{"id":67048,"date":"2025-10-22T11:39:34","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T07:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/?post_type=articles&p=67048"},"modified":"2025-10-22T11:40:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T07:40:09","slug":"suited-booted-interview","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/suited-booted-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"The GRAZIA Career Edit: Meet The Founders Of Dubai’s Leading Bespoke Tailoring House"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Suited
Photo: Supplied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If there’s one thing the GRAZIA team has come to discover about the UAE, it’s that we love all things bespoke. Whether it’s a dining experience, a unique luxury offering, an exclusive fine jewellery piece, or a rare handbag. The list goes on… And this certainly rings true for the art of tailored clothing.<\/p>\n

It was around eight years ago that a gap for such a thing was noticed in the UAE market by Calvin Smith and Ryan Smith, who are now the co-founders and the co-managing directors of Suited & Booted, which they launched in 2017 with the mission “to build the best tailoring house in the world”, as Calvin tells GRAZIA.<\/p>\n

Initially specialising in men’s suiting, Suited & Booted has not only expanded in its offering, but its reach. With two boutiques in the UAE – one in Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai – and an expansive team, the bespoke tailoring house now covers womenswear, casual suiting, tuxedos and weddings.<\/p>\n

In this edition of the GRAZIA career edit, discover more about the building of the UAE-based tailoring house over the last eight years and what goes into creating a bespoke business in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

My current role is…<\/h4>\n

RS Managing Director, Suited & Booted<\/p>\n

CS: Managing Director, Suited & Booted<\/p>\n

When I was younger, I wanted to be\u2026<\/h4>\n

RS: I actually wanted to work in a suit. Growing up, I had an uncle who drove a classic Jaguar and was always in a suit – I always associated wearing a suit with success.<\/p>\n

CS: When I was younger, I didn\u2019t have a fixed idea of what I wanted to become – only a strong drive to achieve and succeed, whatever path that might take me on.<\/p>\n

My favourite subject at school was\u2026<\/h4>\n

RS: PE – sitting still has never been my thing.<\/p>\n

CS: History – it was the one subject that I found genuinely interesting and engaging.<\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

My first job was\u2026<\/h4>\n

RS: I started out sweeping hair in my Mum\u2019s barber shop, which was my first real taste of work life.<\/p>\n

CS: My first job was with HMRC – a very different start compared to where I am now.<\/p>\n

My career path so far has been\u2026<\/h4>\n

RS: My background is in sales; I moved to Dubai at 21 and by the age of 24 had founded a tailoring business that has grown into what Suited & Booted is today.<\/p>\n

CS: I built my career in luxury sales, developing a deep understanding of premium clients and the standards expected in the high-end market.<\/p>\n

The role the UAE has played in my career is\u2026<\/h4>\n

CS: The UAE\u2019s business culture is truly unique, the network and community we\u2019ve built here have been integral to the journey and growth of the brand so far.<\/p>\n

RS: The UAE is a place that cultivates success, where people genuinely want to see one another win. It\u2019s a country that can transform your life in ways you never thought possible.<\/p>\n

The story of Suited and Booted is\u2026<\/h4>\n

RS: In 2018, I identified a clear gap in the market here in Dubai for premium bespoke tailoring with an elevated experience, and that\u2019s when the idea for Suited & Booted was born.<\/p>\n

CS: From the moment we went into business together, our vision has always been the same – to build the best tailoring house in the world.<\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

I was inspired to enter into the fashion space because\u2026<\/h4>\n

CS: My interest in both business and clothing naturally led me to combine the two through an entrepreneurial venture in fashion.<\/p>\n

RS: I\u2019ve always been drawn to the power of dressing well, and quickly recognised the opportunity to channel that passion into building a business that helps others feel the same confidence and boost that comes from looking sharp.<\/p>\n

My daily routine consists of\u2026<\/h4>\n

CS: We have a number of major projects currently in motion, so each day is completely different – the constant always remains a focus on how we are driving the business forward.<\/p>\n

RS: Every day is dedicated to building Suited & Booted to be the leading bespoke tailoring brand in the world.<\/p>\n

My role at Suited and Booted entails\u2026<\/h4>\n

RS: My role is really focused on the customer journey – making sure every client feels at home with us and leaves not just with a suit, but with an experience they\u2019ll remember.<\/p>\n

CS: A key part of my role is ensuring the product delivers on every level – from sourcing world-class fabrics and refining our tailoring standards, to continuously evolving our range in line with our clients\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n

<\/blockquote>\n

The biggest hurdle I have experienced in my career\u2026<\/h4>\n

RS: In the early days, the biggest hurdle to overcome was building a company from scratch with no capital and no formal business background.<\/p>\n

CS: The most significant challenge so far has been in the expansion of the brand, as anyone who has scaled a business knows, it brings immense responsibility and complexity.<\/p>\n

The biggest milestone I have achieved is\u2026<\/h4>\n

CS: A defining milestone has been our global expansion, particularly taking Suited & Booted back to Scotland – bringing the brand home last year was a proud moment.<\/p>\n

RS: What began as a start-up has quickly evolved into a market-leading brand, and it\u2019s been really amazing to see Suited & Booted gain recognition well beyond our home market.<\/p>\n

A quote I live by is\u2026<\/h4>\n

RS: The Latin phrase \u201cFacta non verba\u201d, which translates to \u201cDeeds not Words\u201d<\/p>\n

CS: \u201cThe best is yet to come\u201d.<\/p>\n

What I hope for 2025 is\u2026<\/h4>\n

RS: We have a number of very exciting things in the works, all to be revealed very soon.<\/p>\n

CS: I\u2019m excited to welcome our healthy baby boy in December.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42685,"featured_media":67049,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[65,35],"yoast_head":"\nMeet The Founders Of Dubai's Leading Tailoring House, Suited & Booted<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this edition of the GRAZIA career edit, discover more about the building of the UAE-based tailoring house over the last eight years and what goes into creating a bespoke business in the Middle East.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/suited-booted-interview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The GRAZIA Career Edit: Meet The Founders Of Dubai's Leading Bespoke Tailoring House\" \/>\n<meta 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