“Gastronomy has always held a special place in my life. Perhaps because it demands the same dedication to the craft as tailoring.”
For Melvin Keijzer—also known online as Melvin the Tailor and founder of The Boardroom Amsterdam—wine and bespoke tailoring ultimately tell the same story. A story of time, patience, and craftsmanship that doesn’t impose itself, but rather reveals itself quietly. Guided by his belief that quality should whisper, he approaches every garment as something made to last a lifetime—just like the great wines he admires. From his boutique on Amsterdam’s Egelantiersgracht, he creates custom-made garments that reflect the wearer’s personality and builds a vision of style in which substance always matters more than superficial display.
A series of portraits of wine enthusiasts—some well-known, others less so—ranging from artists and writers to adventurers, chefs, sommeliers, and pastry chefs. They share their personal connection to wine.
Do you remember your first memorable encounter with a great wine?
Absolutely. Gastronomy has always held a special place in my life, perhaps because it demands the same dedication to craftsmanship as tailoring. One of my most memorable wine experiences took place at De Lindehof in Nuenen, an institution that has since, unfortunately, closed its doors. Together with my business partner Sep, I decided to have dinner there on one of the very last evenings the restaurant was open.
What made that evening so special wasn’t just the food or the wine, but the way everything came together. The kitchen was led by a 22-year-old chef who cooked at the very highest level, with an uninhibited precision that reminded me of a young tailor beginning to discover his own signature style. When Chef Soenil Bahadoer’s signature rendang was served, we opened a 1988 Château Mouton Rothschild.
It was one of those rare moments when everything fell into place: the setting, the people, the craftsmanship, and the story in the glass. I still remember taking a sip and realizing that this was more than just a dinner. It was harmony. It even brought a tear to my eye.
Is there another wine experience that has stayed with you?
Absolutely. Another memory takes place in The Hague, at Tapperij. It’s a special place: a former jenever shop dating back to 1868, whose interior seems almost untouched by time. There, I tasted a Chenin Blanc unlike any I’d ever tasted before.
What really struck me there was that nothing revolved around well-known labels or prestige. It’s all about the product itself and the people who make it with love. It’s a place where the substance takes center stage—the essence, not the name. That philosophy aligns perfectly with how I view craftsmanship.
Perhaps that’s what good wine does. It reminds you that craftsmanship is never just about technique. It’s about patience, about time, about giving something the space to mature until it becomes more than the sum of its parts.
How did wine come into your life? Did that interest develop alongside your love of fashion?
Absolutely. My interest in wine developed gradually, out of curiosity and a keen interest. Actually, it followed the same path that led me to the tailoring trade.
When you work with high-quality materials every day, you develop a certain sensitivity. At first, you mainly notice the obvious: the label, the reputation, the status. But over time, you learn to appreciate the deeper layers. Balance. Restraint. Character.
For me, wine and customization have always gone hand in hand. Both belong to a world of refinement, but should never be superficial. True elegance makes no noise; it reveals itself in silence.
When it comes to custom tailoring, we often say that the finest clothing reveals its beauty gradually. A good suit doesn’t make an impression right away; it becomes more beautiful the longer you look at it. It’s exactly the same with good wine.
“It was one of those rare moments when everything fell into place: the space, the people, the craftsmanship, and the story in the glass.”
People sometimes say that a good wine “enhances” a moment. Do you see any similarities between choosing a fabric for a client and selecting a bottle of wine for friends?
Absolutely. Choosing a fabric for a client isn’t really that different from picking out a bottle of wine for friends. In both cases, you get a feel for the space, the people, and the moment.
A fabric embodies a personality. One tells a story of tradition, the other of boldness or quiet confidence. Both are forms of storytelling through craftsmanship.
In addition, both situations are all about trust. A customer trusts the tailor to guide him toward something he might not have chosen on his own. Opening a bottle of wine for friends works the same way. You’re not just serving a wine that suits the moment, but also a little piece of your own taste.
How would you describe your wine style today? Classic, like a three-piece suit, or bold, like a colorful lining?
My philosophy is simple, even when it comes to wine: quality should speak for itself.
I’m drawn to wines where the substance speaks louder than the marketing. Less focus on the exterior, more on the craftsmanship that lies within. Just like with a beautifully tailored three-piece suit, the magic lies in the construction, the balance, the full-canvas construction, and the quiet precision with which everything is made.
Perhaps that’s precisely why I admire wines that get better as they age. They’re like a well-made piece of clothing: not designed for a single season, but to last a lifetime.
You recently installed a EuroCave in your boutique in Amsterdam. What role does it play in your customers’ experience?
The EuroCave adds something special to the welcome and the experience in our boutique.
A tasting session is often a meaningful moment. People come for their wedding, an important event, or to mark a new chapter in their lives.
Wine almost naturally becomes part of that ritual. Customers spontaneously start sharing their fondest wine memories. I often say that I don’t keep bottles—I keep memories that are yet to be made. Customers even bring their own bottles on a regular basis. Before you know it, an appointment for a custom order turns into a little celebration.
The tailor’s shop has always been a place where people meet. In the past, people used to talk about art and entrepreneurship there. These days, the conversation sometimes turns to wine. It slows down the moment. And I think that very slowing down is the true luxury of our time.
Ultimately, both wine and custom work are about the same thing: quality that naturally brings people together.
