Fitting & Custom Clothing Manager

THE SHOP Arthur + Lucca is Chicago's premier tailor shop, a studio where expert craftsmanship meets genuine hospitality. We specialize in custom clothing and precision alterations for everything from denim and suiting to formalwear and bridal gowns. With over 150,000 hours of alterations completed and hundreds of custom garments crafted for both men and women, we've built a reputation as the city's authority on fit. We move fast, we operate with intention, and we take pride in everything we touch, from the way a jacket falls on a client's shoulders to the way we answer the phone. This isn't a dry-cleaning counter. It's an atelier. THE ROLE We're looking for a Fitting & Custom Clothing Manager, someone who owns the client relationship from first fitting to final pickup, leads the custom clothing sales process, and brings the kind of composure and problem-solving instinct that makes everyone around them better. This is a manager role in the truest sense, not managing a team, but managing everything that matters most: clients, processes, sales, and the standard of experience we deliver every single day. You may train new staff as the team grows, but your core domain is the client and the craft. We'll train you on everything specific to Arthur + Lucca, our systems, our custom clothing program, our alteration process, and our standards. What we can't train is the instinct to lead, the drive to solve problems permanently, and the commitment to make the business better every time something goes wrong. Alterations and custom clothing are equally central to this role. You'll move fluidly between both, fitting a bride one hour and designing a bespoke suit the next, and you'll understand that both serve the same goal: making someone feel exactly right in what they wear. YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT BY
• Conducting bridal and ready-to-wear fittings with skill, precision, and genuine client focus
• Leading custom clothing consultations, guiding clients through fabric selection, garment design, and the full bespoke and made-to-measure experience for men and women
• Managing the custom clothing sales process from first conversation to completed order, building relationships, following through, and growing a personal book of clients
• Taking full ownership of the client experience, anticipating needs, setting expectations, and ensuring every interaction reflects the Arthur + Lucca standard
• Handling challenging client situations directly and confidently, de-escalating, problem-solving in real time, and making the call without needing to escalate
• Treating every problem as an opportunity for a permanent fix, not just resolving the issue in front of you, but improving the process so it doesn't happen again
• Managing and improving day-to-day operational processes within your domain
• Onboarding and training new fitting staff as the team grows
• Communicating adjustments clearly to clients and to the sewing team so every alteration is executed flawlessly WHO YOU ARE You ideally have some level of professional experience fitting clients, bridal gowns and ready-to-wear both, and you have an understanding of fit: proportion, balance, drape, and movement. You think like a manager. You act like an owner. You also:
• Take ownership of client situations fully, you don't wait to be told how to handle something, you assess it, decide, and act
• Pursue permanent solutions, not quick fixes, when something goes wrong you ask why and make sure it doesn't happen again
• Are a natural in sales, you understand that custom clothing is a relationship business, and you're genuinely excited to build those relationships and close them
• Have a deep curiosity about clothing, construction, fabric, style, and the details that separate good from exceptional
• Can perform alterations on jackets, pants, dresses, and gowns (a plus, not a requirement, we'll train the right person)
• Are dependable, self-motivated, and hold yourself to a high standard without being told to
• Thrive in a quality-driven environment where doing it right matters more than doing it fast
• Can handle basic computer tools, email, scheduling, client tracking, data entry WHY ARTHUR + LUCCA
• Real ownership. You'll manage client relationships, sales processes, and operational standards, not tasks assigned to you, but outcomes you're responsible for.
• Two crafts, one role. You'll develop deep expertise in both alterations and custom clothing, a combination that opens doors well beyond this position.
• Room to earn. Base salary plus commission on custom clothing sales made by the entire team once you're trained and active in the program. Commission typically runs $400 to $600 per month, approximately $6,000 per year, with no ceiling.
• A brand worth representing. We've spent over a decade building something Chicagoans trust. That reputation was built by people like you.
• A culture of initiative. We don't wait to be told what needs to happen. We figure it out, fix it permanently, and make the business better. If that excites you, you'll fit right in. THE SCHEDULE & COMPENSATION Schedule: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, with some weeks running Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday (~32 to 40 hours/week). Availability on all four core days is required. Training Pay: $48,000/year during onboarding (2 to 12 weeks depending on experience) Post-Training: $58,000/year base salary, plus commission on custom clothing sales made by the entire team once you're trained and active in the program. Commission typically runs $400 to $600 per month, approximately $6,000 per year, with no ceiling.

Benefits:
401K + Match
· Health Insurance
· Dental Insurance
· Unlimited PTO
· Flexible schedule
· Employee discount
· Bi-annual+ complimentary custom clothing
· Paid training
· Growth-based compensation increases Free Custom Clothing:
• At 45 days you get 3 pants/skirts + 1 shirt/blouse/vest + 1 jacket
• Quarterly 1 pant/skirt + 1 shirt/blouse/vest (~Jan 15, April 15, July 15, October 15)
• Every 6 months 1 jacket (~April 15, October 15) THE NEIGHBORHOOD Our studio is in the West Loop, one of Chicago's most dynamic and design-forward neighborhoods. Restaurant row, boutique fitness, top-tier coffee, and the energy of a neighborhood that takes craft seriously. It suits us. THE PROCESS If you take ownership, solve problems permanently, and are genuinely excited about both the craft of fit and the art of custom clothing, we want to hear from you. Send us your resume and a short note about your experience and what draws you to this role. Arthur + Lucca. Where fit is everything.