Water's Edge

Haberdasher is a Cut Above

by Wini Rider Young
Photographer Ed Hall

On London's Savile Row, it's called bespoke. On New York's Madison Avenue, it's referred to as custom made.

On America's First Coast, it's known as Alan Vinson.

It's the business of providing men with made-to-mesure and custom-made suits and shirts. And one that Alan, who calls himself a haberdasher, knows well. Although he's been in sales since he was 17 (he started out selling Bibles), Alan Always was interested in the clothing business.

He began 12 years ago by working for the Tom James Company, one of the largest custom clothing companies in the United States. In 2001, he started his own business, James Taylor Vinson Co., named for Alan's great-grandfather.


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  Florida Trend:

Well-Suited
Alan Vinson calls himself a “walking men’s clothing store.” He owns James Taylor Vinson Co. in Jacksonville, a by-appointment-only custom men’s clothing business. He dresses customers all over the state, from CEO's like Gary Chartrand of Acosta and John Byers of FPIC Insurance Group to sports figures like UF Gators head coach Billy Donovan, who donned a blue and orange regimental stripe tie — a gift from Vinson — the night his men’s basketball team won the NCAA Final Four this year...

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  The Championship Tie: 

Billy Donovan trusts James Taylor Vinson to coordinate his wardrobe including the tie he wore on the side line during the BIG game.