They make the clothes that make the man.
The Clinton Hill bespoke tailoring shop Bindle and Keep, the subject of the new documentary “Suited,” is known for crafting clothing for transgender men and other gender non-conforming clients. But the founder of the business said that he did not pursue trans customers —the work just developed from treating people well.
“We never tried to corner the market,” said tailor Daniel Friedman. “Just by being open and accepting to everybody and making awesome suits for all body types, the demographic of the clientele changed. We began getting a lot of people who had been somewhat ostracized by the binary retail dynamic.”
The evolution in the business came shortly after Friedman partnered with transmasculine clothier Rae Tutera, who was inspired by getting a bespoke suit at the age of 25.
“I never expected that having a custom suit would be a gateway to me seeing and treating myself better, and allowing me to foster that energy to other people,” said Tutera.
Friedman took Tutera on as an apprentice, and word soon spread about the tailors who specialized in suits for those outside the gender binary.
Friedman’s philosophy that “a bespoke suit is a self-portrait in fabric,” has resulted in some singularly stunning garments featuring handcrafted collars with leaf-turned edges, hand-picked stitching, hidden pockets for change and iPhones, and two-piece, hand-finished waistbands.
The shop has a wide range of textiles, and will help customers sort through them to choose the best fabric. Prices can vary from $795–$1700 per suit, depending on the choice of cloth. It takes Bindle and Keep about eight weeks and three fittings to finish a suit, but as subjects of the documentary “Suited” can attest, it is well worth the wait.
Their business model is also setting an example for other businesses, said Friedman.
“It’s great to show other companies that by opening your business model to be all-inclusive, you can make clients feel good and have a rewarding career,” he said.
Bindle and Keep is located in Clinton Hill. For an appointment, call (917) 740–5002. www.bindl
