Mr. Derk — About Us
It started in 1939 in Čakovec, Croatia, where Sterling's grandfather, Stephen Derk, built a reputation as a tailor by hand — stitch by stitch, client by client.
In 1946, the Derk family immigrated to Canada and brought that craft with them. What began as a tailor's trade became a clothier, then a destination — three generations of menswear knowledge built up in one Edmonton location.
Today, Mr. Derk is still independently owned and operated, with full in-house tailoring on-site. We work with a curated selection of brands and Canadian-made custom suits, and we take the time to actually know our clients. No franchises. No call centres. Just a team that has been doing this long enough to do it right.
Mr. Derk has been dressing men in Edmonton for over 80 years. Three generations in, the approach hasn't changed much: find the best product you can, fit it properly, and treat the person in front of you like they matter.
We source selectively — brands from Europe, Canadian-made custom suits, footwear and accessories chosen for quality over volume. Nothing ends up on our floor by accident.
We're not here to sell you a wardrobe. We're here to help you build one.
Our Values
We take care of people. That's the short version.
The longer version: we stock what we believe in, not what's easy to move. We tailor in-house because we think fit is non-negotiable. We get to know our clients because a one-time transaction has never been the goal.
Three generations in, that hasn't changed. We're still a small team in one Edmonton location, and that's by design — it means every person who walks through the door gets looked after properly.
Designed to Last
Whether you're coming in for a pair of casual denim or a suit for your next event, you can trust that we've sourced only top quality garments.
Customer Service
Your needs and vision are the first things we want to understand. You can count on a delightful experience when you deal with us, too.
Attention to Detail
We get it, menswear can be overwhelming. We're here to obsess over all the details so you don't have to. Unless you want to, of course.
Perfect Fit
There's nothing worse than an ill-fitting quality garment. That's why we have an experienced in-house tailor available to quickly turn over your attire.
Our Team
The team is the experience. That's not a tagline — it's just how this store has always worked.
Whether you're after a new pair of jeans, a suit for your wedding, or starting a wardrobe from scratch, you'll get straight answers from people who actually know what they're talking about. No pressure, no upselling, no sending you home in something that doesn't fit right.
We've been at this long enough to be honest with you — and to genuinely enjoy it.
Sterling Derk
Sterling Derk started at the bottom, literally. At 13 years old he was cleaning shoes at Derks Formals, his family's Edmonton formalwear business. That's where he learned the industry: not from a textbook, but from the floor up.
Three generations in, he now owns Mr. Derk, a deliberate evolution of the family's menswear legacy built on brands worth believing in, Canadian-made custom suits, and in-house tailoring. He buys every collection himself and travels the markets to find what's worth carrying, from New York, Toronto, and Chicago to the Paris trade weeks.
The goal has always been the same: make it easier for men to dress well, and actually take care of them when they do.
Danny Pereira
Danny is Sterling's partner in the business and the other voice in every major decision at Mr. Derk. An entrepreneur and investor, he came up in real estate development and construction, where budgets are real and schedules keep you honest, but clothing and the relationships that come with it have always been his passion.
He walks the buying markets alongside Sterling, from New York, Toronto, and Chicago to the Paris trade weeks, building longstanding connections and bringing a deep network and a discerning eye of his own. If Sterling picks the clothes, Danny keeps the whole thing balanced, and that's why it works.
Dustin Cote
Dustin fell in love with the menswear game when he supported the opening and operations of a luxury menswear company in Vancouver. Working with everything from high-end suits to jeans and graphic tees, he knows his way around.
Dustin enjoys the slimmer side of timeless suiting with technical aspects for the active gentleman. Working for international brands such as Strellson!, Dustin has developed a taste for the energetic yet classic looks of fine menswear.
Dan Kushnir
Dan is the self-proclaimed "old man" of the shop.
A 35-year veteran of the industry and the definition of style itself, Dan has seen it all come, go and come back around.
Andy McDonald
Andy has been active in the fashion industry since 2005. In 2007, he attended MC College in Edmonton where he studied Fashion Design. In 2010, Andy attended George Brown College in Toronto which allowed Andy to further his fashion education. Outside of his design and stylist portfolios, Andy has styled and work for a number of A-list celebrities and luxury brands throughout his career!
Visit Us
We're located in the heart of Old Strathcona off of Whyte Avenue in Edmonton, Alberta. Pop into our store at your convenience to say hi and peruse our collection of quality casual menswear, suiting, formalwear, and accessories.
Find us at 8025 102 Street NW in Edmonton, Alberta. Get directions.
