Date: Fri 14-Nov-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

business-Dadlani-tailor

Full Text:

(Ken's Custom Tailors) A Business Tailor-Made For The Fashion Conscious

(with photos)

BY SHANNON HICKS

SOUTHBURY -- Ken Dadlani likes to point out how difficult it is for men to

find clothing that is away from the ordinary, something that isn't the same as

everything else that comes off the rack.

"Women can find stuff ready-made so much easier," the Southbury-based tailor

said. "Their selection is a lot more. Men have such a hard time."

Mr Dadlani is the owner of Ken's Custom Tailoring, a store that offers men of

all ages custom-made and finer off-the-rack suits. Alterations on men's and

women's clothing are also available.

Located at 220 Main Street South (telephone 264-9101), Ken's Custom Tailoring

has been in Southbury for three years. Mr Dadlani is a member of the Greater

Waterbury Chamber of Commerce and the Southbury Business Association.

He has been in the custom tailoring business 12 years, beginning by working

out of his home, then moving the business to Naugatuck. In 1994, he opened the

doors of Ken's Custom Tailoring in Southbury.

He says he learned the tailoring business years ago while still located in

Memphis. "I learned from my uncle, who had a business in Tennessee," Mr

Dadlani said recently.

The store feels like a huge, well organized closet of a very well-dressed man.

There are racks of jackets of every style, color and description along the

left wall and on smaller rotating racks on the floor. Displays of neckware and

shirts are presented, as is a display of neckware fabric choices. A full-size

three-way mirror opposite Mr Dadlani's desk allows customers to watch as the

tailor makes measurements and offers alteration and/or tailoring suggestions.

By offering customers a choice of fabrics and styles -- the store has 36

monogram styles to choose from alone -- Mr Dadlani feels his is more of a

"specialty store." He is able to cater to hard-to-fit and larger-sized men. He

carries a wide selection of neckware and custom shirts. Alterations and all

tailoring is done on premises; turnaround time varies, but most jobs can be

done within a week's time.

Mr Dadlani is able to create a custom suit, from scratch, for any man after

just one fitting. That one fitting is imperative, however, because the tailor

makes sure he has every iota of information he is going to need. A custom suit

will take about four weeks to complete, top to bottom.

Materials and fabrics for custom suits are imported from England and Italy.

Some of the custom suit materials come from Hong Kong. A custom made suit, in

cost and quality, is the equivalent of a "good ready-made suit," Mr Dadlani

pointed out. "But it is even more suited to you."

Tuxedo rentals are also among the offerings of Ken's Custom Tailoring. Proms,

weddings, any special occasion -- Mr Dadlani has the tux for anyone, and the

alterations to make every tux fit picture perfect. While he is happy to do

alterations for most women's clothing, he will not touch wedding dresses. "Oh

no, no bridal work," he said. "I leave that to someone else."

Most of the store's work is done by Mr Dadlani himself. He has one part-time

tailor, Leo Martinez, who has been working in the tailoring business for 35

years. It is Mr Martinez, said Mr Dadlani, who handles much of the alteration

work; the tailoring work is all done by Mr Dadlani.

Alterations are usually done in about a week's time, although that can vary.

In the event of a real emergency, Mr Dadlani says they will accept a rush job,

even something fixed overnight. But he prefers not to feel rushed, to take the

time to do a thorough, quality job.

While the custom clothing tailored and sold through Ken's Custom Tailoring is

for male customers, the alterations end of the business is divided almost

evenly between men and women, said Mr Dadlani.

The store carries what Mr Dadlani calls "a better line of clothing," including

recognized names like Corbin, Burberry, Majer, Hardy Aimes and Enro.

In the three years he has been in his Southbury storefront, Mr Dadlani says

business has grown 25-30 percent each year.

"My prices are good, and I offer good service. People like to dress up, so

this has worked out good I think.

"This is a very personalized business," says Mr Dadlani. "We are very service

oriented, not like a large department store. I know most of my customers by

name."

Ken's Custom Tailoring, 220 Main Street South in Southbury, is open Tuesday

through Friday, 10-7; Saturday, 9-5.