Meet Richard Taylor | Suitmaker and Founder of The Custom Clothier Academy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Richard Taylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Richard, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
I would love to be able to have created a business that my children can take over, should they choose to. I don’t want to build something solely for my benefit. Growing up and graduating from High School I had to work full-time and go to school full-time. Juggling both was extremely difficult, but I wanted to have enough money to care for my needs and get skills by way of college. So my end goal is to make that path easier for the next generation.

I also have started a program, The Custom Clothier Academy, that is helping other aspiring tailors and designers to get into the field of custom clothing. Fast fashion has destroyed the environment and created a stockpile of unused clothing. I truly believe that custom clothing is better made, creates a better customer experience and sustainable for the environment because we only produce what is needed as opposed to mass produced products.

With my Custom Clothier Academy I am training others and helping them achieve their goals which is so rewarding. Seeing other people create their own brand brings me so much joy because I know that I am making a real impact on lives.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business, Harrison Blake Apparel has been around since 2014, providing men with high quality accessories and neckties, as well as custom suits, overcoats and more. This year, 2023, I launched The Custom Clothier Academy, a training course, coaching program and resource for all things in the world of custom. SO, if you are a person who loves suits and has dreamed of creating a brand, you can now do so, with my assistance and tutelage. I am giving clients access to fabric, manufacturing, knowledge and one on one training so that they can win in this exciting industry! By joining, the curtain is pulled back and all the industry “secrets” are revealed allowing others to overcome the barrier of entry into this business.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would certainly start by taking them downtown Detroit and show them the amazing boardwalk and all the revitalization that is taking place. We would most likely attend a sporting event. I am a huge sports fan! We would consume some Detroit style pizza and some of the local craft breweries and distilleries that have made a name for themself in the area. I think people from outside of Michigan would be very impressed with the direction that the city is heading in.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would have to shoutout many of my digital mentors. Jim Rohn has a quote that says, “if you give enough people what they want, then you’ll get everything that you want.” That quote stuck with me and thats when I decided to no longer be a gatekeeper in a pretty private industry of custom clothing and suit making. Shout out to the innovators that had an idea and executed on it. So many entrepreneurs have inspired me over the years. I’ll list a few of my favorites here. Marcus Lemonis, Jim Rohn, Les Brown, Gary Vaynerchuk, Eric Thomas and others have inspired me to live each day with positivity and truly believe that I can achieve anything. That message has changed my life.

Website: www.customclothieracademy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearlapelpins/?hl=en

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZsIU2hAUrUIfoY6gzQHHag

Image Credits
Sydnie Taylor