There is a perception that many Washingtonians like to dress up and “look good” even though they may lack sufficient economic means to justify wearing name-brand clothes and shoes.
That is a perception that Julius “Eddie” Lofton (JC), a legacy tailor/owner of JC Lofton Tailors located on the U Street NW corridor, understands well. When thinking about it, he giggles and shakes his head.
“I think when you come from nothing, you want to look like you have something,” said Lofton, 65. “Having nice clothes often makes people feel rich. We Blacks try to impress others. We try to act like we have more than what we have.”
Lofton has operated his business for decades, sewing and hemming clothes on people whether they are members of the U.S. Congress or the high school student getting ready for the prom.
“I have been coming to Eddie for more than a decade,” said Philip Rucker, the senior vice president for editorial and news for CNN, told The Informer. “Eddie makes me look my very best. I trust the work that he does, and it is perfect.”
Lofton’s Tailoring Family Legacy
Lofton’s grandfather is Josephus C. Lofton, the proprietor of Lofton Custom Tailoring and a prominent District entrepreneur who set up his business in 1939.
When he started the business, the District was racially segregated and Black people could purchase but not try on clothes at such establishments as Garfinkel’s and Woodward & Lothrop based in downtown D.C.
Josephus Lofton’s talents were so highly regarded that he managed to get a contract from the federal government teaching veterans and people with disabilities how to tailor, a rarity for a Black business during the pre-Civil Rights movement era due to rampant racial discrimination.
JC Lofton and a cousin, Cheryl A. Lofton, who was honored as a legacy business during The Washington Informer’s 60th anniversary celebration on March 28, take pride in continuing in the family tailoring business.
“I am so honored to be part of a business that has lasted three generations,” Cheryl Lofton, 67, told The Informer. “I am happy the business is still going. It’s not just me and Eddie, I have a brother who has a tailoring business in Atlanta so we are keeping it going. Plus, just because Eddie and I don’t work together doesn’t mean there is tension between us. He has referred clients to me and I have referred clients to him. We try to serve everyone we can in this area.”
Lofton Keeps On Going
Lofton supervises a staff of eight people who are constantly working on clothes for their clients.
People from all walks of life climb the stairwell to get to the shop.
On his wall are photos of some of his most noted clients including the late former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, NBA Hall of Famer and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the late journalist Carole Simpson, noted local boxing champion Sharmba Mitchell, and entertainers such as Barry Manilow.
“One night I got a call from someone saying that a prominent person needed to have emergency tailoring services at National Harbor,” said Lofton. “I told that person I would come but that would be an extra charge. They agreed. I got to the MGM and saw layers and layers of security and wondered ‘who could this be?’ I finally was presented to Barry Manilow and needed his clothes fixed due to an accident. I served him and everything turned out fine.”
While business has been profitable throughout the years for Lofton, he experienced a rough patch when the coronavirus pandemic arrived in 2020. Many activities were cancelled due to the coronavirus and Lofton’s business was adversely affected.
He applied for financial assistance through a local program, LISC DC in partnership with Wells Fargo and received a $10,000 grant. Lofton said he was pleased to receive the money, and it helped financially.
Ramon Jacobson, the executive director of LISC DC, said his organization was glad to help.
“We were thrilled to partner with Wells Fargo to inject money into small businesses that constitute what we call a community’s fabric,” Jacobson said. “And no one knows more about fabric, literally, than a legacy tailor with an 80-year legacy on D.C.’s historic U Street. We worked in collaboration with local partners, like the Anacostia Business Improvement District, who helped identify local businesses who needed the money and would put it to work.”
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misidentified Ramon Jacobson, executive director of LISC DC.
