Working with the world’s finest fabrics, Aaron McGill of Only One Tailoring, creates one-of-a-kind garments.
Austin Lord
From the first stitch to the last embellishment, the key to his impeccable clothing lies in his understanding of fabric, fit, and sewing technique.
McGill grew up in Western Kentucky where, around age 10, his parents recognized his need for a different type of education. They presented him with the opportunity to apprentice as a tailor under his mother.
“I already loved sewing,” he says. “I already loved everything about it—creation, editing, altering, that kind of deal—and I just said, ‘Okay, let's do it.’”
McGill’s parents have since passed away, but the business remains their legacy.
The McGills started off making costumes for Egyptian show horses and their riders, and eventually began working with Louise Mandrell, outfitting her for her for the stage. This ultimately led to working with other country music artists including Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, and Jason Aldean. “I'm backstage every single year with Brad Paisley at the CMAs, making sure his wardrobe is good,” McGill says. “First we worked with celebrities, and now we’re everybody’s tailor. That's kind of the evolution.”
Austin Lord
After apprenticing under his mother for nearly 17 years, McGill was entrusted by his parents with leading the family business. He understood that outfitting country music artists might not sustain the company forever, so McGill strived to diversify his clientele. “One of the things that we did is we started working with Yelp,” McGill says. “We started getting reviews, and when people found out about us and what we could do, word got out. From that, organic growth just started happening.”
In 2018, McGill launched a line of custom clothing designed to compete with other made-to-measure companies in Nashville. Made-to-measure garments derive from patterns altered to fit your own measurements.
“You have a try-on garment,” McGill says. “We critique it, figuring out what you like, what you look better in, and kind of guide you through the process. Then we pick a material, and a team of outside tailors makes it.”
McGill also offers pieces that are individually designed, patterned, and cut. He crafts each garment based on the wearer’s specific body contours, requiring multiple fittings during the creation. Fabric and customization options are endless.
Austin Lord
“Right now, we're making a jacket for a gentleman who wanted a fully bespoke, 100-percent cashmere jacket,” McGill says. “Which means I, myself, and my assistant, make it here at my shop with our own two hands—well, four hands. So, there's that clientele, and then there's the clientele who just need a closet filler—a navy, brown, black, or gray.”
Only One Tailoring has an extensive fabric library, boasting more than 6,000 swatches to choose from.
“If you walk in the door and I present you with 6,000 or 7,000 materials, you’re just going to walk out the door, not knowing what to get,” McGill says. “So, I ask you what pattern you like, what colors you’re drawn to, where you want to be, where you’ve been in the past, and not liked, or loved. And then I present you with maybe 50 to 75 different swatches, sometimes even as low as 15 swatches. That way you're not getting overloaded.”
In addition to custom clothing, Only One Tailoring has a team of alterations specialists to tailor your most important garments, including bridal. You can book appointments online. onlyonetailoring.com