My favourite store? Seize Sur Vingt in New York. They make most

The musician Matt Berninger once said, “My favourite store? Seize Sur Vingt in New York. They make most of my suits, and they are really cool people.” At first glance, these words appear as a simple remark about taste and fashion. Yet when examined deeply, they reveal something older, something enduring — a reflection on craftsmanship, human connection, and the quiet art of finding beauty in the everyday. In speaking of his suits and the people who make them, Berninger is not merely describing a shop, but celebrating the timeless bond between the creator and the created, between the artisan’s hands and the life that their work adorns.

In the style of the ancients, we might say that Berninger’s suits are but the outer garments of an inner truth: that what we choose to wear, and who we choose to support, reflects our reverence for excellence and authenticity. The store Seize Sur Vingt becomes a symbol, a temple of craft where creation is done not by machines alone, but by human beings who shape with care, who measure with attention, who labor with pride. To praise them as “really cool people” is not vanity, but gratitude — an acknowledgment that behind every well-made thing stands a soul dedicated to its making.

In ancient Greece, the philosopher Plato spoke of the Form of Beauty — the idea that all beautiful things reflect a higher truth, an order beyond mere appearance. Likewise, in praising his tailors, Berninger points to something more than fashion. He honors harmony, precision, and balance — the same virtues that guided sculptors, poets, and builders through the ages. The suit, when crafted by thoughtful hands, becomes not merely clothing, but armor for the spirit, a garment of confidence woven from both fabric and care. It reminds us that elegance, at its root, is not about expense but about intention.

We see this truth illustrated in history through the example of Mahatma Gandhi. Though known for his simple, homespun clothes, Gandhi’s relationship with cloth was profound. When he spun cotton himself, it was an act of liberation — a declaration of independence from industrial greed and colonial oppression. His garments were his manifesto: simplicity made sacred through intention. In the same way, Berninger’s admiration for his suit-makers reveals an understanding that clothing is communication, that what we wear — and who makes it — carries meaning.

The origin of Berninger’s sentiment lies in the artist’s heart — one that seeks meaning in human collaboration. He is a musician who knows the value of a finely tuned instrument, of rhythm and precision, and of the trust between those who create together. In this, his suits are not accessories of ego, but companions in expression. They reflect an ancient ideal: that beauty and virtue are joined, and that the true measure of refinement lies not in opulence, but in relationship — between maker and wearer, between art and life.

The lesson here is timeless: honor the hands that create. In a world where speed and convenience threaten to erase craftsmanship, remember the value of slowness, of care, of work done with soul. Seek not only what is stylish, but what is sincere. Support the artisans and creators who infuse their labor with humanity, for their craft keeps civilization alive. Whether it is a suit, a song, or a meal — let what you choose reflect respect for those who made it.

Therefore, let Berninger’s words remind us that even in the smallest choices — the clothes we wear, the tools we use, the art we admire — there lies an opportunity to honor beauty, integrity, and human connection. The cool people, as he calls them, are not merely fashionable; they are those who create with purpose and treat their work as art. To surround oneself with such souls is to live with grace.

So, remember, dear listener: the things we own should never own us. Instead, they should tell the story of who we are and what we value. As Berninger honors his suit-makers, so too should we honor the unseen artisans of our world — for in their quiet dedication lies the echo of an ancient truth: that all creation, done with love, is divine.