Renaissance man is probably a more apt title for Strong Suit Clothing creative director Jamie Davidson. The 44-year-old dabbles in a little bit of a lot of things, but designing well-made suits is one of his greatest obsessions. Strong Suit was established in 2014 as a collection of tailored men’s clothing, shirts and ties. Though the label is headquartered in the River Market, its reach extends far beyond Arkansas; the clothing is carried by specialty stores nationwide as well as upscale retailer Nordstrom. This is the third clothing brand Davidson has worked with, after starting his own lines Normandy & Monroe and Tre Vero in 2000 and 2005, respectively.
What is Strong Suit?
Strong Suit is a very sophisticated, very tailored garment with lots of detail and a great value. We offer a canvas construction and all of our fabrics are from the best mills in Italy. We typically retail between $495 and $695 off the rack and offer a full made-to-measure program at $795.
Did you always want be an entrepreneur? Why fashion?
I was never very good at working for other people. Fashion is just the thing that happened for me. When I went to work at Mr. Wicks [after high school] I don’t remember having a strong interest in it, but I really fell in love with the design aspect in my time there. I just had to figure out how to do that from Little Rock without any formal training or manufacturing.
What’s one thing about you that people wouldn’t expect?
I will tell you two things. I don’t drink at all, and my hobby is detailing cars.
What do you have with you at all times?
I bought my watch the summer of my 10th-grade year for $10 at a flea market. I pretty much always have it on.
What’s on your nightstand?
My grandfather and my step-grandfather were both voracious readers. They probably read three books a week. I try to keep a full nightstand, but I could never keep up with them. I have two books, “Guns at Last Light” by Rick Atkinson and “Hero: The life of Lawrence of Arabia” by Michael Korda. I highly recommend them both. I think I have read every Eisenhower biography as well as most of Winston Churchill’s works, and I re-read them regularly. I have two magazine subscriptions: Octane is a car magazine from the UK and Wallpaper, which is my favorite design magazine.
Best advice you’ve ever received?
“Never tell me the odds” –Han Solo. It was my quote in my high school yearbook. It has served me well.
Favorite place in the world?
That’s easy — my house on Normandy. My grandparents built that house (my grandfather was Julian Davidson, the architect) and I spent a lot of time there as a boy. I loved my grandparents very much and when I moved back to Little Rock [in 1993] I lived there with them until they died. I’ve been there by myself for about 10 years now but they still feel very present to me. I travel constantly for work but the older I get the more I appreciate Little Rock and being home. I’m always happy wherever I am with my friends and family. I love Paris, and Istanbul is pretty amazing, Charleston and New Orleans, too. I am not a fan of New York, which is too bad because I have to go a lot. Chattanooga has a very special place in my heart, and I think Little Rock could learn a lot from Chattanooga.
What have been some of the brand’s biggest moments over the years?
Getting into Nordstrom in just our second year was a pretty big deal.
Do you have a New Year’s resolution?
I don’t believe in those. If you want to change something don’t wait for a date. That makes no sense to me.
Where do you get the best work done?
My house. It’s very quiet. I get a lot of thinking done in the car.
(Back to 7 People You Have To Meet in 2016.)