Today we’d like to introduce you to JOHN KIM.
Hi JOHN, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my journey as a tailor back in 1970 — when I was only fifteen.
At that time, life was simple but tough. Like many others of that generation, I had to grow up early to help support my family. Choosing the path of tailoring wasn’t a glamorous decision; it was survival.
Those early years were rough — senior tailors weren’t exactly gentle mentors. Let’s just say, if you made a mistake, sometimes a pair of scissors might actually fly your way! But looking back, that experience built my foundation. I learned discipline, precision, and patience — values that shaped not only my craft but my character.
By 1979, I opened my very first shop under my own name.
Soon after, I had the honor of creating custom suits for many celebrities and public figures in Korea. I tried to blend timeless tailoring techniques with modern fashion sensibilities — something that earned me recognition in the industry. I was fortunate to win multiple top awards from the Korean Tailor’s Association in 1989, 1991, and 1994, and was invited several times by Samsung Golden Tex for international technical training programs. Later, I served as a technical advisor and board member for the Korean Tailor’s Association, mentoring younger craftsmen who were as curious and passionate as I once was.
But life has a way of changing directions.
When the Asian financial crisis hit Korea in the late 1990s, my family and I decided to take a leap of faith. In 2000, we arrived in the United States — with no connections, no money, and very limited English. What I did have, though, were my hands… and my family.
So I went back to what I knew best — tailoring. Working in other shops kept my hands steady and my dreams alive. Every stitch reminded me that mastery has no borders.
Then in 2011, Goldfinger Tailor was born.
The name holds deep meaning for me.
First, it represents the “golden hands” that have supported my family and my craft.
Second, it’s inspired by my wife — her name carries the word “Gold,” and she’s been my greatest support through every chapter.
And yes, if James Bond’s Goldfinger crossed your mind — you’re absolutely right. I’ve always loved that connection: timeless elegance, impeccable suits, and a bit of mystery.
Over the years, I’ve been blessed to work with amazing clients — from Kim Kardashian to BLACKPINK and many others — but the truth is, my happiest moments are much simpler.
It’s when I see a groom standing in front of the mirror in his wedding suit, smiling nervously, realizing that this is the first outfit of his new life. That’s when I remember why I started — because tailoring isn’t just about fabric and thread. It’s about people, their stories, and their milestones.
Even after all these decades, I still pick up my scissors and needle every morning with the same feeling I had as that 15-year-old boy — a mix of humility, curiosity, and quiet pride.
Because to me, a good suit isn’t just something you wear — it’s something you live
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh, not at all — it was far from smooth in the beginning.
When I first opened my shop, it honestly felt hopeless. Nobody knew who I was.
Back in Korea, I had built a reputation as a master tailor, but here in the U.S., I was just another nameless face with a sewing machine.
No one cared about my awards, my background, or my craftsmanship — I had to start from zero.
Even finding fabric suppliers was a challenge. I had to contact high-end brands like Ermenegildo Zegna and Loro Piana one by one, without knowing the proper channels or who to reach out to.
There were many nights I went home wondering if I had made the right decision.
But I kept going — one suit, one client at a time.
And slowly, people started to come back. They became regulars, and then friends.
Some of those first customers have stayed with me for near fifteen years now.
Their loyalty — and their belief in my work — is what kept me standing through all those hard years.
So no, the road wasn’t smooth. But every bump, every setback, shaped who I am today.
And looking back, I wouldn’t trade that struggle for anything — because it made every stitch mean something.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m one of the few remaining master tailors who can personally design, draft, cut, and sew from start to finish.
When a client comes in, I don’t just take measurements, I have a conversation.
I try to understand their personality, lifestyle, and how they want to feel in the suit. not just how they want to look. From there, I sketch their design, draft a one-of-a-kind pattern made specifically for their body, and then hand-cut and sew every piece.
Unlike many shops where the process is divided among designers, cutters, and seateamsters— often losing the original intent in the handoff — everything here stays in my hands.
That’s why each suit I make carries a sense of wholeness. It’s personal. It’s human.
Most suits are made with high wool content fabrics — and wool, as a natural fiber, breathes.
That’s why I continue to use the full-canvas, hand-sewn method, which allows the fabric to move and live with the wearer.
Many shops today choose the fusing method instead — it’s faster and easier for production, but it sacrifices the soul of the garment.
The most difficult part of a suit is the connection between the shoulder and the sleeve — it’s where precision meets intuition.
It requires deep understanding of structure, proportion, and flow, and there are very few tailors who can truly execute it by hand.
For me, that mastery comes from decades of experience — ever since I first held scissors at fifteen.
I take great pride in preserving the traditional way of tailoring, not because it’s old-fashioned, but because it’s honest.
Every stitch I make connects history, craftsmanship, and the individuality of the person who will wear it.
That’s what makes my work different — and what makes me proud every single day!
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is integrity in work, in craft, and in life.
For me, tailoring has never just been about clothes. It’s about respect for the person wearing it, for the material, and for the process itself.
When someone trusts me to make their suit, they’re not just buying fabric and stitches. They’re allowing me to be part of an important chapter in their life ( a wedding, a promotion, a milestone. )That’s an honor I never take lightly.
That’s why I believe every piece deserves my full attention, even the parts nobody will ever see. The inside of a jacket, the hidden stitches with their name embroidered- they represent the heart of craftsmanship.
True quality is not what’s visible on the outside, but what’s done quietly on the inside.
Also, I deeply value connection.
I’ve had clients who’ve been coming to me for almost fifteen years. Some of them, I watched their sons grow up, get married, and now bring them to me for their own wedding suits.
Those relationships built through trust, honesty, and time ,mean more to me than any award or recognition.
In the end, what matters most is simple:
To live with integrity, to work with heart, and to leave behind something that lasts longer than the stitches
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.goldfingertailorLA.com
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/PHQbWSEfa2
