Made For You
Made For You
Finding a personal style can take years. For the average person, the process often involves a constant cycle of trial and error, revolving returns and purchases, and attempts at nailing the right fit.
That’s where J.Hilburn comes in. As a one-stop shop for custom-made menswear, customers will not just find clothing in the correct size and ideal color, but measured and molded to their exact proportions and preferences.
Lisa Torba is one of J.Hilburn’s Independent Personal Stylists. With a studio on N. Queen Street in the heart of Lancaster City’s business district and extensive previous experience as a mobile stylist, Torba is making excellent style accessible to men across central Pennsylvania.
“When you buy off the rack, everything is then tailored to you. Here–with your measurements–everything is made for you,” Torba said. “Everything that we do is for one man, not for every man.”
Torba dreamed of working in fashion as a little girl, but—as with many childhood aspirations—the careers we dream up in childhood often shake out a bit differently in reality. Torba worked in sales across the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, until eventually, she returned to her first love: style. Training under two image consultants, Torba became well-versed in style rules, like texture, design lines, color, metals, and which elements pair best with certain hair colors and skin tones.
After a brief stint working with women, Torba began hearing from customers who mentioned how difficult it was for the men in their lives to find clothes that fit well. Torba ran with this and began seeking ways to solve the unmet need in menswear.
“Guys like the custom-made experience,” Torba said. “They don’t like shopping. They don’t enjoy the process of having to go into a store and try on lots of different items. What we do is we take the pain away from shopping. We make it easier for them.”
At their first appointment, Torba discovers her client's vision for their wardrobe. If they don’t have a vision, she will help align their style preferences with tried-and-true fits for wardrobe essentials like suits, knits, pants, and jackets. At J.Hilburn, the goal is always to create a lean wardrobe that works as a capsule, where the pieces all work together. In a capsule wardrobe, it’s essential that each article of clothing carries a precise fit that seamlessly flows with the other pieces in the collection.
“It’s nice to have your own luxury brand and not wear somebody else's brand. You’re creating your own style,” Torba said. “We have something for everybody: the starter suit, the young man graduating, the wedding party that doesn’t want to spend a lot.”
The luxurious experience of working with J.Hilburn goes beyond the clothes. From the moment a client steps through the door, they are greeted warmly and offered a glass of bourbon or wine to sip during their appointment. As they wait for their appointment, they have the opportunity to meet other folks from the area, network, and build connections in an inherently creative environment where the goal is to leave looking and feeling your best.
For Torba, J.Hilburn is the perfect forum to meet a need in the menswear industry and fulfill a childhood dream, all in a fun and flexible environment.
Torba is now mentoring the next wave of J.Hilburn stylists, helping them nurture their growth in the menswear industry, as they work toward fulfilling dreams of their own. As a mentor, Torba guides future stylists toward success, making it possible for them to change careers, find a creative outlet, and step into a world of entrepreneurial opportunity.
For those who are intrigued by the prospect of joining the J.Hilburn family as a stylist — whether in Pennsylvania or elsewhere — simply reach out to Torba for further details and guidance on how to embark upon this exciting journey.
“I started this off part-time,” she shared. “And now I do it full-time because it was my best next chapter.”
Above all, Torba’s goal is that everyone who interacts with J.Hilburn walks away with the greater confidence that can come from clothes with a stunning custom fit and a sense of timeless personal style that defies trends.
“As a stylist,” she said, “Let me show you what’s possible.”
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By Kylie Stoltzfus
