El Maestro: Tailor to the mariachi

Jorge Tello carefully wraps a finished mariachi suit at his store in Boyle Heights. Tello has been a tailor for the mariachi of Los Angeles and beyond since 1984. (Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)

Dec. 13, 2013 2:45 PM PT

For nearly 30 years, Jorge Tello has dressed Los Angeles’ most stately and most picky performers: the mariachi.

Jorge Tello works with a client to customize his suit at La Casa del Mariachi. (Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)

Mariachi Andres Nevi beams in a suit made by Jorge Tello at La Casa del Mariachi. (Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)

Mariachi Ignacio Hernandez poses for a portrait in his Tello suit. (Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)

Mariachi Vianca Hinojosa, 10, models her suit made by Tello. (Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)

Mariachi Kaylee Guzman, 19, shows off her Tello-crafted suit. (Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)

Mariachi Tony Valdivia, 16, in a suit by Tello. (Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)

Mariachi Francisco Leyva looks gooood in his $1,300 Tello suit. (Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)

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El Maestro: Tailor to the mariachi

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