Film & Theatre Tailoring & Costume Work in Toronto

Philip Sparks has a long history of storytelling, making and design in film and theatre. Philip Sparks got his start in tailoring as an apprentice to Chris Read, cutter at the National Ballet of Canada. He then spent time apprenticing in the wardrobe departments at the Canadian Opera Company and in the design departments at the Stratford Festival, I.A.T.S.E., N.A.B.E.T., Seamless Costumes (Mirvish) and Soul Pepper Theatre. His team understands the pressures and deadlines involved in this industry, and we love a challenge. Please feel free to contact us, whatever your production needs.

Artist and Choreographer Brendan Fernandes in a Bespoke Philip Sparks Tuxedo

Tailoring and Costume Work for Film and Theatre

  • Here at Philip Sparks Tailored Goods Inc. we specialize in period tailoring, from 1700s French justaucorps, Victorian hunting and Norfolk suits and mid-20th century pieces. We can work with any body type and any gender including children’s tailored costumes. Whether it’s a piece that has to last for multiple daily performances and accommodate movement or it’s something that needs to be done quickly and look sharp on screen, we have a wide range of experience.

  • Need a copy or reproduction of a garment? Our tailors understand how to reverse engineer existing pieces, whether it’s a reproduction from an image, a historical garment that needs to be reproduced, or the need for a “double” that’s going to be “blown up” and requires multiple copies for different stages of breakdown.

  • We make all types of tailored garments: suits, coats, shirts, tuxedos, Norfolk jackets, jeans, workwear, trousers, vests and overcoats with any period accuracy. We have also made body coats, capes, cloaks, opera coats, western wear, wrestling uniforms, contemporary, futuristic and other specialty garments. Ask our tailors. We can make almost any tailored garment.

  • We have two 19th century Cornely free motion embroidery machines that are capable of chainstitch, lockstitch and trim applications that can produce almost endless three-dimensional embroidery designs. Learn more about our custom and bespoke embroidery services.

  • If you have a historical piece that needs special care in its alterations, ask our tailors. We have experience in period construction and understand the nuances of getting inside a potentially fragile historical piece to make it just right for the artist who needs to perform in it.

Working with Costume Designers and Production Teams

Here in our Toronto Tailoring Studio, we have experience working with costume designers, production teams, artists and directors in many ways. Whether it’s working from a detailed sketch, a mood board or talking through concepts from scratch, we collaborate to ensure the story is being beautifully told, the artist feels confident in the character, and we are meeting the vision of the costume designer, artistic director, director and studio.

Our studio is open to hosting fittings with larger groups or travelling for on-site fittings. We can work from measurements that are provided and we can travel to take them ourselves. We can provide materials for a build, but can also work with materials that are provided. We understand the tight deadlines of this industry as well as the tight availability of artists. Talk to our team about your request and deadlines and we will work to accommodate your needs.

Selected Film & Theatre Credits

  • 2026 Tailor/Cutter, GTFU Music Video, Artist-TALK, Director-Jack Sjogren, Costume Designer- Murphy Macdonald-Rea, Summer Camp Music Publishing Ltd., Toronto

    2026 Tailor/Cutter, Juno Awards, Host-Mae Martin’s Tuxedos, Director- Dave Russell, Stylist- Nadia Pizzimenti, Insight Productions, Hamilton

    2024 Tailor/Cutter, Juno Awards, Performer- TALK Costumes, Director- Dave Russell, Costume Designer- Murphy Macdonald-Rea, Insight Productions, Halifax

    2024  Tailor/Cutter, Cross Season 2, Episode 1, Harrow, Director-Craig Siebels, Costume Designer-Stacy Beverly, Amazon, Toronto

    2021 Tailor/Cutter, What we do in the Shadows Season 3, Directors - Yana Gorskaya and Kyle Nawacheck, Costume Designer- Laura Montgomery, FX, Toronto

    2019 Tailor/Cutter, Polar, Director- Jonas Åkerland, Costume Designer – Lea Carlson, Netflix, Toronto

    2001-2002 Textile Artist- Film and Theatre, Marjory Fielding- Business Founder/Wardrobe Supervisor/The National Ballet Chrome yellow Inc. (Toronto, Ontario)

  • 2026 Tailor/Cutter, Rigoletto, Director- Christopher Alden, Costume Designer- Michael Levine, Canadian Opera Company, Toronto

    2025 Tailor/Cutter, Roméo et Juliette, Director- Amy Lane, Costume Designer-Emma Roytt, Canadian Opera Company, Toronto

    2023  Tailor/ Cutter, Amen Corner, Director- Kimberley Rampersad, Costume Designer- A.W. Nadine Grant, Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-lake

    2023  Tailor/ Cutter, The Shadow of a Doubt, Director- Peter Hinton-Davis, Designer- Gilliam Gallow, Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-lake

    2023  Tailor/ Cutter, Apple Cart, Director- Eda Holmes, Designer Judith Bowden, , Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-lake

    2023  Tailor/ Cutter, Gypsy, Director – Jay Turvey, Designer- Cory Sincennes, , Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-lake

    2016 Tailor/ Cutter- Breath of Kings, Directors- Weyni Mengesha and Mitchell Cushman, Costume Designer- Yannik Larivee, The Stratford Shakspearian Festival, Stratford

    2004 Breakdown Artist- Translations, Mary-Jo Carter Dodd- Head of Wardrobe, Soulpepper Theatre Company, Toronto

    2004 Cutter/ Pattern Maker- Romeo and Juliet, Astrid Janson- Costume Designer, SHAKESPEAREWORKS, Toronto

    2004 Stitcher- The Producers, 2004, Sharon Secord- Wardrobe Supervisor, Seamless Costumes, Toronto

    2003-2004 Assistant Costume Coordinator, Carol Holland- Wardrobe Supervisor, The Canadian Opera Company, Toronto

  • 2008 Costume Designer- Dissolver, Choreographer- Christopher House, Toronto Dance Theatre (Toronto, Ontario)

    2001-2003 Tailor, Christopher Read- Cutter, Marjory Feilding- Wardrobe Supervisor, The National Ballet of Canada, Toronto

  • 2007 Assistant Set Designer- Oklahoma, Donna Feore- Director, Patrick Clark- Designer, The Stratford Shakspearian Festival, Stratford

    2007 Assistant Designer- Ghosts, Dianna LeBlanc- Director, Charlotte Dean- Designer, The Stratford Shakspearian Festival Stratford

    2006 Assistant Set Designer- Oliver, Donna Feore- Director, Santo Loquasto- Designer, The Stratford Shakspearian Festival, Stratford

    2006 Assistant Set Designer- Coriolanus, Antoni Chimilino- Director, Santo Loquasto- Designer, The Stratford Shakspearian Festival, Stratford

    2005 Assistant Designer- The Brothers Karamazov, Richard Rose- Director, Charlotte Dean Costume designer, Graeme Thompson- Set Designer, The Stratford Shakspearian Festival, Stratford

    2006 Assistant Costume Designer-Guys and Dolls, Debra Hanson-Costume Designer, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Winnipeg

    2006 Model Making- Hair, Danny Lyne- Set Designer, Canadian Stage, Toronto

    2005 Model Making- Humble Boy, Richard Rose- Director, Charlotte Dean- Set and Costume Designer, Tarragon Theatre, Toronto

    2005 Set and Costume Designer-Trying, Randy Read- Director, New Stages Theatre, Ontario

    2004 Assistant Costume Designer- As You Like It, Michael Gianfrancesco- Costume designer, Theatre by the Bay, Barrie

CAFTCAD Member

Philip Sparks Tailored Goods Inc. is a proud member of CAFTCAD, the Canadian Alliance of Film & Television Costume Arts & Design. CAFTCAD brings together professionals working across Canada's costume and screen industries and provides a forum for professional development, networking, education and the promotion of Canadian costume artists and craftspeople. Philip Sparks has served as a jury member for the CAFTCAD Awards and hosted events for the organization at its Junction studio in Toronto.

Film and Theatre Work at a Glance

Location: Toronto
Studio: Junction, Toronto's west end
Industry: Film, television and theatre
Services: Tailoring, costume construction and specialty garments
Experience: 20-plus years in film, theatre and costume production
Membership: CAFTCAD