In this series, we are proud to bring you interviews with the operators, supervisors, and managers who have dedicated their lives to the craft of tailoring. Enjoy.
How old are you?
I was born in December, 1957. How old is that?
Old enough to work here. And how long have you been at RTC?
From 2004.
And where did you come from? And when did you come to the US?
Albania. 2004—I came to work by contract. The name of the company was Hickey Freeman. I was brought here by Bruno (Castagna, EVP of Hickey Freeman from 1985-2008) and the other top professionals. I started tailoring in 1973 at sixteen. I did master’s school, four years of professional school for tailoring.
Could you tell me the story again, how you came to Rochester?
When the company contracted us, it was four people who came. Me, my wife, and another family. I sold my tailor shop in Albania. In Albania, I built my house from the ground—and the first floor was a tailoring room and a cutting room. I only enjoyed my house for two years, then Sotiraq (pant shop manager) brought me over. I knew him from professional school, my good friend.
What did you think when you first got here?
When I came over here, you know what I said? Let’s try. One month, one year, the next year—I never moved from here. The children grow up, they go to school, they go into work. Now, they’ve finished school and they are married. I am still here.
How many children do you have? What do they do?
Two—a boy and a girl. They’re here in Rochester. They’re good workers.
What do you like the most about Rochester?
The weather is similar, like my city. I like it, I like it.
What do you like about Rochester Tailored Clothing?
I like RTC because it’s my life, tailoring. I was sixteen years old when I started this job. And when I started? My professor put my machine at the window. I would watch my friends--they played soccer outside. My professor said to me, "If you want to be a tailor, you can’t watch them." He closed the window, he turned the machine the other way. You have to watch your people, you have to watch the workers, you have to be a tailor. You have to pay attention to work.
What does it mean to you—we have it posted all over the factory—"Keep the quality up"?
This is important. Quality is the first word. If you just say, "This is fine, that’s fine, just let it go the way it is…", we are going down. Quality is the top.
How would you describe what you do in your part of the coat shop?
I have always been in the coat shop. I was quality manager for the entire third floor. Now I am supervisor for basting canvas. We put together the canvas, the base of the coat. We press it into shape and attach it to the front of the coat.
Did you ever worry about the future of the factory? We've been bought, sold, changed-
Of course it’s going to survive. If quality is up, and the work is correct, and the people are working correct, of course we survive. If we let the quality slip, that’s when we’re finished.