In the Barone family, Sofio's mother Giuseppa and sisters Peppina and Zina were master tailors in their small hometown of Villasmudo (meaning “City of the World”), Sicily. After World War II, the entire family moved to the U.S.  Sofio was faced with the decision to work with the family at a factory in Connecticut, or to find his happiness elsewhere.  Sofio left for San Diego, California.   He began working for a locally owned, high-end men’s retail clothing store called The Toggery Shop, where he soon worked his way into management.

This was the beginning of a long and fruitful career in the clothing industry for Sofio.  He has since worked for both large and small retail clothing stores as a buyer and a manager, in some cases responsible for million-dollar retail budgets. He later went on to start his own business in women’s wear, including bridal and evening gowns.   He eventually began to incorporate business attire on a custom basis for men and women.  Over time, he established a nation-wide client base that included many influential individuals, some of whom were frequently in the public eye. 

Sofio is a now a designer who has created distinctive original styles for men’s and women’s high-end clothing.  He builds a lifetime of expertise into every garment and infuses the client experience with personal charisma and professional courtesy.  His training in image consulting provides additional insight and know-how in completing a client’s personal look.
In 2008, Sofio’s son Michael joined him, bringing a business background to the company to enhance aspects of organization and customer service.  Today, Sofio Barone Custom Clothiers occupies a one thousand square foot custom-built studio in the heart of McLean, whose clothing is recognized as a distinguished mark of superior quality and sophistication. 

Sofio's Custom Clothiers and Tailors looks forward to continually growing its business. The company is planning to expand, and to bring with it new talent that will resonate with the Barone's family values and vision of artistry and technical exactitude.