Our Story

With a heritage in the trade of over 70 years and owners of the Kartel clothing brand, the Swan family are a familiar name in the Irish clothing business.

In 1946 John Swan was a bright ambitious 29 year-old with a flair for both business and fashion. Having left school at 14, John worked as a tailors apprentice, later studying to become a Master Tailor. In 1947 he set up his own clothing business, specialising in men’s tailored garments.

Since then the business evolved over the decades, into the entrepreneurial hands of John’s son Alan. And in more recent years the business has become Swan Clothing Ltd. and is owned and managed by Karl Swan, with My Personal Tailor Ltd. owned and managed by Alan’s other son Mark. Mark, Karl & Alan have a very close relationship, working alongside one another and enjoying the daily challenge of growing the business together through wholesale distribution, retail sales, and their personal tailoring service.