SENATOR
Finished tailored jackets hanging on a production rail in the workshop

Our story

An Inherited Legacy. An Independent Vision.

Senator is an independent fashion house in Vancouver — family heritage, contemporary design, exceptional textiles and artisanal production, brought together one garment at a time.

Founded by Ehsan Shademrooz · Vancouver

The origins — 1978

A Legacy Born Through Craftsmanship

The story of Senator begins long before its founding.

In 1978, a young man driven by extraordinary determination, natural talent and a passion for clothing began his journey on the floor of a garment factory. From sweeping the floors to mastering the intricacies of production, he worked his way through every stage of manufacturing before becoming the owner and designer of his own children's clothing factory.

That man was the father of Senator's founder, Ehsan Shademrooz.

For Ehsan, the factory was more than a place of work. It was part of his childhood. Surrounded by fabrics, machinery, patterns and the rhythm of production, he grew up discovering the art of making clothes — learning how every measurement, cut, seam and finishing detail contributes to the character of a garment.

From the behaviour of different fabrics to the precision of patternmaking, cutting, construction and finishing, his earliest education in fashion came not from a classroom, but from the production floor itself.

What began as childhood curiosity gradually became an instinctive understanding of craftsmanship: an appreciation for the hands behind the product, inherited from a father whose life embodied perseverance, creativity and passion.

A jacket sleeve being steam-pressed on the production floor
Pressing is a trade in itself — the shape of a sleeve is set by hand.

The journey — 2011

From Heritage to the World of Luxury

  • Canali
  • Zegna
  • Tom Ford
  • Bottega Veneta
  • Holt Renfrew

In 2011, Ehsan entered a defining chapter of his career in Canada's luxury fashion industry, carrying with him an intimate knowledge of clothing production and an ambition to explore the highest expressions of fashion.

From exceptional personal sales achievements to private client advisory, made-to-measure expertise, management and ultimately the position of Store Director at Bottega Veneta, each chapter refined his understanding of the luxury industry.

Working closely with discerning clients, he developed a profound understanding of personal style, silhouette, proportion and the relationship between exceptional clothing and the individual who wears it.

Beyond the collections and prestigious names, he discovered the importance of service, individuality and the emotional connection between a client and a beautifully made garment.

Yet it was this experience, combined with his manufacturing heritage, that inspired a different perspective on luxury.

An artisan inspecting the lining of a windowpane-check sports coat
A coat is judged from the inside out.

The vision — 2016

Luxury Defined by What Matters

After years immersed in the world of luxury, Ehsan developed a conviction that would become the foundation of Senator.

His ambition was not to imitate established luxury houses, but to create an independent fashion house capable of delivering the same uncompromising attention to craftsmanship, exceptional materials and distinguished design through a more personal and considered approach to luxury.

He envisioned a house where the finest fabrics, masterful construction and contemporary silhouettes could be experienced without the substantial premiums associated with global advertising, elaborate marketing and the commercial structures of major luxury brands. A house where the product would speak for itself. Where quality would be experienced rather than promised. And where the relationship between the maker and the wearer would remain at the heart of every creation.

In 2016, this vision became Senator. Established in Vancouver, Senator began as a specialist tailoring house dedicated to fine garments and luxury alterations. Its evolution into bespoke tailoring followed naturally — first through handcrafted production in Vancouver, later through collaborations with master artisans in Italy.

What began as a personal vision became the continuation of a family legacy, reinterpreted for a new generation of men and women.

The true value of a garment should reside in its fabric, its construction, its fit and the skill of the hands that create it — not simply in the name it carries.

The materials

The World's Finest Textile Houses

  • Loro Piana
  • Ariston Napoli
  • Holland & Sherry
  • Dormeuil
  • Drago
  • Vitale Barberis Canonico

At Senator, our pursuit of excellence begins at the source. Over the years we have cultivated strong, enduring relationships with some of the world's most distinguished textile houses.

These relationships extend far beyond conventional fabric sourcing. Built upon mutual trust, an uncompromising appreciation for quality and significant production volumes, they have established Senator as a valued Canadian client among prestigious European mills.

From exceptionally fine wool and luxurious cashmere to baby cashmere, silk, linen and sophisticated seasonal blends, every material is selected for its character, performance, texture and beauty. Behind these fabrics stand generations of textile expertise and an enduring commitment to the art of weaving.

For Senator, the privilege of working with such remarkable mills carries an equally important responsibility: to honour the quality of their materials through exceptional garment construction. Because even the world's finest cloth deserves equally remarkable hands.

Rolls of cloth stored on the mill's shelving
Cloth is chosen in the roll — weight, drape and behaviour read by hand.

The art of making

Craftsmanship Without Compromise

Senator's production philosophy is founded upon a simple principle: the quality of a garment is determined by the integrity of every stage of its creation. From the initial pattern and precise measurements to cutting, construction, pressing and finishing, every detail contributes to the final expression of the piece.

Our bespoke garments are handcrafted in Vancouver and Italy, drawing upon the expertise of master tailors and artisans whose knowledge is rooted in generations of sartorial tradition. For particularly intricate women's creations, our Vancouver atelier offers the expertise of skilled masters, allowing exceptional commissions to be developed with close attention to their design, construction and individual requirements.

Across our production partnerships in Italy and Portugal, we work with experienced makers who share our commitment to quality, precision and the enduring value of skilled craftsmanship.

Nothing is insignificant. Every thread, every stitch and every considered detail plays a part in creating something that is not merely worn, but experienced.

A tailor finishing a brown wool jacket with a Holland & Sherry label
Cloth and hands: a Holland & Sherry jacket, finished in the atelier.
A machinist guiding marked cloth through an industrial sewing machine
Chalk marks the line; the hand keeps it.
The balance of a lapel. The architecture of a shoulder. The fluidity of a silhouette. The precision of a seam. The finishing of a buttonhole.

The collections

A Complete Expression of Modern Luxury

Beyond bespoke, Senator has evolved into a luxury fashion house offering a considered wardrobe for both women and men.

Our ready-to-wear selection encompasses more than 500 luxury pieces, from refined tailoring and contemporary casualwear to exceptional knitwear, baby cashmere and seasonal collections. Developed through our production relationships in Italy and Portugal, these collections reflect the same appreciation for materials, construction, proportion and design that defines our bespoke philosophy.

Each piece is selected or developed with careful consideration for its fabric, silhouette, construction and enduring relevance within a modern wardrobe.

Whether an individually commissioned garment or a carefully selected ready-to-wear piece, our intention remains unchanged: to offer exceptional quality, distinctive character and enduring elegance.

A technician cutting cloth at the cutting table
The cut decides everything that follows.
A wardrobe shaped not by the prominence of a label, but by the excellence of what lies within.

The house today

A Legacy Continued. A Vision Realized.

From a childhood surrounded by the sounds of manufacturing to a career among the world's most distinguished luxury houses, Ehsan's journey has always been connected by one enduring passion: the art of making clothes.

What his father began in 1978 through determination, talent and a profound respect for manufacturing has found a new expression in Senator Bespoke.

Today, Senator serves a discerning clientele across Canada, from Vancouver to Toronto, bringing together family heritage, contemporary design, exceptional textiles and artisanal production.

We believe true luxury is found in the authenticity of craftsmanship, the beauty of exceptional materials, the precision of fit and the confidence a remarkable garment inspires. And we believe the greatest expression of our work is discovered not through a promise, but through the experience of wearing it.

Senator Bespoke

The Art of Making. The Legacy of Craftsmanship.

Senator is a private atelier. Fittings take place at your home, office or club in Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver.