George Kalajian - Standing Next to My Father

Sew & So...

Our guest in this episode is George Kalajian the owner/operator of Tom’s Sons International Pleating which was founded more than 50 years ago by his grandfather.

Born in Lebanon and moving to the US when he was 5 years old. After working with his father for a time, he went off on his own and worked in technology, as a teacher and as a bartender. Coming back to the family business…George has worked with myriad designers, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and on many tv shows, films and Broadway plays. George traces his family’s involvement in the business back 150 years to his great, great grandfather Krikor Tutounjian who owned a fabric factory in Turkey.

(2:00) George takes us through his the rich and touching story of his family and how they got him to where he is today. It all started 150 years ago!

(7:25) George learned from his father…was he interested in learning? Absolutely not! It was the equivalent to “being dipped in boiling oil”! In fact, her left the business entirely for a while.

(9:00) What was George’s life like outside of the family business? He grew up in New York City where he went to school then worked/played at the factory in his free time. What were holidays like in his family? All work…and Clint Eastwood!

(11:12) How did George realize he “got the bug”? After several years away from the business - one day he came back to visit and SAW…really saw his mother and father in the business and understood that he needed to step in to continue the family business. Hear him tell this story.

(14:25) Pleating…the life blood of his business…what is it? George explains here.

(15:54) What are the different types of pleating? He walks us through this and includes how it’s all done.

(18:23) He’s worked with numerous designers…here he talks about some of the special projects he’s done with them and why they are notable. Coach, Calvin Klein, and many more!

(21:27) He has done several restoration projects for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Dior. He tells us these wonderful stories. He also talks about how it’s fascinating to him to be able to work with and learn from older garments. Learn how a little bravado got him and his father access to valuable and fragile garments. At the last minute, a dream his father had finally solved the puzzle of how to accomplish what they needed to do.

(26:29) In addition to all he’s done, George has worked on several TV specials. He talks about some of the pieces he’s worked on for these productions. For example, Bertha Russell’s costume The Gilded Age, and The God’s of Egypt.

(25:50) George made his wife’s wedding dress…hear this wonderful story here. Bad luck to see the dress? Not at all!!

(31:25) What’s the most challenging this about what he does? Adhering to the old-world methods of producing garments in a city that’s getting farther away from this manufacturing age.

(32:37) What’s this most important thing George wants sewists to know about his work and pleating?! Learn that right here!

(34:40) What is Project Golden Bear? A special project that has grown into so many ways to serve!

(40:00) The new movie Fallout features George’s work. Based on a video game…he tells us this story.

(41:00) What’s next and what’s his dream?

(42:34) Is there something we didn’t ask?

(43:12)How can you reach out the George…www.internationalpleating.com, Instagram @internationalpleating, email [e-mail] ATTN: George. www.projectgoldenbear.com

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