The Tale of Kalypso Couture

Since 1891, the Tien Son Family has handcrafted quality apparel in Vietnam. With 70 custom tailors who each have completed a rigorous five-year training process (from buttons to sport coats), this family takes its clients stitch by stitch through the custom tailoring process. When Lan Do, a Vietnamese native representing the eighth generation of Tien Son, enrolled as an accounting major at the University of Evansville, her plan was to learn how to expand the family business in Asia. With the help of Cody Land and Michael Armanno, Do changed her focus to the U.S.

“We had a lot of positive responses from the University and the community,” Land says, so the group took their project a step further and incorporated the Americas Division in March 2012.

As a fully-apprenticed tailor herself, Do has brought Tien Son’s quality products to the American market. “Our manufacturers in Vietnam control every variable,” Land says. “They cut and construct the entire suit from start to finish.”

From 2012-2014, Tien Son spread the word through social media and word-of-mouth advertising. Michael Armanno started as the director of communications for the business. “I have a lot of faith in the company,” Armanno says. “This is an opportunity to share an experience that was thought of as a rarity, when in reality a high quality custom design is simply a matter of deciding what you want to wear. We handle the rest.”

In 2015, Michael Armanno expanded his horizons into the world of design and created Kalypso Couture. With the help of the expert tailors of the Tien Son Americas Division, Armanno is able to create modern bespoke suits at a fraction of the label cost. According to Land, the director of the Tien Son Americas Division, most full-custom suits cost about $1,200, and come “made to measure,” which means tailoring is necessary to make final adjustments to fit your size. Luckily for customers, our consultants are a direct link to the talent. “We meet with our clients and learn a little about them — what kind of job they have, how often they wear suits, where they live, and their personality,” says Armanno, offering free, full-service consultations to clients all over Northeast Florida. Home or office, Armanno helps clients find fabrics, colors, and styles that fit them best.

Customization is as important as ever. “We’ve went so far as creating entirely new inner-pocket designs just so it could fit a client’s cell-phone,” Armanno says, and everything from jacket cuts, lapels, vents, collars, cuffs, pleats, and 40-character inner-suit monograms are made to fit the wearer’s needs.

“We open a pop-up retail store at various locations across the region,” Armanno says, and they plan on expanding into Southern Florida as well. This allows the company to model full-constructed mannequins and lets potential customers see and touch the suits.

Kalypso Couture covers all of the bases, from custom fittings and suit audits to recreating personal wardrobes and recommending accessories. Michael Armanno lives and breathes suits, working as a living model in his 21st century suits of armor.

Kalypso Couture offers the finest custom tailored clothing in Northeast Florida. By Appointment, In-Home and In-Office Consultations Available. Book now by clicking here.