There’s a quiet composure about Justin that reveals itself almost immediately.
He’s polite, thoughtful, and disarmingly humble. He moves in a room with a respectful ease, one that was instilled by a traditional upbringing where manners and consideration are part of daily life. And typically in any room, he’s hard to miss.
The first time I met the 6’5” Justin Tan was at the 2025 Surmesur Gala in Quebec City. He was wearing a classic straight cut grey suit and was making nonchalant small talk near the croissants, where I was standing. I noticed he opted out of the coffee or tea on the table and instead poured hot water into a cup. No accompaniment of flavour like a lemon or cucumber, just the hot water itself. “What’s that about?” I asked. He explained with a smile that it helps protect his qi, his energy, and then proceeded with a short explanation about how Chinese culture views the healing properties of drinking hot water on its own. It was a small moment, but it offered a glimpse into the cultural grounding that shapes how Justin approaches people, work, and even the ritual of dressing.
Justin is the 2025 recipient of the Surmesur Experience Award, the company’s highest individual honour. This award is given only once in a career to the person who best embodies the Surmesur spirit: exceptional service, meaningful relationships with clients and colleagues, and a mastery of the craft itself. His balance of confidence and humility is perhaps why he feels so natural in tailoring: tall enough to stand out, grounded enough not to take himself too seriously.
These days, his wardrobe reflects something more refined: straight silhouettes, neutral palettes, and a quiet confidence that feels intentional rather than decorative. Below, Justin shares what the Surmesur Experience means to him, the lessons behind his award-winning year, and why a well-made suit is still one of the most powerful forms of communication.
You’ve been recognized with the 2025 Surmesur Experience Award. What does that mean to you?
Honestly, I’m still a little surprised by it. There are so many talented people across the company who have had much longer and impactful tenures with Surmesur, so to be recognized this way in my first full year with the company is extremely humbling.
For me, the Surmesur Experience is really our value proposition. It’s the idea that what happens in the consultation should feel memorable and conversational rather than transactional. A client shouldn’t feel like they’re just buying a suit—they should feel like they’re being guided through something personal. That’s where trust comes from, and once you have that trust, the relationship lasts far beyond a single purchase.
How did your journey in fashion begin?
Before fashion, I worked in tech sales, and surprisingly that background greatly shaped how I approach consultations today. The nature of my previous role was very consultative. There was a huge emphasis on listening and understanding what problem someone is trying to solve, and being very prescriptive with one of the solutions that we offered.
The same logic applies to tailoring. If you understand the client’s real need, everything else becomes easier. After that I began working in off-the-rack suiting in 2020, with my first introduction to made-to-measure suiting coming in 2021. I finally joined the Surmesur team in 2024 after discovering my passion in the industry and finding myself aligning with Surmesur’s ethos.
You often say you’re very intentional about how you dress today. Has that always been the case?
Not at all. If you saw how I dressed earlier in my career, it’s honestly night and day.
Back then it was a lot of slim fits, big checks, cuffed pants, lots of ankles. Basically whatever trends I saw online. Eventually I realized I was designing outfits for the internet instead of for my actual life. Now I prefer something more understated but intentional—straight silhouettes, neutral tones, things that can work across multiple situations. The goal is to maximize the wear you get out of every piece in your wardrobe.
You use the word “intention” a lot when you talk about style. What does that mean to you?
To me, intention means thinking about the bigger picture.
Instead of asking “Does this look cool?” the question becomes “Where does this live in my wardrobe?” Does it work with what I already own? Does it make sense for the life I live? What message does it convey?
That’s the same approach I take with clients. The suit isn’t just an object, it’s part of their story, their lifestyle, their confidence.
A lot of communication in life is non-verbal. The way you dress can say something about you before you even speak.
You’ve had an exceptional year in sales as well. What contributed to that success?
I had a plan at the beginning of the year to focus on client testimonies and Google reviews. When you’re the new guy competing with more established stylists, visibility matters. Reviews and testimony create trust before the client even walks in the door.
Over time that created a kind of snowball effect. More reviews led to more bookings, which led to more clients and more opportunities to deliver a great experience.
What advice would you give other stylists who want to elevate their consultations?
The most important thing is identifying the client’s pain points, and ideally getting the client to articulate them themselves.
Once they do that, you can guide them to the exact fabric and design the exact type of garment that addresses their pain points. At the same time, you have to avoid becoming robotic and using a cookie-cutter template. Every client should feel like the garment was designed specifically for them.
That individuality is what makes the experience special.
What’s the most rewarding moment in your work?
It’s the moment when the client tries on their suit for the first time.
Sometimes the client comes in unsure of themselves or uncertain about style. Then they put on the suit and you can literally see the shift. Their posture changes, their mood changes, their whole presence becomes more confident. That transformation is incredibly fulfilling.
What is it about fashion that continues to inspire you?
A lot of communication in life is non-verbal. The way you dress can say something about you before you even speak. For me, dressing well is also tied to how I was raised. Growing up in a traditional household, respect and manners were very important. Presenting yourself properly is a way of showing respect to others and to the situation you’re in.
So when someone dresses well, it’s not just about aesthetics—it’s a reflection of values.
Final question: Since you’re 6’5” and an avid basketball lifer, I have to ask: Have you ever dunked on someone?
Haha, yes… a few people.
But I’ve definitely been dunked on as well. If you’re going to be down there in the trenches, sometimes you win some and sometimes you lose some, it’s part of the game.
