Our Story

Our Story

80 Years of tailoring

Founded in 1946 on Wellington’s Vivian Street, Rembrandt began as a small tailoring store with a clear purpose: to dress men well through quality craftsmanship, value and service, guided by a deep understanding of fit. Today, that same foundation underpins a modern menswear brand defined by Italian fabrics, limited runs and considered design. While styles have evolved over the decades, our standards have not. As we mark 80 years, Rembrandt continues to move forward, grounded in experience and shaped for today.

For over 80 years, Rembrandt has been crafting exceptional suits for New Zealand and Australian men — a legacy built on precision, passion, and an unwavering commitment to quality tailoring.

  1. Wellington, New Zealand

    Year 1946

    Where It All Began

    In 1946, the tailoring business of Bert Churchill, located on Vivian Street in Wellington, was purchased by Alex Harrison, a skilled cutter who saw an opportunity to build something enduring. Registering the business as a company at the start of the year, Harrison laid the foundations for a new chapter in New Zealand tailoring.

  2. 1950s Production team, Patterns and Ads

    Year 1950s

    A begining worth framing

    By 1952, a defining moment arrived. A brainstorming session to name a new line of suits led to the choice of Rembrandt - a name chosen to reflect craftsmanship, artistry and ambition, narrowly edging out contenders like Michelangelo. In 1953, the company was officially renamed Rembrandt Suits Ltd, marking the beginning of a brand built to last generations. At a time when traditional tailoring demanded multiple fittings, Rembrandt set out to make great fit more accessible. Early garments were designed to be finished to the individual, with details like unfinished cuffs and adjustable seams allowing each suit to be refined to the wearer. This approach led to Rembrandt’s first ready‑to‑wear suit, a black single‑breasted, three‑button design, delivering tailored fit with greater ease.

  3. 1960s Young Sir Display

    Year 1960s

    Modernising the Craft

    As demand for Rembrandt suits grew, the business entered a new phase of modernisation. Pat Lyford joined the company as Production Manager, an unconventional appointment at the time, as he was not a trained tailor. Through dedication, hard work and a sharp operational mind, he quickly earned the respect of the team. Pat travelled extensively, researching modern manufacturing methods and equipment, helping to introduce systems that improved consistency, quality and scale. During this decade, Rembrandt also expanded its audience, launching the Young Sir collection for boys aged 10–16. Well received by retailers across New Zealand, it reflected a growing confidence in designing suits for every stage of life, while maintaining the same commitment to fit and craftsmanship.

  4. 1970s catalogue

    Year 1970

    Change and Experimentation

    The 1970s marked a period of significant change for Rembrandt. The company went to market with its own Rembrandt‑branded garments, while ownership shifted when Paul Vetman sold the business to Alliance Textiles. The decade coincided with a dramatic shift in men’s wear, bolder silhouettes, wider lapels and a more expressive approach to dressing became dominant. These changes marked a challenging and transitional period for the business, one that would prompt reflection and change in the years that followed.

  5. 1980s out takes from shoot & illustration from ad

    Year 1980s

    Reset and Expansion

    In the late 1980s, the leadership team took decisive action, purchasing the company back from Alliance Textiles - just one week before the share market crash. The move marked a return to independent ownership, with the business remaining in the hands of the same two families to this day. The decade also signalled Rembrandt’s first step beyond New Zealand. Following the inclusion of apparel in the CER Free Trade Agreement with Australia, the brand began exporting overseas, officially launching into the Australian market with an event in Melbourne in November 1989.

  6. 1990s campaign images

    Year 1990s

    Scale, Style and European Influence

    The 1990s saw Rembrandt expand beyond New Zealand, selling into major Australian department stores for the first time and increasing factory capacity to meet demand. Menswear styles shifted decisively, with double‑breasted peak‑lapel suits, wide‑leg trousers and distinctive tortoiseshell buttons defining the look of the decade. Production was re‑engineered to align more closely with European standards, while the business operated largely as a cut, make and trim specialist, with corporate and banking uniforms forming a significant part of its work.

  7. Rembrandt Cutting Room, 1946

    Wellington, New Zealand

    Year 2000

    Scaling to Lead the Industry

    The early 2000s marked Rembrandt’s first steps into off‑shore manufacturing, a shift that allowed the business to grow capacity and remain competitive as global apparel production changed. This approach continued to develop through the decade, supporting increased demand while maintaining control over quality and fit. At the same time, Rembrandt remained deeply embedded in New Zealand’s menswear industry. The business was responsible for producing a significant proportion of locally made men’s tailoring, operating behind the scenes as the maker for many brands. This scale and capability reinforced Rembrandt’s position not just as a retailer, but as one of the country’s key authorities in menswear production.

  8. Rembrandt Cutting Room, 1946

    2010s, Campaign image

    Year 2010

    A Broader Presence

    The 2010s marked a period of significant growth for Rembrandt. Rembrandt Hire launched in 2011, followed by the opening of the first standalone Rembrandt store in Newmarket, Auckland in 2012.

    The brand’s digital presence expanded with the launch of the Rembrandt website in 2014, supporting customers beyond the store. Throughout the decade, Rembrandt strengthened its national footprint with new and relocated stores, including Palmerston North, Shortland Street, Johnston Street, and the opening of the Merivale store in Christchurch.

    The decade also marked the final locally made Made to Measure garments, signalling a transition into a modern era while honouring the brand’s tailoring heritage.

  • Rembrandt Cutting Room, 1946

    Video from winter 2026

    Year 2010

    Shaping the Future of Fit

    The 2020s began with disruption as COVID‑19 reshaped retail, accelerating investment in technology across Rembrandt’s warehouse and store operations. In 2021, head office moved to a purpose‑built home in Petone, reflecting a more agile and modern way of working.

    The decade has brought continued momentum, with new and refreshed stores in Napier, Hamilton, Sylvia Park and Onehunga, alongside the launch of online Made to Measure in 2023.

    Eight decades on, Rembrandt is focused firmly on the future - evolving how men shop, refining fit, and ensuring tailoring expertise remains relevant for generations to come.

    • Our Logo Evolution

    Our logo has evolved with us.

    From stitched beginnings to a modern digital identity.

    Family led

    Rembrandt has been proudly led by three generations of the Lyford family. Pat Lyford built on the brand’s tailoring heritage, strengthening its focus on quality, longevity, and fit. Today, David Lyford leads the business as Managing Director, guiding Rembrandt’s growth while staying true to those founding values. With Nick Lyford also having contributed a modern perspective as Head of Marketing.

    Quotes

    1 of 2
    We make many suits each day, for our customer who buys a suit it is one garment that needs to be of the best Rembrandt quality.
    Pat Lyford
    Rembrandt was behind a huge share of New Zealand’s mens tailoring. We weren’t always visible, but we were doing the work — setting standards and building garments at scale.
    Grant - Head Tailor