In an unassuming office park off Mockingbird Lane, in the shadow of Love Field, lies the one and only showroom for J. Hilburn, a Dallas-based men’s fashion company that aims to make luxury clothing relatively affordable. Previously only available by appointment, the showroom is now open to the public.
Founded in 2007 by two former Wall Street workers, J. Hilburn proclaims to be the world’s fastest-growing luxury men’s brand by offering what few others can: custom-fit clothing at prices that are dwarfed by luxury retail stores. Shirts from J. Hilburn range anywhere from $99-$169 — nearly half the cost for similar pieces elsewhere.
Essentially they keep costs down by cutting out the middle man: J. Hilburn buys material directly from noted manufacturers like Albini, Liberty of London, Tessitura Monti and Thomas Mason, passing along the savings they get by ordering wholesale to the customer.
Thousands of independent personal stylists help customers choose shirts, pants, sweaters and suits, measuring every inch to ensure the best fit possible. Once one order is placed, customers can then go online and reorder whatever their heart desires, knowing that the company will use their saved measurements to deliver the same custom fit over and over.
Until recently, though, this was an experience men could only have in their homes or offices. But now, with the J. Hilburn showroom open to the public, anyone can walk in off the street and start the fitting process. Instead of stylists just showing customers pictures and swatches of fabric, the storefront is a place where customers can see the high-end results in person.
Of course, the business being what it is, you can’t just come in and leave with clothes on the same day. Each customer is walked through the fitting process, which is extensive, and orders the pieces he wants. The clothes will arrive via mail two to three weeks later.
The company used to focus solely on shirts, but it has gradually added other pieces to its selection; now J. Hilburn sells everything but shoes. Choices on customization can be dizzying and daunting; on shirts, there can be 150 choices to make, including type of collar, type of button, thread color for buttons and button holes, monograms, and more.
The new showroom enables J. Hilburn to sell almost double what it would otherwise. Most men ordering through a stylist or online would stop at a shirt or two, but they often go with extra pieces once they’re surrounded by the goods.
In addition to the Dallas showroom, J. Hilburn has staged pop-up shops in New York City and trunk shows in various cities as another way to bring the brand to the people. But for now, Dallas is the only city where men can get a firsthand view of what this brand of affordable luxury looks like.
The J. Hilburn showroom is open Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday, 9:30 am-6 pm, and Thursdays, 9:30 am-8 pm.
J. Hilburn offers not only custom shirts, but also sports jackets, jeans, pants, sweaters and more.
