Bespoke, break, and button stance are all elements of a classic suit. Flannel and fleece serve their function, but a good suit is a closet staple. James Proby, owner and operator of The Men’s Xchange, is decoding the fashion jargon and making owning a suit easier for Coloradoans of all makes and models.
Although we know that the clothes don’t make the person, Proby explains they can create hurdles when it comes to conscious and unconscious bias of others. The Men’s Xchange is committed to removing the barrier of professional fashion and championing the value of effort in presentation.
“Effort is everything,” Proby expresses. “It’s impossible to prove to me that you gave your best effort in a hoodie.”
The Men’s Xchange was a concept developed to meet a need. Proby was working in employment services when he realized the challenge in dressing men for interviews. A good suit was hard to find, and frequently out of the budget for those he was working with. Research showed that there were donation centers for women to obtain professional clothing, but nothing for men. Creating the concept from scratch made the business plan a bit of a challenge.
Persistent, he refined his vision and started a GoFundMe in 2016. Upon securing two large menswear donations from a couple generous families, and meeting the minimum threshold of the GoFundMe, the doors opened to the public. On July 7, 2017, The Men’s Xchange started inclusively providing tailoring for customers. The suits are almost all donated and the shop offers in-house fitting and tailoring, as well. Recently, new suits have been incorporated in sizes that aren’t normally carried in stores to ensure there is something for everyone.
Proby recollects that prior to the 1990s, department stores had staff available to assist in shopping to a correct fit. Now, those services are only offered in specialty settings. The goal of this shop is to be a third space of sorts, removing the guesswork and intimidation of men’s fashion.
Clientele over the years have included judges, lawyers and doctors, as well as those coming out of incarceration and addiction. Each customer is treated with respect, dignity, excellent customer service and expertise. Nothing in the store is priced over $50 and every customer receives a personal fitting, as well as a dated card to take home with their measurements.
Proby saw the opportunity to make an impact and incorporate this social enterprise into the fabric of his hometown to meet a need for the greater community. His mantra is “Be better” and he is leading by example.
Website: http://www.themensxchange.com/
Facebook + Instagram: @mensxchange