Machus has always had a very special place in my heart. When I first gained interest in men’s fashion years ago, Machus was always on the forefront of what was happening in men’s fashion as a prominent retailer. Founder, Justin Machus has a long history in retail. With generational experience from his family, Justin founded Machus in 2011 right as the menswear industry boomed onto the scene with culture shifting influence from the likes of Kanye West, the birth of social media, and the exponential growth of the men’s fashion community. Having been through a multitude of trends, brands, and designers- Machus has always been at the forefront of adding to the men’s fashion community. Celebrating their 10 year anniversary this past week, we caught up with founder/owner Justin Machus to revisit Machus as they have recently moved to a new location & have a renewed outlook as they enter their next decade as a premier retailer.

Congratulations on a decade of business! Looking back at your first ten years, what have been some of the biggest challenges and your favorite moments?

“Thank you for having us back on your site, nice to catch up post-pandemic (kinda). I've had a store in Portland since 2003, so I’ve seen some wild times for sure - the first being the Great Recession in 2008, that's really where I got a crash course in how to stay afloat during uncertain times. I have to credit my mother for really showing me the tricks of the trade and how to approach such obstacles. She’s been in small business retail for 50+ years and is my mentor. When the pandemic hit, Juline (my wife and partner) really went into a 2008 mode of thinking. Trim down to the bare-bones essential employees, no extra expenses, invest into easier selling, usually lower-cost brands and look to our own private label as an option to grow. Basically, stop panicking and get to work. Failure wasn’t an option, so we had to make it succeed. Times like these get the creativity flowing.”

In the past ten years, men’s fashion has changed vastly and become an increasingly common interest, (largely) thanks to social media. How has this trajectory affected your business?

“Menswear as a whole is a totally different beast since I started. The boom of the streetwear movement in the 2010s caused the scene to be taken very seriously. That said, we are positioning ourselves as an increasingly unisex-based business. Men’s and women-specific clothing boutiques are increasingly outdated these days.”

How has the fashion community in general changed in the Portland community? Where does Machus play a role in that?

“Social media has completely changed the landscape. Local influence has become global influence. Juline and I feel lucky to be part of the scene in Portland and I like to believe our global vision of bringing these smaller emerging designers has played an influential role. I think all stores should help develop brands and give chances to small designers rather than sticking with the obvious choices. Education and introduction is the reason small stores exist.”

How has the pandemic impacted your business and perception of fashion and retail?

“Traveling isn’t the same as it was. Before, I was in Japan, NYC, LA, and Paris multiple times a year. I'm missing traveling but also realize that it’s not as necessary as it used to be. It’s a luxury for a small store to afford travel. I think we will be mix these buying trips into family trips to make the most of them.”

In this new decade for Machus, what are you most excited about?

“I’m excited to find new brands that evolve with our personal aesthetic. The store is always changing but we try to keep it within a certain design parameter. The best part of the business is that I never know how much I'm going to be inspired and energized by a new brand or trend until it shows itself. Things change rapidly and that's the part I enjoy most.”

You recently relocated from your original space on Burnside. What can you tell us about the new space?

“The new store is stunning. We went from a modern building built in 2007 to a historic red-brick building from 1909. The energy is so different. It feels more mature in a way and I am very comfortable in this space. It’s bigger but not to the point that we are spread thin. It’s a natural evolution.”

You’ve spoken about a renewed emphasis on the Machus Private Label - what can you tell us about some of the latest pieces?

“We have all of our fleece programs in Compton and have been working there for a couple of years but the cut-and-sew has been all over the place. We just locked down a new LA factory and we are very excited about moving forward with that. The new goods should come before the end of the year.”

Which brands are you excited about and or looking to continue to build with?

“Engineered Garments has been a blast to work with and has been very well received in the new store. BTFL is a staff favorite. The collabs with Naked and Famous are really fun. Personally, VEILANCE, Rick Owens and all his collabs, Gramicci, ISSE, CCP.fm, and others are really exciting to me.”

Lastly, what advice or words of inspiration can you pass along to our readers?

“If you love something, you have to fight like hell to keep it.”

Store Feature: Machus Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary