Mark van Roosmalen

With 30 years' experience in creating unique and exceptional garments for men, Mark van Roosmalen is Christchurch's sole independent bespoke tailor. Hailing from four generations of Christchurch based tailors, Mark began his career by working with his father's tailoring business after training for two years in pattern making and garment construction at Wellington Polytechnic.

Mark’s excellence has been repeatedly recognised by a number of Benson & Hedges Fashion Design Awards. Over the space of ten years, he was named overall winner three times, and received four highly commended awards. Mark was inducted into the Benson & Hedges Fashion Design Awards ‘Hall of Fame’ in 1997. Following this success, he was approached by Hardie Amies with an offer of employment in Amies’ prestigious tailoring house on Saville Row in London.

With aspirations of starting his own tailoring business, Mark declined Amies’ offer and in the 1980's, established MvR Tailoring in Christchurch. The Suit Doctor, already a reputable alterations business, was purchased by Mark and incorporated into the MvR Tailoring workshop in the late 1980's.

Despite the loss of the original MvR Tailoring workshop on Manchester Street because of the Canterbury earthquakes, The Suit Doctor and MvR Tailoring continue to provide exceptional service to the people of Christchurch and the rest of New Zealand.