Five generations outfitting California.
Family-focused on quality & service.
San Diego to Fresno
Reimagined by the 5th generation, Walter Smith Studio tailors to the hospitality industry, providing custom and decorated goods. Services have evolved with every generation, but we honor the roots of our early beginnings in San Diego in the late 1800s.
Following San Diego, Smith’s Menswear moved to Fresno due to an investment from Levi Strauss and changed to Walter Smith. This move was strategic to support the Central California farming community and distribute Levi’s classic 501 jeans. Eventually totaling three stores, Walter Smith was the largest family-owned menswear store operating west of the Mississippi. From classics like Levi’s and Pendleton, the stores also featured footwear, suit, and uniform departments.
Walter S.
Walter is a fourth-generation Smith and still resides in Fresno, California. In addition to his name, he has played a critical role in preserving the store’s history and legacy. As a buyer for the store, Walter was responsible for continuing to innovate and introduce new inventory. He brought Southern California’s surf and skate culture to the Central Valley as the first buyer in the area to distribute Vans Shoes.
