John Handel Lawson Cutler
John is the fourth generation of his family to take up the tailor’s shears. He joined the family business straight from school at 16 years of age. Even before that date he had shown a keen interest in tailoring. During his holidays from Sydney Grammar, he would visit the shop to learn about tailoring. He even made the occasional waistcoat for members of staff at the school.

At 18 John followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and father before him, and travelled to London, the home of bespoke tailoring. Whilst working at one of the world’s foremost woollen houses Dormeuil Freres, he got to know the tailors in Savile Row. He also attended the renowned Tailor and Cutter Academy in Gerrard Street, graduating in 1969.

He returned to work with his father Bruce in the family business before taking over the cutting in 1972 and as Managing Director in 1976.To this day John remains as designer, cutter, and Business Principal with more than 45 years experience.

John remarks that, “ I ventured into this rare trade with passion, knowing there would always be a buoyant demand at the top end of the market. There will always be those who insist on the very best.”

More than 45 years on that demand remains as robust as ever, and John continues to maintain the exacting standards and quality that have made J. H. Cutler synonymous with exclusive bespoke clothing.

Our Skilled Tailors
J. H. Cutler employs a highly skilled multi national team of craftsmen situated in workrooms close to our retail rooms in O’Connell Street. The team includes five jacket makers, two trouser makers and alteration hands.

Two of John’s most trusted lieutenants in his workroom are:

Leng Ngo – Work Room Foreman

Leng, a Chinese Cambodian, was born in Phnom Penh in 1967. His entire family including five brothers and three sisters survived the communist takeover of the city in 1975 but like all inhabitants they were forced out of the city by the victorious Khmer Rouge to live in the surrounding countryside.

Fortunately they were able to escape to neighbouring Vietnam and it was here at age 13 that Leng had his first experience of tailoring, spending half his day at school and the rest of the day learning to make shirts and trousers in a local business.

In 1986, sponsored by one of three brothers who had earlier sought refuge in Australia, Leng arrived in Sydney where he completed his schooling at Fairfield High School. In Year 10, with the assistance of his school counsellor, he secured a week’s work experience in the workroom of J. H. Cutler. The following year, impressed by Leng’s skill, attitude and ambition, John had no hesitation in employing him when he applied for a full time job with the company.

After joining in 1989 Leng was taken under the wing of the company’s most experienced jacket maker. Over the next 10 years Leng learnt the skills of the jacket, trouser and shirt maker. He proved to be a tailor of exceptional skill and this naturally led to him assuming his current senior position.

Genaro Scura – Jacket Maker

Born in 1945 Genaro hails from the town of Cosenza in Calabria, close to the southern tip of Italy. His father was a shoemaker and Genaro at the age of 10 also started learning a trade, combining schooling with part time work for a local tailor.

After nine years working full time, Genaro moved to Rome where he joined one of Italy’s most respected tailors whose business premises were situated within sight of the world famous Spanish Steps in the heart of the city.

Genaro emigrated to Australia in 1969 and after a further 25 years in the trade in Sydney he joined J. H. Cutler in 1995 where his skills make him an integral part of the workroom team.