Unlike the fashion and finance capitals of Europe, any one event held in Sydney is destined to garner an eclectic mix of interpretations of the same printed dress code. To that end, Sydneysiders can often flit from city to beach to bar within the span of a day, resulting in made-to-measure or bespoke suiting often considered a somewhat inessential addition to one’s sartorial repertoire. However, here at Albert Review, we’re firm believers that during a time when ephemeral trends reign supreme, impeccable tailoring is always a safe — and welcome — bet. And whilst we mightn’t have the same requirement for a five-suit-a-week wardrobe as our European counterparts, there’s a growing crop of tailors in Sydney catering to our idiosyncratic sartorial needs.
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Working to define and shape the singular Australian sartorial approach, the best tailors in Sydney are doing away with staid notions of tailoring and creating a design vernacular ideally suited to the — geographical and social — landscape at hand.
What is the difference between made-to-measure and bespoke suiting?
Before we dive into the best tailors in Sydney, a word on made-to-measure vs. bespoke. Of late, the two terms have often been used interchangeably, however there is a vast difference between the two.
Truly bespoke tailoring is a rarity in Sydney, Australia, with only select tailors offering the service. The proper bespoke process requires between 25 to 40 body measurements to ensure the suit is the perfect fit to not only your proportions, but posture and gait. The pattern is then created from scratch and completely unique to each customer. Bespoke tailors typically require between three to five fittings prior to having the garment approved by the customer. While tailors typically have a certain house style which should be taken into account when making your selection, bespoke suiting allows for infinite customisation opportunities. The bespoke suiting process can take anywhere from two to ten months from beginning to completion.
Made-to-measure suiting was introduced as a faster and more affordable option to bespoke suiting. The made-to-measure process sees a few body measurements used to customise a pre-existing pattern (often customers can select from multiple patterns). There is often the ability to choose from a selection of fabrics and styles, however customisation opportunities are limited in comparison to bespoke suiting. Made-to-measure offers a better fit than a standard off-the-rack suit, without the cost and time required by bespoke suiting. Sydney brands offering made-to-measure suiting include M.J. Bale, InStitchu, and Peter Jackson — while these brands are often included in lists of the best tailors in Sydney, they are not truly bespoke.
The best tailors in Sydney in 2024
From contemporary takes on suiting to traditional tailoring, these are the best tailors and clothiers in Sydney.
1. P.Johnson
No surprises here. Established in Sydney in 2009, P.Johnson is one of the country’s most notable sartorial exports. Over a decade later, the made-to-measure clothier boasts showrooms in New York, London, Sydney, and Melbourne, as well as a dedicated atelier in Tuscany. Effortlessly translating Italian techniques and practices to the Australian man, P.Johnson suiting and separates are refined yet unstuffy, cut with traditional techniques to ensure a beautiful drape which moves with the body.
Founder: Patrick Johnson
Price: Chinese-made suiting from $1495AUD; Italian-made suiting from $2895AUD
Partner atelier/workshop: Shanghai, China and Tuscany, Italy
Boutique address: 7 Walker Ln,
Paddington NSW 2021; St James Trust Building Level 1, 185 Elizabeth St.
2. Zimma Tailors
Founded just over a decade ago by Roger Shamoun, Zimma Tailors offers made-to-measure, semi-bespoke, and fully bespoke services. Dedicated to offering a sartorial experience that rivals that of heritage European tailors, Zimma suffuses classic suiting with a modern spin. True to the brand’s shopfront in Sydney’s Ivy precinct, there’s a certain sense of theatricality to Zimma’s creations, with windowpane checks, tonal experimentation, double-breasted blazers, and peaked lapels wide enough to land a plane on.
Founder: Roger Shamoun
Price: machine-made suiting from $1350AUD; shirts from $250AUD
Partner atelier/workshop: Tianjin, China
Boutique address: 91 Macleay St, Potts Point NSW 2011
3. J.H. Cutler
Bringing Savile Row excellence to Sydney, J.H. Cutler is for those desirous of old-world tailoring. Offering a truly bespoke (read: not made-to-measure) tailoring service, J.H. Cutler has been crafting some of the finest suits in the country since 1884 and remains family-owned to this day—currently helmed by John Cutler who trained at Savile Row’s Anderson & Sheppard. Naturally, J.H. Cutler suiting is made in the classic British style, making it the perfect choice for those whose sartorial style leans traditional.
Founder: Joseph Handel Cutler
Price: suiting from approx. $5-6000AUD; shirts from $550AUD
Partner atelier/workshop: made in Sydney, Australia
Boutique address: Suite 202, level 2/249 Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000
4. BELANCĒ
Contemporary tailoring in a contemporary setting, the BELANCĒ showroom setup is more akin to an elevated sneaker store than a clothier; doing away with oak panelling and heritage shades in favour of a minimalist space defined by concrete and neutral tones. Founded just over a decade ago, BELANCĒ’s made-to-measure suiting and separates are designed with the modern man in mind; cut slim and defined by clean, sharp lines. The perfect marriage of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary aesthetics.
Founders: Theodore English and Oscar Perez
Price: suiting from $1250AUD
Partner atelier/workshop: Hong Kong and Shanghai, China
Boutique address: 8 William St, Paddington NSW 2021
5. REMY
Founded by P.Johnson alumnus Remy Ghougassian, REMY takes an understated approach that works for the everyman. Soft timelessness is the name of the game, with ageless designs devoid of dramatic details but with meticulous attention paid to fit and finish. REMY made-to-measure suiting is crafted by partner workshops in Northern China, Italy, and Southern China (the latter option being completely handmade), with ready-to-wear garments also available.
Founder: Remy Ghougassian
Price: Chinese-made suiting from $1500AUD; Italian-made suiting from $2200AUD
Partner atelier/workshop: Northern China and Lazio, Italy
Boutique address: 301/147 King St, Sydney NSW 2000
6. The Bespoke Corner
While The Bespoke Corner is perhaps best known for its quintessential Melbourne aesthetic, founders Miles Wharton and Rami Mikhael have proven that their tailoring flair transcends state boundaries. The Bespoke Corner’s light-filled Paddington outpost (complete with barber and grooming services upstairs) showcases the truly bespoke nature of their offering. Sourcing a variety of natural fibres (think cashmere, silk, pashmina, merino wool, and vicuna) from the best mills around the world, The Bespoke Corner offers three core tailoring options. The most popular option is handcrafted and hand-finished in Italy, while a faster (and more affordable) machine-finished option is also available.
Founders: Miles Wharton and Rami Mikhael
Price: Atelier Primo suiting from $1200AUD; Italian-made suiting from $2500AUD
Partner atelier/workshop: Atelier Primo (location unspecified) and Atelier Officina (Tuscany, Italy)
Boutique address: 223 Glenmore Rd, Paddington NSW 2021
7. The Finery Company
Founded by Seoul native and Korean tailoring veteran Joe Ha, The Finery Company marries the best of Italian and English techniques and traditions to create traditional suiting with a contemporary flair. Made with perfection in mind, each garment offers a sculpted aesthetic that complements every body type. The Finery Company offers a hand-finished made-to-measure service, as well as two truly bespoke services with the flagship offering completely handmade and crafted over the span of six to eight months. The result? Unparalleled construction and fit made to last a lifetime.
Founder: Joe Ha
Price: bespoke suiting from $6600AUD; made-to-measure suiting from $3650
Partner atelier/workshop: Seoul, Korea
Boutique address: 76A Paddington St, Paddington NSW 2021
8. Zink & Sons
One of Sydney’s oldest tailors, Zink & Sons was founded in 1895 by Gastav A. Zink. Robert Jones has helmed the company since the early 1960s, with his son Daniel joining in 2004. Offering the ideal balance between traditional and contemporary styles, British tailoring is executed through a forward-thinking lens, incorporating modern styles and aesthetics. Zink & Sons offers both semi-bespoke and fully bespoke services.
Founder: Gastav A. Zink
Price: $POA
Partner atelier/workshop: made in Sydney
Boutique address: 56 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
9. Mawson Óssa
The brainchild of textile veteran Grant Streater, Mawson Óssa was conceived in 2017 and takes a distinctly contemporary approach to tailoring. Offering made-to-measure, semi-bespoke, and fully bespoke services, Mawson Óssa tailoring is distinguished by its elegant interpretation of Scandi minimalism, with clean lines and pared-back silhouettes leaving no room to skimp on quality craftsmanship.
Founder: Grant Streater
Price: semi-bespoke suiting from $2250AUD; bespoke from $3000
Partner atelier/workshop: Hong Kong (bespoke) and Shanghai, China (made-to-measure)
Boutique address: 2/38-50 Mary St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
10. Umi Nori
Proving tailoring needn’t equate to traditional, Umi Nori was founded in 2019 by Zi Nori and Roman Jody and challenges notions of what constitutes suiting. Placing craftsmanship and high-quality materials at the forefront, Umi Nori designs experiment with both structure and pattern—expect bold checks, wide lapels, and asymmetrical cuts.
Founders: Zi Nori and Roman Jody
Price: $POA
Partner atelier/workshop:
Boutique address: Suite 102/350 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
11. Oscar Hunt
Founded by Chris Edwards in 2010, Oscar Hunt specialises in made-to-measure suiting. Adopting a quintessentially Australian approach to tailoring, Oscar Hunt garments take on laidback, unfussy tone when it comes to business and casual wear. However, they also offer formal and black tie suiting options—from unassuming tuxes to statement velvet dinner jackets.
Founder: Chris Edwards
Price: suiting from $999AUD
Partner atelier/workshop: Shanghai, China
Boutique address: The Strand Arcade, Shop 104 Level 2, 412/414 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
12. Sartorial Bay Tailors
Transposing his Anglo and Italian sartorial finesse to the Antipodean climate, native Roman Massimo Guglielmi is working to craft a way of dressing that finds a harmonious balance between formal and casual. Having honed his craft at lauded Savile Row tailor Huntsman before starting his own tailoring house in London, Guglielmi’s Sydney offering in Sartorial Bay Tailors is laced with Neapolitan flair; generous lapels, unpadded shoulders, extended darting, and minimal lining.
Founder: Massimo Guglielmi
Price: machine-made suiting from $1280AUD; handmade suiting from$1580AUD; shirts from $240AUD
Partner atelier/workshop: Germany and Italy
Boutique address: Unit 303/4-14 Buckingham St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Words by T. Angel
