Urbane Outfitters: Joseph's Custom Clothing for Men in Huntington

Long Island Business News, Jun 27, 2008 by Ambrose Clancy

Europe can be found in a second- floor space above a Radio Shack in Huntington Village.

At Joseph's Custom Clothing for Men on New York Avenue, German jeans, Italian shoes and English cloth, Veronese crystal wine glasses and carafes, plus fine 19th century etchings of European landmarks are all for sale.

Look closer, and America is represented, too. For some reason, three NFL helmets and an official NFL football don't seem out of place next to bolts of intricately patterned cloth, vividly colored ties spilling from a huge pottery bowl or supple leather luggage stacked against a wall. Perhaps the juxtaposition works because the setting looks like a modern men's club, where passions for style, business and sports meet.

Wendt, 39, who has sold menswear since he was 15, moved into the Huntington space in January. His custom made clothes adorn the physiques of 140 NFL players and 20 NFL head coaches, including the skippers of both New York franchises. Besides the jocks, there are another 200 or so clients who come for the perfectly fitted suit, sport coat or shirt.

A custom fit suit by Joseph's can run north of $3,000. It's not merely color, texture and fit that define a custom made suit, Wendt said, but the image and style you want to put across.

"There are certain looks, including a conservative look or a powerful look," he added. "I promise you'll be the best dressed person in the room. And you'll pay $2,000 less than the others."

Some clients splurge upwards of $40,000 annually for their wardrobe, while the average client will spend about $15,000 for suits, causal wear, shoes and accessories.

Business is good for custom clothes makers. Asked if his business is recession proof, Wendt pointed at a wall of pictures of athletes: "These guys are recession proof."

Irwin Tarlo of Huntington's Custom Shirts by Tarlow said he has had a particularly strong six months. Tarlow sells exactly measured dress shirts, from $150 to $300, with a minimum of four for first time customers.

His clientele is men who can't wriggle into a shirt off the rack or for "very upscale, very wealthy people," he said.

Thomas Miller of Woodbury's Thomas Miller, who has a "made to measure" division of his clothing store, said bad economic times often boosts sales, with customers looking for an edge through their image.

Also the death of the causal look around the turn of the century has helped his business.

Wendt doesn't stay put for long. His client base is not just Long Island, but nationwide. He logs over 125,000 miles a year to fit clients in homes and offices, hasn't missed a Super Bowl in 15 years, and is a fixture at every Pro Bowl.

Wendt crosses the pond at least twice a year on buying trips, purchasing cloth from mills in Italy and England, where the finest milled cloth in the world is produced, he believes.

"No one can touch them for quality and color," he said.

Wendt has seen the world due to a summer job at mall shoe store. Soon he was an assistant manger and then hit the road selling custom made ties. He moved to Southern California in 1989 to work for a custom made clothier. Success followed success.

"Everyone out there was going 10 miles and hour and I was going 110," he said.

Robert Sexton, an East Islip businessman who is put together like a linebacker, stopped in the shop recently for final fittings of a suit.

A long time customer, Sexton said that due to an intense weight training regimen he can't find quality clothes off the rack. He considers Wendt a friend and is in the shop twice a month.

"This sleeve is just a hair too long," Wendt said, making a mark on the feather-light material of the jacket.

Sexton's suit, like all others provided by Wendt, are measured in the shop and then the numbers are sent to upstate New York, where a family of Italian tailors, in business for more than 60 years, creates the garment.

Sexton stared at himself in the mirror. "Looks good, Joey."