Custom Tailors & Designers Association

What Custom Tailors & Designers Association does

The Custom Tailors & Designers Association (CTDA) is a private, member-governed nonprofit trade association founded in 1880 in Columbus, Ohio and currently headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It is the oldest continuously operating trade organization in the United States, serving the custom clothing industry through a vertically integrated ecosystem of master tailors, designers, custom clothiers, brick-and-mortar retailers, fabric mills, garment manufacturers, technology partners, and students. The organization runs the biannual Designer Forum New York (DFNY) tradeshow in Manhattan, an accredited Custom Clothier Certification Program (five courses covering Measuring, Fitting & Alterations, Custom Shirts, Fabric Knowledge, Style, and Business & Selling), a regular webinar program, an Industry Intelligence blog, and a member directory with segmented search by role.\n\nCTDA monetizes through four interlocking revenue streams: annual membership dues ($375/year for clothiers, retailers, suppliers, and manufacturers; $75/year for students with valid college ID; free for affiliates), DFNY exhibitor booth fees from brands and service providers, certification and continuing education course fees, and webinar access. The go-to-market is event-driven, anchored by the DFNY tradeshow and supplemented by online self-service enrollment via ctda.com, email/newsletter marketing, and content marketing. Its distributed value proposition includes access to vetted fabric mills and manufacturers, peer networking, business development resources, and legislative advocacy in Washington DC on bills such as the FABRIC Act. The organization has no disclosed equity funding, no subsidiaries, no M&A activity, and no proprietary technology platform; its core technology is the Squarespace-hosted website and member directory infrastructure.

Name

Custom Tailors & Designers Association

Legal name

Custom Tailors & Designers Association

Website

https://ctda.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Custom Tailors & Designers Association (CTDA) is a 140+ year-old US nonprofit trade association serving the custom clothing industry. It operates the biannual DFNY tradeshow in New York, accredited certification courses, webinars, and a member directory for clothiers, fabric mills, manufacturers, and retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Apparel Trade Association Services

NAICS

Apparel Manufacturing (315), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Merchant Wholesalers (42435)

SIC

Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments (2320), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Tailoring & Made-to-Measure Adjustments (HSAJAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Career & Technical Education (CTE) Standards Authorities (EDADAEAE), Apparel Alterations, Repair & Circular Manufacturing (Remake/Upcycle) (CRAAAAAO)

Keywords

• Custom tailoring association
• Bespoke clothing trade
• Apparel industry networking
• Tailor certification programs
• Custom clothier education

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from clothiers, retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, and students provide recurring revenue. Tiers include $375/year for clothiers and suppliers, $75/year for students, and free membership for affiliates.
2. Tradeshow Exhibitor Fees: Revenue generated from brands and service providers renting exhibition space at the biannual DFNY tradeshow in New York City. Exhibitors pay to showcase their products and services to attending clothiers and retailers.
3. Education and Certification Programs: Fees from CTDA's accredited education program offering five courses (Measuring, Fitting & Alterations, Custom Shirts, Fabric Knowledge, Style, and Business & Selling) taught at DFNY shows in Manhattan. Program can be completed in 1.5 years with approximately 25 hours of class time.
4. Webinar Access: Educational webinars provided to members covering industry topics, business development, fabric knowledge, and technology adoption in the custom clothing industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Custom Tailors & Designers Association (CTDA) is a 140-year-old US trade association that operates a membership organization for the custom clothing industry. Its core offerings are annual membership tiers for clothiers, retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, students, and affiliates; the biannual Designer Forum New York (DFNY) tradeshow held in Manhattan; the CTDA-accredited Custom Clothier Certification Program consisting of five courses; and recurring members-only webinars and industry intelligence content.

Product overview

The Custom Tailors & Designers Association (CTDA) operates as a trade association serving the custom clothing industry. Its core offerings include the Designer Forum New York (DFNY) biannual tradeshow, the Custom Clothier Certification Program with five accredited courses, webinars covering industry topics, an Industry Intelligence blog, and a Member Directory. The DFNY tradeshow is the flagship event bringing together the custom clothing supply chain, while the education programs provide certification for clothiers. CTDA does not operate as a software product company and has no public-facing digital product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Designer Forum New York (DFNY): CTDA's biannual custom clothing tradeshow held in New York City, bringing together fabric suppliers, manufacturers, associations, technology partners, retailers and custom clothiers for networking, business development and training.

Products and services

• Designer Forum New York (DFNY) Tradeshow Biannual custom clothing tradeshow held in New York City, bringing together fabric suppliers, custom clothing and accessory manufacturers, associations, technology partners, retailers, and custom clothiers for three days of networking, business development, training, and relationship building. Exhibitors pay booth fees and attendees register to participate.
• Custom Clothier Certification Program CTDA-accredited education program consisting of five courses (Measuring, Fitting & Alterations, Custom Shirts, Fabric Knowledge, Style, and Business & Selling) taught at DFNY shows in Manhattan. Completion leads to Certified Custom Designer or Certified Custom Clothier credentials over approximately 1.5 years and around 25 hours of class time.
• CTDA Webinars Members-only online educational webinar series covering industry topics including fabric knowledge, business development, marketing strategies, garment care, KPIs, brand building, seasonal dressing, AI tools, and custom manufacturing for custom clothiers and the broader custom clothing trade.

Quantifiable outcome

• CTDA provides biannual DFNY tradeshows attracting fabric suppliers, manufacturers, technology partners, retailers and custom clothiers for networking, business development, and training

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• RedaminorOthersFabric mill partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section. Reda is an Italian fabric supplier known for luxury menswear textiles.
• GladsonminorOthersFabric and custom clothing supplier featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section and DFNY exhibitor. Gladson New York serves as a member and webinar presenter.
• MediciminorOthersItalian fabric supplier partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section.
• Atlas International TextilesminorOthersFabric supplier partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section.
• Adrian JulesminorOthersCustom clothing manufacturer partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section and DFNY exhibitor. Adrian Jules Ltd is a US-based manufacturer.
• ScabalminorOthersLuxury fabric supplier partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section and blog content. Scabal presents webinars on seasonal textiles.
• Holland & SherryminorOthersPremium fabric supplier partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section.
• DormeuilminorOthersFrench luxury fabric house featured as CTDA Brand Partner. Luke Mayes of Dormeuil serves as CTDA President and webinar presenter.
• Bespoken USAminorOthersCustom clothing manufacturer partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section and DFNY exhibitor.
• TrandsminorOthersCustom clothing supplier partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section.
• Kemp and HewittminorOthersCustom clothing and accessories supplier partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section.
• Alan PaineminorOthersLuxury ready-to-wear supplier partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section.
• TateossianminorOthersLuxury accessories supplier partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section.
• CarnetminorOthersItalian fabric mill partner featured in DFNY Summer 2026 exhibitors.
• PiacenzaminorOthersItalian fabric mill partner featured in DFNY Summer 2026 exhibitors.
• CerrutiminorOthersItalian fabric supplier featured in DFNY Summer 2026 exhibitors.
• Custom Made JeansminorOthersCustom jeans supplier partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section and DFNY exhibitor.
• DavionminorOthersCustom clothing manufacturer partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section and DFNY exhibitor.
• MTM DesignminorOthersTechnology partner featured in DFNY Summer 2026 exhibitors. MTM Design provides technology solutions for made-to-measure businesses.
• Trinity ApparelminorOthersCustom clothing supplier featured in DFNY Summer 2026 exhibitors.
• SojrnminorOthersCustom clothing supplier featured in DFNY Summer 2026 exhibitors.
• BrescianiminorOthersLuxury ready-to-wear and accessories supplier featured in DFNY Summer 2026 exhibitors.
• Apolo VitaleminorOthersLuxury ready-to-wear supplier featured in DFNY Summer 2026 exhibitors.
• RepunteminorOthersCustom clothing supplier featured in DFNY Summer 2026 exhibitors.
• Paolo VitaleminorOthersLuxury ready-to-wear supplier partner featured in CTDA's Brand Partners section.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• British Fashion Council (BFC): UK industry body supporting British designers and fashion businesses, including London Fashion Week. Mirrors CTDA's role in advancing a national custom/apparel industry, with overlapping tradeshow, education, and member services.
• Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI): Italian National Fashion Chamber that governs Milan Fashion Week and represents Italian fashion houses. Comparable trade body structure to CTDA and natural counterpart given CTDA's heavy Italian fabric-mill partnerships (Reda, Piacenza, Carnet, Cerruti).
• UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT): UK trade body covering fashion and textile manufacturers and suppliers. Comparable to CTDA in supporting fabric mills, manufacturers, and apparel businesses, but focused on the UK market and a wider product mix beyond custom clothing.
• Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM): French federation governing Paris Fashion Week and representing couture and fashion houses. Direct international analogue to CTDA on the couture/custom-tailoring side, and a natural counterpart for CTDA's French mill partners such as Dormeuil.

Direct peers

• American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA): US apparel and footwear trade association that, like CTDA, advocates on industry legislation, hosts events, provides member education, and represents SMB and enterprise members in Washington DC. Closest direct functional peer in the US apparel industry.
• Savile Row Bespoke Association: UK-based trade body representing Savile Row bespoke tailors. Directly comparable to CTDA in mission — promoting bespoke custom tailoring, setting standards, and connecting clothiers and fabric suppliers — but operating in a UK bespoke market.

Broad incumbents

• Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA): Major US fashion industry trade association with a broader portfolio than CTDA, spanning designers, brands, and education (e.g., CFDA Foundation scholarships). Comparable membership/tradeshow model but at a much wider industry scope beyond custom tailoring.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CTDA_USA
• Facebookfacebook.com/CustomTailorsDesignersAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/116281

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Custom Tailors & Designers Association