Meet Jason Sandagon

We recently connected with Jason Sandagon and have shared our conversation below.

Jason , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

What an interesting question. I think I get most of my resilience from this feeling that I’m constantly being chased by wolves and the real feeling of if I stop I will die. I don’t know how to stop. Over the summer of 2024 we shot a short film for the brand [Mad King George], edited and premiered it in October to a packed room in here in New York City. All while I had been rehearsing for my cabaret that was the following month, and of course running this business. Immediately after I took my bow on stage, I went right back into working on other projects after promising everyone I know that I was going to take a break. Even when things are tough, we have a bad month and I have to pay rent out of my personal finances, I don’t know how to throw in the towel. Is this a bad answer?

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

II’m the Creative Director of Mad King George, a New York City-based tailoring house specializing in made-to-measure suits and tailored goods. What sets us apart is our theatrical house style—bold, dramatic, and story-driven. We create striking pieces that tend to attract clients from the entertainment world, including actors, drag queens, and photographers. Our garments embody theater without being costumes (unless, of course, we’re designing actual costumes).

For years, we operated out of my apartment in Queens, but in 2024, things truly took off. As a result, we recently opened our studio in Long Island City—a space that fully embodies the spirit of Mad King George and everything we stand for.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

For me, everything starts with a vision. You can want to do something, but without a fully realized vision, it will fade into the background. I always had a vision for Mad King George, but it wasn’t until I honed in and committed fully that people began to take notice and gravitate toward it.

Communicating that vision is just as important as having it. When you walk into our studio—or even when you used to walk into my apartment—you immediately understand the world of Mad King George. The décor, the furniture, the music—these elements are just as essential to the story as the clothes themselves.

My background in theater played a huge role in shaping this. Growing up in theater taught me how to create drama and theatricality through costume, and I brought that same storytelling approach to designing real clothes.

My advice? Consume everything you love. Then, find a way to blend those influences into something uniquely yours.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

I probably shouldn’t say this because it’ll give away all my secrets, but House of Nutter: The Rebel Tailor of Savile Row was the most valuable book I could have ever read. My wife gave it to me, thinking I’d enjoy it—she was right.

The book is a biography of Savile Row tailor Tommy Nutter, who dressed the it crowd of the 1970s—Elton John, Mick Jagger, Twiggy. His love for crafting suits that were as performative as the people wearing them really spoke to me. Clothing isn’t just fabric; it’s an extension of who you are—or who you want to be.

Ugh, I want to be this era’s Tommy Nutter. And honestly? I think I’m doing a pretty good job of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.madkinggeorge.com
• Instagram: madkinggeorgetailors