We had the good fortune of connecting with Anthony Martin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anthony, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was a Michelin rated chef prior to starting Saint Anthony. I wanted to be able to create artistic pieces that would last longer than tasting menu dishes. Sewing precision and knife cuts are actually very similar as far as execution and I was able to find many other similarities that have proven to be very beneficial. Tailoring was a late night hobby after I would leave the restaurant that eventually grew into my brand.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My pieces are made to be functional art. Functionality and quality are always a main focus alongside the visual details. They can be used daily and in most cases are designed with details that will become more apparent with wear. There was certainly no shortcut to get to where I currently am. All of the skills that I utilize are self taught. Youtube is always my favorite mentor and really helped me along the way. There were many frustrating days/nights early on while trying to hone my skills. Like most things the ideas are fairly simple to come up with, it is the execution that is the real challenge.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Im currently in Nashville, so if I stepped out of my workshop I would probably take guest to “Rolf and Daughters” restaurant. The chef there, Mark Bolton, does an awesome job focusing on seasonality. Locust is another must try restaurant…. Followed by a trip down broadway street for some live music and a stop at Martin’s BBQ. A late night stop into Santa Pub may be necessary for an out of towner as well, its… unique.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would have to give recognition to individuals that create content focusing on their skills. Watching videos online was the main resource for me to learn. Creating content is very time consuming and requires patients and I admire that.

Website: www.stacustoms.com

Instagram: @stanthonydesign

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.