didn’t like telling women what to wear, however I still leant womens wear through my schooling. Tailoring is a lifelong journey and I’m still on my way to finding new things. For me that means there is always more to learn and discover and that’s wonderful.
What inspired you to transition from circus life to pursuing a formal education in fashion design at RMIT?
I got older. Circus is something that you can do while you are young and a great way to travel and be exposed to different cultures. I was a Wheel Gymnast or German Wheel Acrobat. It’s a skill you learn for life and people in circus are like family. I could always sew even as a kid. I started very young but back then it didn’t offer any options other than a hobby.
I enrolled into RMIT not thinking I would get into the course. When I got accepted I thought that was a wake up call for me. I enjoyed university a lot and it came with challenges along the way. I only aimed to get a diploma but walked out with a Bachelor of Honours and glad I did.
Can you walk us through the pivotal moment when you decided to focus on bespoke menswear, and how did you build your clientele in the early days?
Living in the UAE changed things for me. I had to dress well or I wouldn’t be allowed inside places. People dressed well everyday and took pride in their appearance. I noticed my confidence improved and I felt better about myself. I could buy my fabric at a souk, and then go take it to a tailor who would then make up shirts and pants. The UAE is hot so I never wore a fully lined jacket but I did start thinking about my appearance everyday.
When I spent time in the USA this only made me appreciate it more. I loved the American style and versatility they practised in menswear. It was clean yet relaxed and showed thought. I was like a kid in a candy store and I think I bought about 20 kg of fabric home and spent the entire time sketching.
You’ve mentioned travelling extensively. How have these experiences influenced your design aesthetic and your approach to tailoring?
Hugely. The experiences were invaluable but the major thing is it made me take a hard look at home. People love Australia overseas and the lifestyle we live. We have a story to tell here and I think in menswear it can get easily pushed aside for what’s happening overseas.
What sets Mr. Cuff apart from other bespoke tailors in Melbourne? What is your unique value proposition?
We make our suits. We are full bespoke tailors and we sew. I think that’s important because that’s the definition of the job. To work at Mr. Cuff means you’re working on a sewing machine. Our customers expect that when they come to a tailor and we keep that knowledge and craftsmanship alive in Melbourne.
More suit’s being sold means more tailors in jobs and that’s wonderful. There is no need to send suit’s overseas when we have Australian wool and an Australian style which is quite unique. It’s something to hold proud and showcase and it sets us apart.
Can you describe your design process? How do you collaborate with clients to bring their vision to life?
When I design I usually start with images from my family history to tell the story. For example: redesigning my dad’s wedding suit made me look through images of my family during that era and create a design platform. So when I create a collection I’ll use that to explore that further by designing around that concept. It’s fun because you get to tell your story and rediscover things from your past. It also keeps everything very close to home and I like that because the relevance to the brand is important.
When designing with a client you have to keep things quite fluid. It’s about discovering a whole new style for a new person. Things change dramatically when it comes to body shape and proportion and to get a great outcome you have to work closely and listen to the client. Some of the best things we’ve made at Mr Cuff are products we have developed with clients.
You are a Melbourne based independent designer. What are the biggest challenges and rewards of running a bespoke tailoring business?
Biggest challenge: Wearing so so so many hats. Yes I’m a tailor but I’ve had to learn a lot to manage everything. Learning how to delegate and realise I can’t do everything was the biggest one. You just can’t be everywhere all at once and I still struggle with that. Fashion is a hard industry especially when you’re a small business. Be patient and keep fine tuning things.
Biggest Reward: I love my job. As tailors we dress people to make them feel better about themselves. That’s wonderful. I have a great team and I believe in what we do and watching it grow. Sometimes I see people in the street wearing what we’ve made and it’s nice to see. We handcraft every garment and to see them on people brings them to life.
Who are your biggest inspirations in the fashion world, and how do they influence your work?
My favourite designer Thom Browne and his contemporary take on suiting. I love how creative it is and I think that’s why I keep designing as well as tailoring. If tailoring is your platform then what can you do with it?
I also love 90’s Ralph Lauren because I’m drawn to that American sportswear style. I like the relaxed approach to suiting which is versatile but still classic. It makes suits more for the everyday and they can be more than just the everyday blue suit.
Do you see the future of bespoke tailoring heading? How is Mr. Cuff adapting to changing trends and consumer preferences?
I think it is going to grow as more people start producing locally. Bespoke tailoring as a process shouldn’t change if we want to remain sustainable and I think that’s important. I do think it’s important to teach that knowledge onwards if you want the craft to survive. I do hear a lot of people trying to introduce technology etc but this is not tailoring. Tailoring involves stretching and shaping of wool by a tailor. No factory can replace this.
We update our pattern styles every few years to modernise the cut of our suits. It’s how we stay current and up to date with what’s happening in Melbourne.
How can the Melbourne fashion community better support emerging designers and tailors?
Knowledge. It’s everything and that through education is important. This is where most people take that first step and it should be exciting. There’s a lot of good designers out there to learn from and always someone to ask for advice.
What are your thoughts on sustainability and ethical fashion in the context of bespoke tailoring?
Sometimes it can be overlooked or not recognised but it plays a big part. Tailors make locally and their clothes don’t travel far and that’s wonderful. There is no overproduction and the money stays locally which is important. It’s a model that can really change the way we look at clothes. When things are made and they fit better you find they get worn more. People look and feel better and appreciate clothes for longer. If I buy something cheap I generally don’t appreciate it and I’ve stopped doing that now. I want to be careful about my choices and how much I consume.
How would you describe the Melbourne fashion scene, particularly in terms of menswear and bespoke tailoring?
I think it’s going through a really exciting time. We have some really amazing local brands that have emerged that I’m really lucky to have around the area. The menswear scene in Melbourne is small but it’s growing and I think now we’re seeing a lot of snappy dressers.
I feel the consumer has really focused on buying things that are made ethically and locally and that’s giving a lot of small brands that connection to find their audience.
How do you envision the future of Mr. Cuff within the Melbourne fashion scene?
We hope to grow and become an Melbourne Institution. I’ve always wanted to showcase and share my craft and I feel there is a real space to do that here in Melbourne. People appreciate seeing their clothing being made by tailors in our store window. I think what we do is unique and that’s why the business model has been so widely embraced by the customer.
People are curious about what goes into tailoring and this gives us a chance to share that.
What advice would you give to young fashion designers and tailors looking to make their mark in Melbourne?
Be patient, start slow and design for the customer. You have to start small and work with what you have. The first few years are hard and it gets harder as things pick up. You learn to manage it better and know what not to do in future.
Building the Perfect Bespoke Suit
Customers are rightfully concerned. A bespoke suit is an investment, a garment crafted to fit your physique and personality. Choosing the right tailor becomes paramount. Here at Mr. Cuff, Jarrad believes his unique blend of experience, meticulous attention to detail, and a global perspective on fashion empower this creator to craft garments that not only fit perfectly but truly embody your individual style.
P.S. Don’t forget to follow us on social media @mr_cuff_bespoke for style inspiration, exclusive offers, and updates on the grand opening!
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