In Conversation with Mitchell Ogilvie

MO: Thank you very much. Yes, we’re proud to be celebrating our 45th year of Mitchell Ogilvie Menswear. I opened my first store on Edward Street in the City on the 9th of April when I was just 21, about to turn 22. From a young age, I’ve always thought of myself as entrepreneurial. I was driven by a strong desire to have my own business. I’d worked countless jobs—literally everywhere—and all at once — which gave me a broad experience of the working world early on. 

My father, Patrick Ogilvie, was a well-known milliner in Australia, so retail was always in the blood. I was working 6 jobs at once and I ended up working in a menswear store where I was quickly promoted to manager. After several months, I thought, “Wow, this is easy — I can do this.” If only I’d known. I was young and naïve, which was the best thing that could have happened.

I always say to people getting into business today: “Don’t think you need to know everything. If you're hungry, passionate, enthusiastic, and have a bit of nose and street smarts, you’ll achieve anything you want. If you know too much, you’ll procrastinate for the rest of your life.” 

MO: Edward Street has always been the flagship of Mitchell Ogilvie Menswear and an iconic destination for Brisbane fashion. But the development of James Street and what it’s done for the city is truly remarkable. It’s one of the premier shopping destinations in Australia and has always been on my radar. After seeing the success of my wife’s stores, Samantha Ogilvie and Maryon’s, it was a place we always knew our next store had to be. When we were offered the position next to Maryon’s, it was a no-brainer. 

MO: It was a different era when I was growing up — wearing a suit was very much the norm. There’s something about a suit and the feeling it gives you that makes you feel proud. 

I still remember my first ever suit. I was 17 and working for six months on a cruise ship. We stopped in Hong Kong, and I took myself to a tailor where I had a navy, pinstriped, double-breasted suit made. However, a particularly special suit I remember getting was on my first work buying trip to Italy. I was 23 and treated myself to a Giorgio Armani suit. It was big and full — very much the style at the time, of course. It was the first beautiful and special suit I owned.

MO: Fashion is always evolving — and like any business, you have to evolve with it, as does your customer. You need to continuously educate your customer to move with you and with fashion. But there’s a balance: move too fast and you’ll leave your customer behind; stay the same and they’ll move on without you. 

One of our core philosophies at Mitchell Ogilvie Menswear is that the customer always comes first. They’re our number one priority and always have been. Building and nurturing those relationships, some that have lasted over 40 years, is just as important as forming new ones today. 

There’s so much that happens behind the scenes that people don’t see — answering late-night calls to open the shop for customers needing last-minute outfits, travelling around Australia to update customers’ wardrobes and make them made-to-measure suits, or the weekly dinners Aung loves having with our customers. It’s all part of the commitment we’ve made to service and loyalty since day one. 

MO: Bespoke is incredibly important to us. We’ve seen a real shift back to men wanting to wear suits, but they want them made just for them — tailored to their body, lifestyle, and taste. That’s where made-to-measure and bespoke come in. It’s not just about looking sharp; it’s about feeling confident in something that has been crafted just for you.  

We want everyone to have that experience and feel their best, which is why we offer Mitchell Ogilvie Tailoring which starts at $1,495. We also offer custom tailoring for Canali and Brioni, where we fly in Italian tailors to measure you and create a suit using exclusive Brioni and Canali fabrics and craftsmanship. These are truly one-of-a-kind suits — whether it’s from Canali, Brioni, or Mitchell Ogilvie Tailoring.  

Ready-to-wear remains a key part of our offering too. It speaks to the customer who appreciates quality and design, and who knows that if a brand is in our store, it’s there for a reason — it’s special. The craftsmanship, design, and materials that go into our garments are truly an art form. 

There’s also been a big move towards quiet luxury — which is exactly the kind of labels we’ve always championed. Nothing loud or overly branded, just beautifully made clothing that speaks for itself. It’s very much an “if you know, you know” approach, and our clients absolutely understand and value that. 

MO: I’ve been travelling to Italy to do our annual buy for over 40 years now. Being of Italian descent myself — despite still not managing to speak a word of it — it truly feels like home. We’ve had some incredible opportunities over the years, from seeing firsthand how brands create their products, to discovering new labels at Pitti Uomo, the iconic menswear fashion week in Florence. 

Family-owned labels like Canali and Brunello Cucinelli are incredibly generous in their approach. We’ve had the privilege of meeting their families, visiting their factories, walking through their towns, and witnessing the impact these brands have had on their communities — it’s genuinely beautiful. I’ve always been a big supporter of artisans and the craft they bring to their field. It’s an incredible skill to have and something I really admire. No one has the craftsmanship and heart that goes into a product quite like the Italians.