Fashion is art at J3 Clothing Co. Sumptuous John Varvatos Collection leather belts ($165) are arranged in a basket-weave pattern atop a counter, while reclaimed wormy chestnut barn wood forms a notched backdrop for a row of double-sided, handmade Edward Armah bowties ($105). A masculine vibe permeates, from the flat-screen TV near the wet bar to the angular lines of the modern furniture sprinkled throughout the space. It's man cave meets MOMA, and it's got a little something for every guy.
"We wanted to bring in fresh, new products for a younger mentality," says co-owner JB Dunn. "We wanted to make guys who are 25 to 55 feel comfortable in the environment."
Dunn and his fellow co-owners, Jack Madda and Joe Paster, have a combined 65 years of retail experience to draw from, and it shows in the collections they've amassed. The shelves are stocked with familiar names, from the Armani shirts and suits to the John Varvatos jean jacket ($278) and Donald Pliner wingtips trimmed in neon orange ($298). But alongside those big names, customers can discover the small names that get Dunn so excited — such as Aether Apparel, a line of technical clothing created by two documentary filmmakers from Los Angeles. A cool, black three-season jacket ($395) is devoid of logos. The designers were sick of feeling like walking billboards, so their pieces are the ultimate in sleek, low-profile design.
You'll also find dozens of brands of dress shirts, as well as a dedicated area for custom tailoring.
"A great portion of our business is what we call, 'made to measure,' " says Dunn, who started his career at Geiger's Ski & Sport Haus and Barneys of New York before spendings almost two decades as a buyer for Kilgore Trout. "One of the misnomers out there is that 'custom' means expensive. I could probably make you a shirt for less than I could sell you one."
And that's the key, Dunn notes. A dress shirt here is going to start around $135 — pricier, perhaps, than a department store, but more affordable than many other Northeast Ohio men's boutiques.
"It's not about selling a $300 shirt," he says. "We're a relationship-driven business, and we're much more interested in selling you the right things, the things you're really going to enjoy."
When You Go
J3 Clothing Co.
34105 Chagrin Blvd., Moreland Hills,
216-285-0555, j3clothingcompany.com
Nearby Find
Oscar Giovanni Salon and Spa, right next door, also caters to the male population. Services include men's cuts and manicures as well as sports massages and chest waxing. 34105 Chagrin Blvd., 216-896-0839, oscargiovannisalon.com
