Fullerton zoot suit shop takes people back to the 1940's

FULLERTON, CA (KABC) -- Whether it's suiting up for something fancy like prom or a wedding, there's a SoCal store that's offering a cool alternative - custom made zoot suites! At El Pachuco Zoot Suits in Fullerton, you can measure up and step back in time to the 1940's!

We spoke to Vanessa Estrella, whose husband's mother started the business in 1978 when she became obsessed with the musical "Zoot Suit" and wanted to get one for her younger brother. When she had trouble finding one, she decided to find a tailor and open up a shop.

"W hen she said I'm gonna start a zoot suit shop, people looked at her and said are you crazy? How are you gonna make any money making zoot suits?" said Estrella.

All these years later, they're still open, as one of the only one-stop-shops for custom made zoot suits.

" Whether it's their quinceañeras or walking their daughters down the aisle to them wearing them for their own weddings. And so we are, we are creating, we are curating memories and history at the same time," she said.

Now, they have customers around the world, purchasing for weddings, quinceañeras, proms and more.

" It is a suit that represents generations of families, it represents culture and it represents something more than just a style of wear," said Estrella.

Their suits can also be seen in several Hollywood productions, paying homage to an era that this family helps keep alive.

They also do several fashion shows in the community throughout the year, including at the Orange County Fair. Even Zoot Suit contests, where the winner gets a free suit!