Evan Harris, 21, was gainfully employed when COVID-19 struck. He was among thousands of people around the world who lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic.
Harris did not despair. He took a decisive decision to become his own boss by venturing into entrepreneurship. He loves the idea of people dressing to look good and so he decided to establish a suit shop.
He opened BeSuited to coincide with his 21st birthday. The suit shop is located in downtown Trenton at the location of the former Byers Men’s Shop, a landmark clothier on North Broad Street, that first opened in 1924, according to NJ Media.
Harris’s love for people appearing well-dressed dates back to when he was working in a retail suit shop at the age of 16. “I just want to basically get people my own taste of suit-wearing and kind of bring back the suit-wearing,” Harris told NJ Advance Media. “With COVID and everything, it’s constantly bringing people inside and limiting people dressing up in general and going out.”
Harris was privileged to have Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora participate in the launch of his business. And the African American entrepreneur wasted no time in taking the mayor’s measurement to make him a custom-made suit.
Harris said he has been a consultant to many people when it comes to dressing. “People know how I dress and they like how I dress and that inspires them to dress better,” he said. “I’ve always been a good consultant when it comes to dressing others. Here you can find something no one else will have. You can also sit down and enjoy yourself, as well.”
His boutique shop will offer custom-made suits and a selection of fabrics, colors, patterns, styles, and accessories.
Harris came to Trenton when he was in fifth grade. He went to Trenton Catholic and then to Notre Dame High School. He secured his first job when he was 16 but lost it due to the pandemic. According to Harris, the pandemic inspired him to start his own business. “I ended up finding a new business that needed renovation,“ Harris said. “I took the step.”
Harris is fortunate to have his cousin Rodney Harris work with him at BeSuited. Rodney worked at Byer’s Men’s for 20 years before it was closed.
“Rodney knows his way around a suit,” Evan Harris said in the interview with NJ Advance Media. “He knows a lot of the clientele around so he will be a real help here.” Harris’s mother and his sister, Ebony, will also help out.
