About us
I have always admired and reminisced the Renaissance and have often thought of the great craftsmen and merchants of the 14th century as they were challenged by the same requirements as their counterparts are today says Alam Najiullah. ”They had to possess a discerning eye for the best, an ability to detect the slightest flaw, and a consuming desire for perfection. They had restricted access to the raw materials of the world, transportation and communications were slow, and markets were small; in compensation they had a readily available force of skilled workmen who had been trained through the apprentice system
These craftsmen of the Renaissance knew that quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort says Alam Najiullah and this belief of the yester years craftsmen provided Najiullah for setting upon him-self the herculean task of balancing the quality standards of the yester years with mass production techniques of today.
After the completion of his studies in Business Administration, Alam tried a few businesses other then fashion but soon realized their limiting potential and in 1992 launched his personal style in the form of COTTON & COTTON, combining a new approach with a classic stylish cut giving it the unmistakable stamp of Neapolitan tailoring.
Over the last 21 years, first-time entrepreneur Syed Alam Najiullah has steadily turned COTTON & COTTON that began due to a NO from a tailor into a next generation fashion company with acquisition of Just White Shirts at Toronto’s Leslies street and Shirt Store in June 2007 on New York’s Madison Avenue.
But the path from a small tailoring unit to Toronto and Madison Avenue fashion scene was anything but linear. Along the way, Alam experimented with a number of different models, making a series of strategic pivots – some more successful than others.
It’s been a trip of passion, but it has not been a quick trip. Nor has it been easy. And that is the truth’. The designer is the gold standard in high-end men’s formal wear, worn by everyone from Presidents to Broadway Shows actors in New York City. Today COTTON & COTTON is a powerhouse that has grown from a single tailoring unit into a fashion and lifestyle empire that spans a wide range of product segments – from a US $650 shirt to ready to wear – at price points that stretch from luxury to mass market.
If there is one thing you can say about the world today, it’s that we are all becoming increasingly connected. For COTTON & COTTON, the idea of personal communication with their customers is nothing new. When Alam opened his first store, back in 1992, he built his success through an ongoing dialogue with each one of his clients. We still believe that is the best way to go about our business. Maintaining that one – on – one communication lets us understand an individual man’s needs and personal taste in clothing and can better advise him on how to put together a wardrobe that allows him to feel well attired and confident in every aspect of his busy life.
What is amazing to me is the how that dialogue has evolved in recent years, thanks to the extraordinary growth of communication technology. Today, I see our clothing advisors texting their clients on a regular basis and sending e pictures of merchandise with suggestions of how it might complement their wardrobes. Our goal is to stay in touch with you in whatever ways you prefer, whether it is my email, direct mail or the good old telephone, as well as through our virtual network and brand new state of the art website.
