‘There aren’t too many custom tailors left,’’ said Shaban Catalbas. “I know because I was looking for someone to help me, and you can’t find them anymore.’’

Catalbas is a survivor and — according to his customers — the best.

“An old school artisan,’’ said Greg John of Charlestown.

Catalbas is owner of Shaban’s of Andover, a tailor shop that has evolved and is now also a high-end clothing store. After many years in town, it recently moved to an expanded location at 9 Main St. We talked with Catalbas, 63, of Methuen.

Q. Getting started?

A.My uncle was a tailor in Turkey and I started with him at 13 and worked until I was 20. It was like high school and college.

Q. Love at first stitch?

A.First couple of years, I didn’t like it. But once the clothes were coming out beautifully and Ilearned about fashion, I loved it.

Q. What then?

A.Moved to the United States in 1983. Worked in Rochester, N.Y., and then at Kaps Menswear, based in Lawrence, which closed in 2009. In 2001, I opened my own tailor shop in Andover.

Q. Services?

A. I still create custom suits from scratch ($900 to $4,000). Fabric is the most important thing; we import fabric. I do custom shirts that comfortably fit different neck sizes and bodies ($200 to $500).

Also do tailoring for men and women, mostly by hand.

Q. Customers?

A. They come from all over the state, and New York, and Washington, D.C. I have a customer from Miami who flies me down to do his tailoring.

I also do a lot of bridal gowns and wedding party dresses.

Anytime someone gains weight or loses weight, I can help. I had a customer who lost 60 pounds and said, ‘I can’t lose this beautiful Italian suit.’ I have a good customer base. They like me and know they are in good hands.

Q. End of the day?

A.I need to be challenged. If someone says it can’t be done and I do it, that’s special.

Wendy Killeen can be reached at wdkilleen@gmail.com.