Our History
For more than 125 years J.H. Cutler has proudly upheld the time-honoured traditions of bespoke tailoring in Sydney, Australia.
Current Managing Director John Cutler is the fourth generation of his family to run a family business whose foundations are firmly planted in London's Savile Row, the home of bespoke tailoring.
The company story began in the mid 1800s, when the Cutler family, originally from the English Midlands, emigrated to Australia. Joseph Handel Cutler, an engineer by trade, found work in Ballarat during the time of the Victorian Gold Rush.
At that time his eldest son, also named Joseph Handel Cutler, was only six years old, and with no previous family history in the craft of tailoring it was surprising that, when he reached his teens, he made the decision to travel by Cobb & Co stagecoach to Sydney to become a tailor's apprentice.
The First Shop in 1884
It proved to be an inspired choice of career. In 1884 Joseph opened his first shop at 70 King Street in the heart of the city. J. H. Cutler prospered as Sydney grew, and continued to trade at the original site until the early 1900s when Joseph and his son Leslie Frederick Cutler moved to Bligh Street. In 1932 Leslie, who was now managing the company, moved to bigger premises, purchasing a terraced house at 7 Bligh Street close to Sydney's gentlemen's clubs and the city's financial heart, which the family firm occupied for a period of 50 years.
In the early 1930s bespoke tailors, and there were many in Sydney, considered themselves to be the undisputed arbiters of conservative, upper-class taste. Whilst it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when the firm began making clothes for society's elite, during this era leading identities including Australian Governors General, prime ministers and overseas dignitaries, were finding their way on to J. H. Cutler's customer list.
In her book " My Town- Sydney in the 1930s" Lydia Gill wrote, "In one of these houses was a well-known and excellent tailor patronised by my then boss: I think the name was Cutler. When paying this account for the boss, I was always given a chair while they made out a receipt (whatever happened to all these little 'thoughtfulnesses'?) The suits being paid for were usually about 25 pounds each- a house could be furnished for about fifty pounds. I was staggered, and really needed that chair so graciously produced."
In 1939 Leslie's son Bruce returned from London where he had been studying the trade to serve in New Guinea during the war and then to manage the family business at 7 Bligh Street until his retirement in 1976, by which time J. H. Cutler had traded in Bligh Street for over 70 years.
The World's Best Tailors
In 1988 J. H. Cutler was one of the few Australian businesses honoured by an invitation from the late Lord Lichfield to be featured in the inaugural edition of Courvoisier's Book of the Best, a bible for stylish international travellers. We also received further accolades, being included in lists compiled in the United States of the world's ten best tailors.
The company finally left Bligh Street in March 1994, moving to nearby O’Connell Street, one of Sydney’s most prestigious streets, where we spent time at two separate locations. In August 2008 the need for more space led to a move across the street, where we now occupy elegant private rooms on Level 6 at 12 O’Connell Street, a heritage listed art deco style building. Here in a private, discrete and relaxed environment we offer the same exceptional level of service and product quality that has delighted Australian and international clients for more than 125 years.
We feel honoured that this performance continues to be recognised by media in Australia and overseas, including Forbes, Axel Springer, Qantas Australian Way and Askmen.com, through our inclusion on lists of the world’s best bespoke tailors.
Our Client Services
We are pleased to offer our clients a comprehensive range of products and services by appointment:
- Bespoke Tailoring including
- Suits
- Dinner suits
- Morning suits
- Evening dress tails
- Jackets
- Blazers
- Waistcoats
- Trousers
- Plus fours
- Overcoats
Our Store Details
J. H. Cutler
Level 6
12 O'Connell Street
Sydney,
NSW 2000,
Australia
Telephone: (+61) 02 9232 7122
Facsimile: (+61) 02 9223 4535
Business Principal, Designer & Cutter: John H. Cutler
Opening Hours: John Cutler by appointment:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 9.30am to 5.30pm
Saturday By appointment only
Sunday Closed
Credit Cards:
We accept all major credit cards
Gift Certificates: J. H. Cutler Gift Certificates are available for purchase on request
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