Making Garments with Meaning: Cego Custom Shirtmakers
This month, we are proud to highlight Cego Custom Shirtmakers, a local business that exemplifies the values of craft, sustainability, and community in New York’s Garment District.
Founded by Carl Goldberg, Cego has been producing custom shirts from its 23rd Street shop for over 40 years, serving individuals as well as the costume departments of Broadway, film, and television. Unlike traditional brands, Carl doesn’t see Cego as a label, but as a maker of garments with meaning.
“I don’t see Cego as a brand,” Carl explains. “We manufacture our own shirts right here in New York—for real people and for productions that need precision, care, and a fast turnaround. Some of the shirts we make are based on current styles, and some are reproductions for period costumes.”
Carl Goldberg
Carl’s journey into custom clothing began in his family’s Army & Navy surplus store in Philadelphia, where he grew up watching his father dress impeccably in tailored suits—despite selling denim and military jackets. After studying business in college, he moved to NYC and worked his way through the menswear industry, including a role at Barneys and a suit factory in Williamsburg. Eventually, he discovered a passion for custom shirting, and Cego was born.
Today, Carl leads a staff of 10, and while he doesn’t cut or sew the shirts himself, he guides each customer through the process with deep expertise.
“I know what questions to ask to make sure a customer ends up with shirts they love to wear. I’ve learned through years of experience—and, honestly, through my mistakes. I don't waste fabric. If a leftover piece is too short to make a shirt, we turn it into boxer shorts or shopping bags. Everything else goes to FabScrap, not a landfill.”
Cego operates with sustainability at its core. Every shirt is cut to order—except for a few seasonal pieces—and excess inventory is virtually nonexistent. Carl sources most of his fabric directly from European mills or from larger factories offloading high-quality deadstock. He’s even acquired bolts of vintage shirting fabric dating back to the 1960s.
“My customers are willing to pay more for a few well-made shirts that feel special, rather than buying lower quality ones made overseas. There's real value in that. I’ve always believed that being based in New York matters. My customers can actually see where their shirts are made, and for the entertainment industry, our location is crucial. We’ve had moments where we got an order at noon and had the shirt on the actor by the next morning.”
“I’m proud that my shirts are made in NYC. I’m not trying to grow beyond that—I just want to keep making great shirts, and keep the craft alive.”
At Closely Crafted, we believe that stories like Carl’s are exactly why being made locally is so important. These businesses don’t just make clothes—they make culture, careers, and community.
Thank you, Cego, for showing what it means to be truly Closely Crafted.
