T.O. Collection

Mini model @elian_p4 takes T.O. Collection to the streets.

Gedalia Tomor has been honing his retail expertise since childhood. Growing up, Tomor helped his parents run their men’s and boys’ clothing boutique. Over time, the fashion-forward youngster began to develop his own unique flair for design. It wasn’t until early 2014, after taking the helm at his family’s boutique, that Tomor’s ideas coalesced into the children’s formalwear brand T.O. Collection.

“When I took over my parents’ retail store, I had a hard time finding a stylish suit with a fit that worked for many of our customers,” Tomor says. “So I decided to fill this gap on my own.” The result was a children’s brand specializing in traditional dresswear (suits, in particular) with pops of color, textured fabrics and unique cuts. From Hollywood stars shutting down the red carpet to everyday kids decked out for a wedding, T.O. Collection has something for everyone, “including girls looking for a masculine look,” Tomor says.

Actor Miles Brown hits the Emmys red carpet in T.O. Collection.

Scouring the brand’s Instagram brings up child celebs like Miles Brown from the ABC sitcom “Blackish” and Forrest Wheeler from ABC’s “Fresh Off The Boat,” sporting everything from plaid to electric blue suit jackets and wing-tip shoes. “I love seeing the mothers enjoying our line and their children feeling so handsome in it,” Tomor says. “I want the process of buying a child’s suit to be easy–always stylish, well-fitting and of the highest quality.”

What’s your No. 1 tip for designing childrenswear? Delivering the highest quality product at the best price possible. I’ve learned that while I’m designing childrenswear, I must always consider what parents will like their children to wear. Both child and parent approval is key to a successful collection.

Stranger Things star August Maturo wears T.O. Collection next to Camila Cabello at Radio Disney Music Awards.

How did you get the word out about T.O. Collection? Social media is definitely what got us recognized. It shows all our customers and retail stores how beautiful our products are. Today, our core sales come from the suits hanging in retail stores nationwide. Once a customer tries on our suit, he is sure to purchase it. Our fabrics, fit and style make our products stand out above the rest.

What will 2018 bring design-wise? We are very excited about next year’s offerings. We’re developing new fabrics for our suits, as well as a gorgeous new line of wool outerwear. Although children’s formalwear is not quite as popular as it once was, there is certainly still a demand for it. We will continue to design and grow our collection for those special occasions.

Any challenges you’ve overcome during your journey as a childrenswear designer? When I first discovered that other companies were replicating my products, it was difficult to deal with. I had put so much work into my designs and fits. After discussing it with many friends in the industry, I realized it’s better to look at replications as flattering and encouraging. It pushes me to continue innovating new designs and ideas.

Lifestyle image from this year’s fall collection.

Where is your favorite place to escape from work? After long day of work or travel, I simply look forward to spending time with my family at home.

How can retailers get more information about T.O. Collection? Our website is coming soon, so in the meantime, please follow us on Instagram. For wholesale inquiries, e-mail sales@to-collection.com.