“Who are you and what do you want to say?”
That’s the question CEO and lead designer David Eiselle Sr. of Reston-based Davelle Clothiers first asked his clients when he launched David’s Master Collection, a line of handcrafted, custom clothing for men, in 2001. This month, following nearly 30 years of selling designer and original pieces only for one gender, Eiselle is asking that very same question to the women of Northern Virginia with his custom-wear collection, Diamonds by David.
“It’s really a different concept for women, mainly because women here know what they want and what they like,” says Eiselle. “Where I’m going to come in is with the design direction: the creativity, the color balance for their complexion and hair, and edit exactly how the garment should fit.”
While he has thought about launching a women’s wear collection for a while, it wasn’t until recently that Eiselle was able to find a producer in Europe who accomplished his exact design specifications and shared his attention to detail—an essential aspect of the project for someone who grew up in a family that designed custom homes.
Today, his customers can choose from samples of primarily dresses, as well as suits and blouses found within the store, or browse through a curated design portfolio, ultimately picking a garment and a fabric for Eiselle to transform into a one-of-a-kind piece that matches their specifications. While pricing for each design varies based on the client’s requests, like adding sewn-in initials for example, handmade dresses start at $1,195.
Eiselle has been testing the products locally this winter, with one client recently purchasing the same fitted dress in several colors after loving the first design. Diamonds by David officially launches in March.
“The marketplace is ready for this. Nobody is really doing it for women, they are playing it safe. And I think this is the perfect time for us to do it,” says Eiselle. “Any woman that is successful and cares about success will enjoy these pieces.” // Davelle Clothiers: 11921 Freedom Drive, Unit 100, Reston
This post originally appeared in our March 2020 print issue. For more stylish reads, subscribe to our weekly Shopping newsletter.
