Kilby, a New Orleans-based custom menswear atelier, approaches tailoring through a process centered on personal consultation, craftsmanship, and long-term wearability. Founded by husband-and-wife team James Collier and Kristen Engelsen Collier, the company creates made-to-measure garments designed around personal style. According to the founders, the business was shaped by New Orleans culture, where hospitality and creative expression often intersect.
James explains that custom clothing had been part of his professional life for years before Kilby opened. Kristen notes that after working together at another menswear company, they decided to launch their own atelier on Magazine Street, focused on menswear with an emphasis on slow fashion and personalization. She recalls that they wanted to create a space that reflected their own perspective on tailoring and client relationships.
"We wanted people to walk in and feel comfortable immediately," Kristen says. "The process is personal, and the clothing should feel connected to the person wearing it."
From the founders' perspective, Kilby was designed to move away from transactional retail experiences and toward a slower, more collaborative model. Clients typically spend close to two hours inside the showroom during their first appointment. James explains that consultations involve discussions about fabrics, fit preferences, lifestyle needs, and how clients want to present themselves professionally and socially. Measurements are then taken by hand before garments are produced through a made-to-measure process.
Kristen says the atmosphere inside the showroom reflects the company's broader philosophy around hospitality and connection. Clients are encouraged to bring family members or friends into the process, and the founders frame the atelier as an extension of their home environment.
According to the founders, many customers return over time to build wardrobes gradually, whether they are purchasing a wedding suit, seasonal jackets, or long-term professional staples.
The company's aesthetic also reflects a combination of regional influence and European tailoring traditions. Kristen frames Kilby's style as relaxed and designed for the climate and pace of the Gulf South. She explains that the atelier works with fabrics sourced largely from Italian mills alongside established British textile houses. Softer construction, breathable materials, and understated structure are central to the garments James designs for clients.
Industry reporting has shown growing interest in garment longevity and repair-focused fashion purchasing in response to concerns about textile waste and overproduction. Consumers increasingly value quality and durability when making luxury purchases. The founders say Kilby's approach aligns with that shift because garments are designed to remain in rotation for years instead of seasons.
James explains that the business has also begun expanding beyond its New Orleans showroom. According to the founders, trunk shows in other cities have become an important part of reaching new clients while maintaining the company's consultation-based model. Kristen says this broader awareness has also supported geographic expansion as Kilby develops additional e-commerce offerings focused on accessories and signature garments.
The founders explain several new projects currently in development, including handmade leather goods produced in Louisiana and silk accessories created with Italian artisans. Kristen explains that many of the designs incorporate visual references connected to New Orleans culture, art, and architecture. She says the broader goal is to create products that reflect the same sense of craftsmanship and intentionality found in the atelier's tailoring work.
For James and Kristen Collier, the business remains closely tied to the city where it began. Kristen says New Orleans continues to shape the company's identity because of its emphasis on creativity and human connection.
"People want experiences that feel real and personal," she says. "That is what we hope Kilby represents through the clothing and through the relationships we build with clients."
