Orlan the Great · Oct 23, 01:38 PM

Orlan is a tailor from Guyana, South America who moved to NYC 39 years ago with about 22 dollars in his pocket. He works at 98 Greenwich St. (not as a tailor) where I met him because I used to live in the building. Although he’s not employed as a tailor he still fixes coats, pants, dresses…you name it. I’ve heard of people bragging about finding “the best tailor in NYC.” Maybe they’ve found the second best, that’s all I’ll give them. One time I brought Orlan a pair of black leather pants I found at some discount place in Indiana. They were too big for me. Orlan told me to hold them up. He looked at the pants and then looked at me. Without ever seeing the pants on me or making any marks on them he made them fit perfectly.

Orlan has stories to share and a great ear and warm heart to listen. Everyone who has passed through Loft 5 South has a lotta love for Orlan and to celebrate him and all he means to us, we took him out to eat last night at Old Homestead. Everyone will be out of 98 Greenwich St. soon and to properly end an era and mark the beginning of a new one we ate and drank plentifully and shared the memories of our shared NYC.

— Albin

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