When I was younger, I used to wear my grandfather's Harris Tweed winter coat. He was a Furrier in the Manhattan times of luxury and style during the early part of the 20th Century, and every suit he owned and every piece he made was made to last forever. I gave up that coat a few years ago to a friend because another friend had convinced me that I should start wearing things that were more feminine, but I still miss that coat on cold winter days when the wet and chill go through you because complete with a mohair lining that zipped out there was nothing that could keep me warmer and dryer and still looking dressed for success. I've always been a fan of wearing men's clothing - I'm tall with long legs and the cut of men's clothing was traditionally much more comfortable for me. But trends in recent years have created styles in men's dressing that have changed the way that clothing is created and worn so now it's often difficult for me to find a perfect fit. Discovering Genuardi Tailor has opened up a new world for me because there is something very special happening in Joseph Genuardi's workshop.
A Graduate with Honors from Carnegie Mellon University, he pursued his interest in fashion by apprenticing with the internationally acclaimed Master Tailor Joseph Centofanti, learning the arts of hand sewing, fitting, pressing, pattern drafting and cutting. Because of his diligence and dedication, while with Centofanti he progressed to the position of Tailor, then Cutter, Fitter and Manager, moving to New York in 2011 to become Head Tailor at Martin Greenfield Clothiers, one of the most highly esteemed made-to-measure clothing makers in the world. While at Martin Greenfield, Joseph Genuardi was Tailor to President Barak Obama, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, President Donald Trump, and numerous TV and film actors including Robert De Niro, Johnny Depp, James Spader and Steve Buscemi, as well as many star athletes. He has been featured on National Public Radio, in the Philadelphia Enquirer and the Times Herald, and in other print and web publications, and was also featured in the documentary film, "Men of the Cloth," a documentary of Italian Master Tailors.
When I met with him the other day I was reminded of my favorite Beatrix Potter story from childhood, "The Tailor of Gloucester," because of the intricate work that he does. In that story the Tailor is so well respected that he is asked to make a suit for the marriage of the Mayor of Gloucester, but something goes awry as can happen and he becomes too ill to finish it. It is an important commission that could change his life forever for the better, and there are some mice in his workshop who respect him for his kindness and hard work and they go to work to complete the embroidery, the hand sewing and seaming, and make such a perfect garment that the tailor's reputation is even greater than before. This is the kind of painstaking work that Joseph Genuardi does, and this is the feeling in his workshop - there is a timeless quality as well as a feeling of old world craftsmanship melding with the haute couture styles of today. With each design he creates there is a love for attention to detail and individual style of the customer that makes each piece a masterpiece that will last for generations. This is bespoke tailoring at its finest, with the true love of fabric and a history of the craft lending knowledge to a very personal vision of excellence.
Joseph Genuardi, Master Tailor
Genuardi Tailor
Genuardi Tailor
300 Observer Highway
Hoboken, New Jersey
Blessings,
Jannie Susan
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