Anthonio Fakeri grew up in the family business, watching his father and grandfather craft beautiful garments as master tailors. It’s a classic question of nature versus nurture, and in this case, it seems as if Fakeri was born to do what he has done his whole life: create immaculate clothes.
At a young age, Fakeri explored his father’s factory, sneaking swatches of fabric to bring home and using them to make clothes for his neighbor’s dolls. Using only a small sewing kit and scissors, he meticulously crafted tiny doll garments in the hopes of impressing his childhood crush. Soon after, Fakeri began working with his father in the family business and learning even more skills. Eventually, he even designed a wedding dress for his wife.
Moda Domani, Fakeri’s apparel company specializing in custom suits and tuxedos, was first launched in 1986 in Tucson, Arizona. The store moved to the Kansas City area in 1999 and has been a staple in the bespoke fashion scene since.
Fakeri says that Moda Domani means “style of tomorrow,” and though his suits are timeless, with nearly a lifetime in the business, Fakeri has been able to see trends fall out of style and come back into style again. Because of his experience, he emphasizes the importance of buying a well-made and well-fitting garment, which can be used for a lifetime if taken care of correctly.
Tell us about your work. I love what I do. I love the creativity. Everything we do is custom. I love to help people reach the level they would like to but they didn’t know how to get there. I do a lot of coaching. It’s consulting, really, more than anything else. My work starts with consulting and hearing what their issues are, trying to resolve those issues and turn them into a positive image for them.
What are the misconceptions that you find when it comes to buying a suit? A lot of the garments available for people on the racks don’t benefit the consumer—they benefit the retailers. They aren’t of quality. Because of a lack of knowledge and understanding of the product, people buy an [off-the-rack] suit, wear it only three or four times and spend lots of money. When quality diminishes, everything else goes down along with it. [Suit manufacturers] end up compromising because all they think about is what’s in it for them and their bottom line. But fashion is one of those things—what goes around will come around. It’s like a merry-go-round, but if you have a fantastic garment that is well-made, it will always be in style.
