ABOUT US
Philip Sparks Tailored Goods Inc. has been producing the highest quality tailored goods in Toronto since 2007. We have a passion for the history of tailoring but our strength is our flexibility and an openness to evolve with new technology, trends and clients. We produce all patterns and garments in the same Junction neighbourhood studio where you’ll visit us for your fittings, allowing us to accommodate all genders and body types and offering a truly custom and collaborative experience.
Our specialty is in heritage tailoring with a Canadian perspective, blending British, French, Italian and North American tailoring schools as well as workwear techniques from Japan and beyond. We prioritize fit and the artisanship that goes into perfecting it. Advanced hand-sewing techniques are complimented by our collection of rare and antique machines. We offer exclusive suiting and shirting textiles from European mills, jacquards woven to order and workwear cloth that is still produced on vintage looms with natural dyes.
The Philip Sparks team values developing relationships with clients to build a wardrobe – sometimes in a single season, sometimes over years of appointments – and maintain its quality and fit, as well as individuals that seek out our expertise for life’s most special occasions.
OUR TEAM MEMBERS
Philip Sparks specializes in creating garments for a wide variety of body types and genders. Whether your preference is a more body conscious fit or a boxier silhouette, Sparks has the experience to ensure you feel confident and comfortable in your new pieces. He has been working in fashion since 1998 and his training includes an advanced diploma in fashion, a master’s degree in design, apprenticeships at the National Ballet of Canada and the Canadian Opera Company, and design work with the Stratford Festival of Canada. Today, Sparks also lectures on pattern cutting, tailoring and textiles with a focus on presenting and publishing creative work that explores concepts of fit and fitting in.
Craig Renaud is a senior tailor in the shop. He oversees complex construction projects and guides apprentices through their journey of building technical expertise. Renaud, who holds an advanced diploma in fashion design, has been with Philip Sparks Tailored Good Inc. since 2013 and has been engaged in garment construction since 2008. Renaud’s interests are historical garments and construction techniques, with a specialty in Victorian and 14th century fashion. If your piece has a period influence or complex detail, chances are it will pass through Renaud’s hands. At the studio, Renaud also leads our annual Blanket Coat Project, where volunteers come together to sew coats for the unhoused in Toronto.
Tom Symonds is an apprentice tailor starting his cutting journey. Tom arrived at the shop in early 2021 with a passion for garment making and learning, and has been with us ever since. With a strong interest in British tailoring, Symonds enjoys merging formal garments and workwear. He is developing his skills on the complex denim-specific machines in the shop while becoming well versed in the deep catalogue of denim textiles and workwear style details. Through Symonds’s apprenticeship, he has been perfecting his hand sewing skills while also learning how to mend garments in a creative and aesthetically pleasing fashion.
A former student of Sparks, Takuma Kobayashi has been with the shop since 2022. Kobayashi’s dedication to his craft is expressed through his passion for the smallest details and creating a balance between historical and contemporary design and construction. You can often find him practicing handsewn buttonholes or mastering our 19th century free motion embroidery machines.