Holsey Custom Clothes was founded by Mike Holsey in 1972. Holsey is a recognized authority in custom clothing, noted for his skill in the innovative area of “professional image management” as well as his award-winning talent in custom fitted clothing. With over 50 years experience, Mike Holsey is a past president of the Custom Tailors and Designers Association of America, America’s oldest trade organization. He also co-authored the book “The Success Image.”
Mike Holsey spent his early years traveling extensively. The son of a career Air Force officer, he lived in many cities in the U.S. as well as in the Far East. When his family settled in Oklahoma, Mike began learning skills which have been a great asset ever since. During his college years, he sold Bibles and dictionaries door to door for the Southwestern company.
With a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Southwest State University in Oklahoma, he joined the sales staff of the John Robert Class Ring Co. After three years in Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia he joined the leading direct sales clothier in the U.S. and learned about the clothing business. As he said, “After making thirty cold calls a day every summer for four years while I was going to school, followed by three years of calling on schools to sell jewelry, I had a pretty good background in direct sales.
In 1972, he opened his own business, “Holsey Custom Clothes.” Based in Houston, he first specialized in made-to-measure business clothing for men. Later he branched into sports and formal wear, then suits and shirts for business and professional women.
A man of boundless energy, Mike has co-authored a guidebook for business women on wardrobe planning and selection called “The Success Image,” been a regular speaker and panel member at hundreds of business and professional group meetings, been interviewed on radio and T.V., and quoted in newspapers and magazines including “USA Today.” During his career, he was a regular lecturer on business topics at the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, and Rice University.
Professionally, he has been an active member of the Custom Tailors and Designers Association since 1977, and in 1988 was the National President of the CTDA. His custom newsletter has won awards from the National Retailers Association.