Greyson Augustus was just getting off work when he got a call from Pearce Bespoke CEO Nathan Pearce saying that football star Jayden Daniels needed a suit made for the 2023 Heisman Trophy ceremony.
It was after 5 p.m. and Augustus was in Opelousas, exhausted from a long day. After some encouragement from his wife, the Baton Rouge custom suit clothier kicked himself into gear and drove to the former LSU quarterback’s apartment with a trunk full of fabrics, buttons and liners in-hand.
He took Daniels’ measurements, helped brainstorm a concept and designed the unforgettable gray suit the quarterback would later wear to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy.
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Augustus and Daniels worked until 11 p.m. that night, designing what would become Augustus’ favorite suit to date. The tailored, light-gray, three-piece set had fitted pant legs cuffed near the ankle and black buttons on the suit and vest.
The highlight, however, was no doubt the custom jacket liner. Daniels wanted something to distinguish his look from past trophy winners, so he and Augustus decided on using a photo of Daniels hitting the Heisman pose as a pattern for his suit liner in black-and-white.
Not everyone can say they designed a suit for a Heisman Trophy winner, but Daniels is just one of Augustus’ many noteworthy clients.
He has designed special occasion ’fits for collegiate and professional athletes, judges, lawyers, executives and creatives. His star-studded client list includes Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductees like Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Skip Bertman.
In 2022, Augustus started working with Pearce Bespoke, a Baton Rouge-based mobile custom clothing company serving around 40 U.S. cities. With more than 20 years of retail experience and 18 years in men’s clothing under his belt, it was a natural transition to becoming a franchise owner at the custom clothing company focusing primarily on menswear.
On average, Pearce Bespoke’s custom suits take three to four weeks to complete. At the initial fitting, Augustus collects 18 different measurements, and helps select the fabrics, details and customization. The fabrics are sourced from Italy and Europe, and the finished product is produced in China. Once it is shipped back to Louisiana, Augustus delivers the final product to his client.
“I really let the customer decide how they want to express themselves. Then, I take their ideas and make magic.”
[ —Custom suit clothier Greyson Augustus on his design process]
It’s not all about the big-name celebrities and high-profile appearances for the clothier. He is also passionate about pouring into youth. In addition to being on the board of Empower 225, he partners with LSU Athletics for a program called Sweats to Suits, where student-athletes learn the importance of professional attire and get equipped for life after sports.
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“It makes me happy when I hear people say ‘Greyson is my suit guy,’” Augustus says. “Most of my customers become friends. I really let the customer decide how they want to express themselves. Then, I take their ideas and make magic.”
This article was originally published in the October 2024 issue of 225 Magazine.