Our Story

The Mayer Family Circa 1910s

Vienna, 1920s At the height of the "Roaring Twenties", Vienna was the undisputed cultural heart of Europe—a city of art, intellect, and unrivaled style. In the centre of this world stood a father-and-son Jewish tailoring house: Joseph and Oskar Mayer. Together, they were widely considered the finest bespoke craftsmen in the city.

The story of their survival begins with a promise. On his deathbed, Joseph whispered to his son, Oskar: "If there is an afterlife, I will look after you."

Years later, Oskar—now running the shop alone—fell gravely ill with pneumonia. The doctors delivered a grim prognosis, informing the family that there was no hope and they should make their final arrangements. As his family gathered around his deathbed to say their goodbyes, Oskar closed his eyes and fever took hold.

He found himself back in his tailor shop. One of his regular clients—a high-ranking General—stood before him. The General looked at him solemnly and said, "Oskar, it is time to go."

A massive winding staircase appeared, ascending into the heavens towards a blinding light. The General began to lead Oskar up the steps.

But as they ascended, a face manifested in the staircase. It was his father, Joseph. "It is not your time," his father said. Joseph reached out from the ether, grabbed Oskar’s ankle, and threw him back down the stairs. Oskar awoke with a jolt, screaming in pain, his ankle throbbing.

He made a full, miraculous recovery. Weeks later, a woman dressed in black entered the shop. It was the General’s wife. She had come to inform Oskar that her husband had passed away—on the very same night that he had come to collect Oskar in the dream

Joseph (centre) shortly before his death. Oskar (Top right)

The Escape

The "steps" appeared again in the late 1930s. As the Nazi regime took power, the Mayer family’s Jewish heritage placed them in immediate danger. Their survival came from the most unlikely of sources: a high-ranking SS officer who was a regular client.

Driven by a desire to preserve the man who cut his suits, the officer tipped Oskar off that the round-ups were beginning. He told Oskar, "I am not going to let them take my favourite tailor," and warned him that he must leave immediately.

An original coat hanger from Oskar's shop that survived the war

With his assets frozen and time running out, Oskar went to a Viennese bank with a desperate plan. He walked in and simply lied, claiming he was there to collect a loan approval. When asked for his details, he gave a fake name. By a stroke of divine luck, there was a customer by that exact name scheduled to collect a large sum that day.

The teller handed over the cash. With the money in hand, Oskar escaped with his family to Trinidad, where they opened up a restaurant, and eventually moved to Melbourne, Australia in the 40s.

Cafe Osma in 1939 (Trinidad)

The Revival

For decades, the Mayer scissors were put down. But the lineage didn't end.

Today, Stars and Steps is the resurrection of that Viennese dynasty. Run by Rafi Mayer, Oskar's Great Grandson. Named after the vision that saved Oskar’s life, we have returned to the era of his prime—the 1930s Golden Age of Menswear—to reclaim the elegance that modern fast fashion forgot.

The Philosophy: The Golden Age, Reimagined

We don't just sell suits; we have revived the silhouette of a time when men dressed with power. We combine the timeless aesthetics of the 1930s with modern versatility, offering two distinct cuts:

• The London Drape: The classic powerhouse. Defined by a structured shoulder, a full canvas chest, and a nipped waist that creates a commanding V-shaped silhouette.

• The Neapolitan: The modern evolution. We take the 1930s visual lines—wide lapels and high waistbands—but deconstruct the inside, using soft "Spalla Camicia" shoulders for complete freedom of movement.

When you wear a Stars and Steps suit, you aren't just wearing Australian Merino wool. You are wearing the Mayer legacy—a story of survival, audacity, and the steps we take to build a future.