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As a child, Davide Cotugno grew up around his father's tailor shop. His father, Master Tailor Joe Cotugno, had started in the clothing business when he was only eight years old in Italy, and was already making suits by the time he was twelve. In 1961 the Cotugno family immigrated to England, and in 1978 moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Davide began to work with his father in the early 1970s, and by 1974 was managing five stores for a large British company specializing in custom and ready-to-wear clothing. After moving to the United States, Davide and his father worked with several local companies, and in 1998 founded Davide Cotugno Executive Tailors. We met recently with Davide, his wife Francesca, his father Joe, and their assistant Savi, and listened as they described how their company has become one of the top men's clothing stores in the Cleveland, Ohio area;
Davide Cotugno Executive Tailors specializes in custom made clothing including suits, custom shirts, slacks, sport coats, outerwear and raincoats, plus fine Italian ready-made clothing. We carry a full line of accessories, including ties, belts, shoes, and socks, shaving products, skin and hair care, and fragrances, and strive to offer our clients a one-stop-shop for all their business attire and personal grooming needs. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service, and frequently meet our clients in the comfort of their offices for measuring, fitting, and delivery of their apparel.
We provide a custom solution for those who are ready to move up from ready-made clothing, or those having a hard time finding the quality or fit they need off-the-rack. By taking up to twenty-five different measurements, we ensure we take into consideration every nuance of a client's build, posture, and stance. These measurements are entered into a Computer Assisted Design (CAD) system and a paper pattern is then generated. This very precise pattern is kept on file so thereafter, a client selects his choice of fabric and we can make another suit, sports coat, or pair of slacks that fit to perfection. Once those fabrics are made into garments, we'll lay out a half dozen color coordinated ties and shirts for him to choose from so he can be in and out in as short of time as possible.
We belong to a consortium of five stores throughout the country who share our buying power. For example, when most retailers buy ties or fabrics they have to buy in quantity. When we buy ties or fabrics from our suppliers, we only keep one particular pattern of tie or fabric in our store with the rest being shipped to other members of our consortium. The result is that everything in our store is one-of-a-kind. When a client selects a suit, that suit is made for him and nobody else. They'll never attend a business meeting, social function, or party and discover someone else wearing the exact same outfit.
We also belong to the Custom Tailors and Designers Association (CTDA). The CTDA, founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1881, is an association of over 150 custom tailors from throughout the country who hold conventions periodically throughout the year to share new styles, techniques, and business philosophies. I'm the Publicity Chairman and the Second Vice-President for the CTDA, and will be the President in 2008. At our conventions we hold a fashion show where our members are judged on the garments they've made, like the tuxedo on display at our store that won first prize in the tuxedo category for us.
In addition to fashion shows throughout the United States and Europe, we also travel abroad each year to hand select fabrics from exclusive mills such as Loro Piana, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Scabal.
We're a family owned and operated business. My wife Francesca takes care of the ladies and handles our accounting. She's also very good at coordinating colors. My father, who has won numerous awards, is our head tailor and does all of our finish work and any alterations. Savi, our assistant, makes sure all our orders receive the attention they deserve, and follows through with our clients to ensure their complete and thorough satisfaction.
In an industry where mass production rules, Davide Cotugno Executive Tailors still hand cut and stitch each garment to create a soft, supple look with a sturdy finish that will always look good. Call Davide Cotugno Executive Tailors today, and don't forget to tell them The Advocate sent you!
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