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By CAMIKE JONEScamikejones@gmail.com Indiana-born and raised Richard Hall is passionate about providing customers with what he refers to as %u201cluxury convenience.%u201d Specializing in custom suits, Hall and his business partner McGregor Madden are the owners of Hall Madden, a clothier with showrooms in cities across the country including Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.A graduate of Indiana University%u2019s Kelley School of Business, Hall started on this path while studying abroad in China. He studied at IU%u2019s sister school in Hong Kong and decided to stay.%u201cThe U.S. was kind of going through the recession at the time, and I actually was able to get a job in Shanghai,%u201d Hall said.Unlike his classmates, who were more interested in investment banking, Hall was drawn to entrepreneurship. While working in China in the early 2000s, he learned about manufacturing opportunities, eventually leading him to the men%u2019s fashion world. %u201cMcGregor and I were always kind of interested in the suits,%u201d Hall said. %u201cThe suits had always just been interesting and fortunately we%u2019re able to make a business out of it.%u201dHall said a great suit is a mix of science and art with three main components: the fabric, the right drape, and the construction. The quality of the fabric and the fit, along with their %u201cexpertise and consistency,%u201d is what Hall says sets their clothing apart from other brands. The custom fitting involves a three-appointment process. %u201cPeople come in, they get fitted with our showroom director, like Jaime or myself, and then they come back in for their second fitting and then their third fitting may be little touch-ups,%u201d Hall said. %u201cMy job is just to know how to fit each body type and (make) recommendations to each client based off of their needs,%u201d said Jaime Gamez, the showroom director at Hall Madden%u2019s Los Angeles location.With eight years of suiting experience, Gamez has spent the last three years with Hall Madden. Part of his job is finding the right fit for each body type. For him wearing a well-fitting suit feels like %u201ca modern suit of armor,%u201d no pun intended.%u201cThe whole point of the suit is to make your frame look good,%u201d Gamez said. %u201cIt makes me feel taller. I just feel more confident in a structured garment like a suit.%u201dIn addition to custom suits, Hall Madden offers an array of custom clothing options such as tuxedos, blazers, shirts, knitwear, ties and slacks for both men and women.%u201cWe%u2019re kind of famous for our suits, but a lot of our clients value this head-to-toe convenience,%u201d Hall said. After a fitting, each customer%u2019s measurements are saved in their system, allowing the customer to shop remotely or online and still have the desired fit. %u201cThey just like to be able to point and say, %u2018Hey, just give me this outfit,%u2019%u201d Hall said. %u201cWe%u2019re offering a kind of luxury convenience.%u201d Hall also wants to introduce more customers to %u201ccasual elegance,%u201d like pairing a blazer with knitwear or a chino for a nice dinner out, offering several custom items that can work together in and out of the office. The closest showroom for Hoosiers is in Chicago, where Hall said many of his friends go to be fitted for tuxedos or suits to wear for special occasions and weddings.But soon, customers in Indiana may not have to travel far for this custom shopping experience.%u201cWe%u2019re looking to always expand,%u201d Hall said. %u201cWe just expanded into Texas; we opened two showrooms there. I%u2019m hoping to eventually open in Indianapolis.%u201dWhen exploring new markets, Hall and Madden start by building their customer base through trunk shows. When demand in the area grows, they know it%u2019s time to open a shop in a new location. So, what pushes Hall and his business partner to keep going?%u201cYou have passion for your work, and then that causes you to just keep going because you don%u2019t want to see it fail,%u201d Hall said. While he is always looking to refine his work, Hall has learned over the years that %u201cdone is better than perfect; iterate and improve.%u201d Hall Madden has come a long way since their first suit, which he jokingly refers to as %u201cMadden 1.0.%u201d His advice for aspiring or new entrepreneurs is to just keep going and sometimes you just have to put yourself out there.Hall appreciates his first customers %u2014 the friends and family who have been supporters from the very beginning. Since their early days, his focus has been on providing a great experience for their customers.%u201cAt the end of the day, we%u2019re fortunate enough to have clients that come to us and maybe we%u2019re helping them experience their best events that they%u2019re attending, or they want to look good in the workplace,%u201d Hall said. %u201cSo, we%u2019re helping them improve their lives and that%u2019s where we get fulfillment these days.%u201dTo learn more or schedule an appointment, visit hallmadden.com or follow on Instagram @hallmadden. Contact Editor-in-Chief Camike Jones at 317-762-7850.By CHLOE McGOWAN%u00a0chloegm@indyrecorder.comIntend Indiana has invested 100% of its 2024 Build Fund initiative loans into minority and women-owned businesses.Intend Indiana%u2019s Build Fund initiative is dedicated to helping small businesses grow by connecting them to %u201cflexible, affordable and responsible funding,%u201d according to a press release. For the last two years, 100% of the Build Fund loans have gone to Indiana-based minority and women-owned businesses.%u201cOur goal with Build Fund is to provide underserved small businesses with access to affordable capital so they can grow, build wealth and contribute to their communities,%u201d Stephanie Quick, president of Intend Indiana, said in a statement. %u201cWith 100% of our 2024 loans going to minority- and women-owned businesses across Indiana, we continue to break down barriers and create opportunities for historically underrepresented entrepreneurs.%u201dThe Build Fund initiative supports a variety of businesses across different sectors through providing funds for expansion, equipment and real estate development, according to a press release.The 2024 loan recipients include:Priest Homoya, LLC. (Ash & Elm Cider Company) %u2013 Funding supported the relocation of Indianapolis-based Ash & Elm%u2019s operations to a new facility on East Washington Street and enabled ownership of the building.Bihurri, LLC. %u2013 Financing supported the construction of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home on a vacant lot in Indianapolis.Nettie%u2019s Learning Academy, LLC. %u2013 Funding helped expand the central Indiana childcare facility, ensuring continued high-quality early childhood education services.ACT Development, LLC. %u2013 Supported the construction of two single-family homes in the Indianapolis Near Northwest neighborhood.The Master%u2019s Key, LLC. (Joy%u2019s Helping Hand Childcare Center) %u2013 Provided capital for a sprinkler system, playground equipment, and facility enhancements to accommodate additional children at the Indianapolis-based childcare center.Green Gold, LLC. %u2013 Assisted a landscaping business in purchasing equipment to expand its capacity for larger projects.GMR Construction Services, LLC. %u2013 Funding went toward rehabilitating a single-family home in Marion County.C&A Consulting, LLC. %u2013 Enabled the purchase of specialized equipment for lead abatement across multiple properties.Inner City Development, LLC. %u2013 Supported the construction of three single-family homes in South Bend%u2019s Lincoln Park neighborhood.Reliable Roofing & Construction, LLC. %u2013 Assisted with the construction of a single-family home as part of a larger affordable housing initiative in South Bend.%u201cWorking with Intend Indiana to fund my commercial property purchase and renovation helped me to expand my business and provide more child care enrichment opportunities for the families in our community,%u201d Jamika Cooper, owner of Joy%u2019s Helping Hand Childcare Center, said in a statement.Intend Indiana works with community-centered organizations, nonprofits, foundations, banks and both state and local governments to provide resources and programming to the community. For more information, visit intendindiana.org.Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.Indiana native shares entrepreneurship journey, brings %u2018luxury convenience%u2019 to fashionIntend Indiana%u2019s Build Fund initiative invests in women and minority-owned businessesHall Madden is a custom clothing company ofi ering tuxedos, suits, blazers, sports vests, pants, slacks, jeans, knitwear and ties. (Photos provided/Hall Madden)(Photo/Getty Images)Friday, April 4, 2025B Sectionindianapolisrecorder.com