Forever Made in the USA - The Art of American Tailoring at Commonwealth Proper
Our label says Forever Made in the USA. That’s not marketing—it’s a mission. In a world chasing cheap and fast, we stand for slow, intentional, and local. Every stitch, every seam, every cut of cloth is done here—by people who care. Not outsourced. Not mass-produced. Just properly made in America.
Commonwealth Proper was founded with that principle in mind. Our founder, Craig Arthur von Schroeder, once traveled to China during a previous clothing venture. What he saw changed everything: massive factories focused on volume, not quality. Workers crammed into poor conditions. A system built on speed and cost-cutting—often at the expense of human dignity. It looked nothing like craftsmanship. It looked like exploitation. Craig knew then he wanted something better—something American.
CMMP was born as a rebellion against fast fashion and fake luxury. Against the illusion of Italian or British tailoring slapped onto imported suits. We don’t pretend to be from Naples or Savile Row. Our roots are here—in Philadelphia, in New York, in Newark. Our style reflects that: soft shoulders, medium lapels, and an ease that’s both modern and timeless. No pretense. No affectation. Just the real thing.
Philadelphia isn’t just where we’re based—it’s the soul of Commonwealth Proper. Historically, this city was the Mecca of American men’s fashion. It was home to the country’s first tailor unions and a thriving garment district that shaped the way American men dressed for over a century. Many of the great clothiers, cutters, and fitters passed through this city, and their legacy lives on in our workroom. Philadelphia is where CMMP was born, and where we continue to build the future of American tailoring.
Step inside that workroom and you’ll see that legacy in action. Stefan Ndini, our master pant maker, builds every trouser by hand with care and consistency. Chan Hwang—trained in design at Drexel and apprenticed under Stefan—brings a designer’s eye and a maker’s skill to every in-house shirt we produce. Kay, our in-house master tailor, not only finishes jackets with surgical precision, but also handles repairs and alterations with unmatched craftsmanship. This isn’t a job for them. It’s their life’s craft.
Beyond Philadelphia, our American partners aren’t just factories—they’re collaborators. With Rochester Tailored Clothing, we’ve developed exclusive CMMP silhouettes from the ground up. We speak with their team daily—reviewing patterns, refining construction, and innovating together. We visit their upstate New York facility regularly to test new styles, materials, and techniques. The same is true for our shirtmaking partner, Gambert, in Newark, New Jersey. Their fourth-generation expertise pairs seamlessly with our design direction to produce shirts that aren’t just high-quality—they’re distinctly CMMP. This is not private labeling. It’s a real partnership built on trust, communication, and shared standards.
At Commonwealth Proper, tailoring isn’t just about fit—it’s about values. Hard work. Pride in your craft. Standing behind what you make. These are American principles, and they guide everything we do. We believe in doing it right, not rushing it. In knowing the names of the people who make your clothes. In building something that lasts. This isn’t nostalgia—it’s how we move forward with purpose. No shortcuts. No compromises. Just real clothes made by real people, right here at home.