Gilbert (Canadian, founded in 1954)

"Gilbert" or more full name "Gilbert's Big & Tall menswear" – it is Canadian family owned menswear store, operated at the same location – 439 King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario – since 1954. In the beginning Gilbert and Stella were making pants and suits for customers of all shapes and sizes. There was television station (CHCH TV) across from their store, where wrestling was filmed every Friday night. It became a tradition for the wrestlers to come after a match to get fitted up for their special sized clothing and then to enjoy a steak dinner cooked up by Stella. It was the way how the little store grew is the largest Big & Tall store in Canada. The store particularly specializes in hard to fit clients and some of their clothing can be considered unisex: S. Cohen Athletic Fit suits, dress pants up to size 80, jeans up to 38″ or 40″ leg, dress shirts with an extra large body made by Hathaway and in limited sizes by Alexander Julian, extra long ties for the man with the 19″ or larger size neck, Redwood T-shirts up to size 7X, and especially low rise pants, that were designed by Gilbert himself and named in his honor. Another “secret” of the company is the rent service for the theaters and movie companies. The stock clothing dating from the 1970s to the present day and includes three-piece suits, double breasted suits, plaid pants, plaid sport jackets and other garments for the tall and hard to fit actors.