J. H. Cutler, which has been owned by the Cutler family throughout this time, has entered its 131st continuous year of business as a bespoke tailor and shirt maker in Sydney. In addition, John Cutler is celebrating his 50th year in bespoke tailoring, having started working in the business with his father Bruce in 1965.
Here’s what he told Eltonjohnworld.com about his career and some of his better known customers. . . .
”The work I did for Elton was at a time when he was performing in Australia and New Zealand, staying at his favourite hotel in Sydney, under the harbour bridge and with a commanding view over the harbour and opera house. He had lost weight and was keen to have some of his performance clothing altered and restyled to reflect his current appearance.
”Most of the top concierges in Sydney are well aware of my abilities and history and so it was through their recommendation that I attended to his needs.
”I have had several other similar experiences with the likes of Rod Stewart, Boy George and Owen Wilson.
”The famous conductor, Sir Charles Mackerras was a very good client of mine and I made him many suits for performing and also several sets of White Tie garments for formal concerts.
”Having been in business for 131 years and being regarded as one who still is able to be considered the ‘Real Deal,’ we have made clothes for many others, including five Prime Ministers.”
A book about Cutler, Making the Cut, was recently published. It includes a couple of pages about working with Elton. There is also an older photograph of the singer.
The tailor adds: ”There are only 1000 limited edition, signed and numbered copies available at this time. There is another book, The Coat Route, written by Meg Lukens Noonan in America about my making a $50,000.00 Vicuna overcoat. She won the best non-fiction book for 2014 in America for this account.”