The Sartorial Shop in downtown Vancouver has formalized a partnership with Italian-based bespoke shoemaker Mario Bemer, marking a significant expansion of its offerings and introducing one of Italy’s most respected makers to the Canadian market in an official capacity.
The collaboration began in November 2024, when Bemer became the first true Italian shoemaker to visit Canada for client work and trunk show appointments. Unlike the common industry model where global brands send representatives or apprentices abroad, Bemer’s work remains fully handcrafted by him in Florence. He produces approximately 200 pairs of shoes per year, selecting each piece of leather directly at the tannery and constructing every pair by hand.
According to co-founder and CEO Zahir Rajani, the partnership emerged during planning for The Sartorial Shop’s first Negroni Night event, alongside Cappelleria Bertacchi. “We had hats with Bertacchi, we had bespoke tailoring with our offering, but we did not have high quality luxury footwear,” Rajani says. “Knowing Mario’s story and the quality of his work, I reached out, and the partnership came together within minutes.” Bemer and his wife Sandra subsequently travelled to Vancouver for the event, which also became Canada’s first Italian shoemaker trunk show.
The Sartorial Shop has since hosted a second trunk show and its second annual Negroni Night featuring Mario Bemer as chief guest. The collaboration allows Canadian clients direct access to two of Bemer’s lines: a made-to-order programme, which incorporates custom adjustments to the last and requires 90 to 120 days to complete, and a full bespoke programme, which requires multiple fittings over a five- to nine-month period.
According to Deep Market Insights, the global bespoke luxury garment market is valued at approximately USD 58.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 89.7 billion by 2030. This growth positions bespoke apparel as one of the strongest segments within the broader luxury apparel category, which is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 7.6 percent from 2025 to 2030. Analysts attribute this trajectory to rising consumer demand for personalised fashion, increased awareness of craftsmanship, and technology that enhances fit precision and production capabilities. This industry context reinforces The Sartorial Shop’s decision to expand its offering and enter new categories such as bespoke footwear.
Co-founder Anastasia Besiou notes that the partnership aligns with the company’s broader expansion strategy as it prepares to introduce a bespoke womenswear collection in early 2026. The addition of Mario Bemer’s footwear supports the goal of offering a fully integrated sartorial experience and strengthens the business’s curated network of the world’s best international craft partners.
Bemer’s presence is notable in the global footwear industry. A founding member of Stefano Bemer, a company established in 1983 in Greve, Italy, he later launched Mario Bemer Firenze in 2014, operating under his own name from 2018 onward. His work has attracted a wide range of clients, including high-profile figures such as Daniel Day-Lewis, who apprenticed under him prior to filming Gangs of New York.
The Sartorial Shop’s partnership with Bemer complements several other developments underway at the business. Recent additions include Canadian-born actor Angelo Agalou as brand ambassador; the styling of the Sugarcane cast for the Oscars red carpet; the upcoming launch of a remote bespoke offering that will make services available globally; expanded manufacturing capabilities for boutiques worldwide; and the forthcoming womenswear collection overseen by Besiou.
These initiatives are designed to position the company for broader international reach while maintaining a controlled, high-touch service model rooted in bespoke craftsmanship.
About The Sartorial Shop
The Sartorial Shop, located in downtown Vancouver, is a by-appointment atelier specialising in custom and bespoke clothing for men and women. Founded by co-owners Zahir Rajani and Anastasia Besiou, the business has established a reputation for technical precision, incorporating more than 35 body measurements and detailed postural notes into each garment.
The company offers bespoke and semi-bespoke suiting, tuxedos, formalwear, overcoats, shirts, skirts, waistcoats, and vests. Fabric options include textiles from leading English and Italian mills such as Dormeuil, Holland & Sherry, Loro Piana, and Zegna.
The Sartorial Shop’s roots trace back to Tasleem’s, the Main Street clothing business founded by Rajani’s parents in 1984. A custom line of shirts and suits introduced in 2007 evolved into a referral-based model by 2010, marking Rajani’s entry into the tailoring sector. After a decade-long executive career in global real estate, he returned to bespoke tailoring in 2023, reopening the family business as Rajani Bespoke.
The company re-launched as The Sartorial Shop in August 2024 to align with its broader strategic direction, including expanded product categories and new international partnerships. The business continues to refine its process and scale its offering, supported by collaborations with premium fabric mills, manufacturing partners, and craft specialists such as Italian shoemaker Mario Bemer.
Today, The Sartorial Shop positions itself as an emerging leader in Canada’s bespoke clothing market, with plans to expand its atelier footprint, introduce remote bespoke capabilities, and further develop its womenswear and global manufacturing divisions.
The Sartorial Shop operates its by-appointment atelier at #706 – 602 West Hastings Street in Vancouver.
