Essentials: Kent Kilroe

“When we started, there were not many people doing what we do. Soon everyone was offering clothes like ours and presenting them in the same way” says Kent Kilroe, co-owner of bespoke menswear store Freemans Sporting Club. FSC was started by a group of friends who appreciated fine tailoring and American-made suits, a project which largely stemmed from the opening of the Freemans restaurant off Bowery, Manhattan. Adhering to its independent roots, the men’s specialty shop focuses on timeless tailoring while also carrying a selection of rare, vintage sportswear pieces. Outfitted with old bicycle seats, classic novels and rustic worktables, the shop offers a quaint sensibility that’s seen its share of impersonations across the city. With the success of FSC, Kilroe and his team extended their foray with outposts in San Francisco and Tokyo, alongside the launch of a barber shop last year in a 200-year-old reclaimed spruce barn in Sawkill, New York. For Kilroe’s Essentials, a vintage Tudor Submariner and foldable reading glasses are placed next to items from his own label, alongside accessories that remind him of his loved ones. For more on Freemans Sporting Club, head to its website.