Schultz

The origins of the Schultz fashion dynasty lie way back in 19th Century Hungary

In 1896, my great Grandfather Gyula opened his first tailoring shop: producing clothing for the aristocracy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Gyula’s grandson Otto, showed equal talent with cloth, first using it in Budapest in 1948 in a Communist Party factory. However, his flair for fashion wasn’t appreciated, the Party Secretary blocked his university application because he was ‘more interested in dancing than politics’. Otto set up his own business in 1953, designing for high-profile celebrities of the time in the Hungarian entertainment industry.  

Otto left his native Budapest during the uprising of 1956 with his brother Carl Schultz, (who later went on to become a film director in Australia). Walking to the Austrian border, they paid their  way out of the country, giving everything they could to the Russian soldier who guaranteed them safe passage. Both still had to run through a forest and across the border with the fear that they could be taken out by gunshot at any point. They fled to England, and after arriving in London they made their way to Manchester.

By 1958 Otto had saved enough to set up a small but thriving business, and in the 60s he made clothes for London fashion designers and superstar George Best’s Manchester boutique. He went on in the 70’s and 80’s to make for top Snooker players including Alex Higgins (twice World Champion), as well as footballers from local clubs: Manchester City and Manchester United.

I joined the company and became head designer for Schultz’ own label as well as designing and making for some of the biggest UK fashion retailers. These included the likes of Next, Top Shop and Burton, until Far East imports swamped the market in the late 1980’s – forcing Otto and I to close our UK factories in the early 1990’s. Otto continued bespoke tailoring alone, his order book still featuring a horde of celebrities, including the Australian singer Kylie Minogue, for whom he made a number of stage outfits. 

After my father’s passing away, I took over the business and it was here, that Schultz Bespoke Tailoring was reborn.