About
My Story
To be more precise, this is a shared story - one that started well before I was even born - and one where I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the most influential people in my life.
My father, Riccardo, was a tailor back in Ecuador before moving to Canada. As a child, I spent countless hours at his atelier, where I was surrounded by the rhythmic humming of sewing machines and countless rolls of fabrics.
While other kids were playing in parks or attending after-school activities, I found myself in a different kind of sandbox. Little did I know that I was learning through osmosis, unwittingly absorbing the artistry of his work. I even made the decision to work alongside him during my summer vacations.
When I graduated from high school, I found myself at a crossroad, unsure of what to do with my career. At that moment, I realized tailoring offered me a creative outlet and a natural progression of my experiences up until then.
Back to My Roots
I decided to take a gap year, returning to our family’s roots in Ecuador, where I decided to study at the same tailoring school in Quito where my father had originally honed his craft.
My educational journey became a transcontinental pursuit, alternating between studying in Quito and working in Canada to save up for the upcoming semester's tuition fees. That experience was huge in terms of my overall career progression , ultimately encouraging me to broaden my horizons by looking across the Atlantic Ocean for future opportunities.
Much like how an actor dreams of working in Hollywood, I envisioned myself working on Savile Row in London - in fact, it was the pursuit of this dream that allowed me convince my new wife to move across the world with me. I’ll forever be grateful that she took that leap of faith with me.
Life in London
Life on the other side of Pond wasn’t always glamorous. When I first arrived, I knocked on door after door, hoping to be taken on as an apprentice, but I was ultimately met with countless rejections.
I eventually found a mentor in John DuBoise, who was often subcontracted by various Savile Row houses. It was this experience which helped build my toolkit as a versatile tailor.
While working in London, another one of my dreams came true - I applied to the biennial Golden Shears Competition, often referred to as ‘the Oscars of the tailoring world’, and was selected as a top 20 finalist. Although I didn’t win, it gave me the confidence in myself to believe that I was moving forward in the right direction as part of my journey.
Back Home
I moved back home to Toronto in 2015 where today, I take great pride in the work that goes into designing and cutting everything that I touch. Ensuring the highest level of fit and and craftsmanship is central to my ethos as as a tailor - I would love for you to come by and see our work first-hand.
Sebastian Richard Espinosa
