A. Mina Clothier Available

A. Mina Clothier executes bespoke structural tailoring, bench pattern modifications, and garment refitting from its downtown shop inside the Salesforce Tower. Operated by Anthony Mina, whose trade methodology stems from Italian tailoring practices brought to Indianapolis by his father Aldo in 1949, the workshop focuses on the mechanics of silhouette balance. Rather than relying on superficial adjustments, the tailoring process treats garments as structural assemblies, analyzing shoulder slope, chest drape, and torso pitch before making a single cut or basting stitch.

Garment assessment starts with diagnostic pinning that maps how fabric moves with the wearer's natural posture. When reworking heavy worsted wool, sharkskin, or blended suiting textiles, Mina evaluates grain lines and internal canvas construction. Adjusting a jacket collar, for instance, requires opening the neck seam, balancing the roll line against neck posture, and resetting the collar stand without distorting the lapels. Sleeve adjustments on functional horn-button cuffs demand measurement from the shoulder cap rather than the cuff edge to preserve buttonhole spacing. For trouser adjustments, stride angle and rise measurements dictate where fabric must be taken through the fork and seat, avoiding tightness while achieving a clean drape through the calf and hem break.

Beyond building custom suits from clothiers like Hart Schaffner Marx and Baroni, the workshop accepts outside alterations across a broad technical scope. Complex garment re-cuts—such as reducing heavy shoulder padding, tapering jacket waists across multiple internal canvas layers, or re-lining worn sport coats—are handled directly on-site using specialized blind-stitch machines and commercial steam irons. Anthony Mina frequently takes on rapid-turnaround rebuilds, including next-day structural modifications for business executives, coaches, and formal wedding parties where seams must be stabilized and hand-finished on tight deadlines without sacrificing internal stitch integrity.

Client consultations follow a structured diagnostic workflow. For new garments purchased off the rack, basic alterations are integrated directly into the purchase, while outside garments undergo an itemized intake inspection to verify seam allowances and fabric tension. Clients arriving for fittings should bring the exact dress shoes, heel heights, and collared shirts intended for wear with the garment, as slight differences in sole thickness alter trouser breaks and cuff posture. Garments brought in for alteration must be clean and pressed, and planning fittings two to three weeks ahead of scheduled events guarantees time for secondary adjustments if major structural recuts are required.