photo by steed media service

Hey fellas, if you have searched in vain to find the right tailored look, master tailor Emil Jackson has a solution for you. While he takes clients at his South Side Chicago location, he will travel with his measuring tape if necessary. Jackson’s skill with a needle allows him to produce quality clothing, including suits, shirts, ties, and even some denim — pretty much everything a gentleman needs to build a polished wardrobe.

“I think in today’s society we get so busy with everything that we are doing and with casual Fridays not [having] a definitive definition, people often get confused on how to present themselves for an interview or a particular outing,” says Jackson.

Jackson’s varied experience has prepared him to handle any design request that comes his way. He has been in the industry for 20 years starting out as a model, and then transitioning into retail, where he worked for some of the city’s A-list retailers including Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue’s Men’s Store on Michigan Avenue, and Barney’s NY Chicago Co-Op Store in Lincoln Park. Jackson also interned with noted Chicago designer Hajji before he finally stepped out on his own. “People like my style and how I dress. People have a hard time putting together [a] particular look, European fit or cut — most African Americans have a hard time finding the right fit,” he says.

Jackson admits owning his own business has made him balance design and business pretty fast. “Since I’ve been coordinating people’s outfits, that part is easy for me, but trying to get the financing and the bottom line to match up is a whole different ballgame,” he says. -tony binns

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