VOICES OF JOBURG – Meet Ivan Harie
JOBURG - It's that time of the week when City Buzz introduces you to yet another interesting member of the community.
Roaming the inner city of Johannesburg in the vicinity of the banking district, City Buzz stumbled upon a little shop amidst the enormous buildings in the CBD.
It was only natural that City Buzz would find out the story behind the shop, and it has a long history behind its name.
The shop owner’s name is Ivan Harie and he opened Charm-Fit Tailors and Dry Cleaners in 1982, only then it was situated on busy Main Street. The shop specialises in clothing alteration and dry cleaning of garments.
It was a little while later that Harie moved the shop from Main Street to Marshall Street, and 10 years ago he moved to 47 Anderson Street.
Since opening his business, he has a formed a loyal customer base.
“I’ve done work for the rugby players,” he said pointing to a number of pictures in a portrait where Harie can be seen measuring the formal wear of the Springbok rugby players.
“I’ve got customers from all over and my store has survived for all these years, so I must be doing something right.”
Having worked in the same industry in the same area for 33 years, he has become known for having a replica of a famous painting called The Tailor, originally painted by Giovanni Battista Moroni – a painting that he has taken with him to each shop.
When asked who would take over the business at a later stage, he explained that his father had taught him how to sew, that he had done a few courses to refine his craft, and tailoring was a craft that had run in the family, so his son, who visits the store on occasion, would take over the business.
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