This much I know: Louis Copeland, tailor

Going into the rag trade was the most natural thing for me to do. It was clear from an early age that I’d follow my father and grandfather into the family business. I never considered doing anything else.

My earliest memory is around age 11, pulling the tacking off the suits in the Capel Street workshop. I’d get the bus into our shop after school and sweep the floor and run messages. That was my first memory of work.

I left school at 14 and went to technical school on Parnell Square to study tailoring and textiles. If you ask me if I’ve a good work life balance, I’d probably say yes. My wife would definitely say no.

My work is my hobby and my life. It’s not like a mundane job. Every day is different and I get to meet people from all walks of life.

I’m a creature of habit. I get up before 6am and I’m in the gym by 6.30am Monday to Friday. I only do half a hour, but it gets the blood stream going. I miss it terribly if I can’t get the exercise. It’s like a drug.

The traits I most admire in other people are being organised and not messing around. The trait I most admire in customers is being able to take the advice of the experts. You’d be amazed how many don’t.

If I go into a shop to buy a television or whatever, I like to know what the fella in the shop has in his own house, as that’s the one I’d want.

The biggest advice I got, and didn’t take, is to stick to the knitting. The biggest mistake I made was getting involved in things I didn’t really know about.

I invested in property in the good times and like so many other people, I got badly burnt.

My biggest challenge was surviving through the recession. It was a tough seven years and what saved us was the old-fashioned service that we offer and although it was touch and go for a while, we’re still battling.

If I could be reborn as someone else for a day, I’d like to be a hotel or a restaurant manager..

My greatest skill is being able to listen to people — and treating everyone in the same way.

If I could change one thing in our society, I’d encourage people to make eye contact, and to smile much more.

I believe in the power of clothes. When things were booming at the height of the Celtic Tiger people got a bit blasé, and casual wear crept into the work place. But I think that if you dress up for work, you will feel better.

Look at a guard or a solider in uniform — they immediately straighten up and look more efficient.

I’ve dressed loads of celebrities and film stars and rock stars like Pierce Brosnan and Dan Ackroyd and Bono. My father got the name out there and then our reputation grew and grew, but the ordinary man on the street is just as important to me.

I wouldn’t mind having a go at revamping Donald Trump’s image though. His ties are rotten.

I live in Churchtown with my wife Mary. We met when she was a nurse in St Vincent’s and I was in visiting a friend of mine. We’ve three children and four grandchildren. My son is in the business, his name is Louis, and I’ve a grandson named Louis too.

It is still very much a family business. My brother Adrian, and his son Adrian, run the Galway store.

My greatest fault is never learning to cook.

So far, life has taught me the importance of being nice to people at all levels, and I will never forget where I came from. That’s important too.

Louis Copeland is bringing the Made to Measure experience on the road to Cork in the form of ‘The Travelling Tailor’.

Here, customers have the opportunity to book an appointment with one of the brand’s tailoring specialists creating a bespoke tailored suit of their choice.

Customers can design every aspect of the suit from the buttons to the lining and purchase two suits for €895 (normally €1,200 each).

Book an appointment online from www.louiscopeland.com

The ‘Travelling Tailor’ will be taking place at Hayfield Manor, Cork, on March 13 and 14