Koch House of Design

MASTER DESIGNER

Kevin A. Koch

At age 21, following 4 years sewing band uniforms in the factory, I

began my apprenticeship with a master tailor, Enrique San Juan

(known locally as “Henry the tailor”). Henry immigrated to the USA

around the time of WWII and then to the Goshen area in 1956. It took a

year of persistent inquiring before he would accept me because I was

already ‘too old’ to begin the training and he was ‘too old to bother with

yet another apprentice’ (Henry’s words).

Fortunately, he succumbed and we had a 22-year relationship before

he died in 2004. It was my love of the trade that won him over. I still

love learning about it! In the mid-1990’s Henry passed his shears on to

me as his successor. I am humbled each time I use them. Now, I am in

the studio full-time to practice and teach my trade to the next generation.