Advice for neapolitan tailor

[Castle]

Gentlemen,

I will have one day to spend in Naples next month. As I am very tempted to get a true neapolitan sports coat I ask your views about
which tailor to visit. My Italian is more a passive than an active vocabulary so an English (or German?) speaking tailor would be first
choice?

Castle

[Costi]

I'll let others make recommendations, but I can't help thinking you'd better off with a translator rather than choosing your neapolitan tailor on the basis of his English language proficiency Beware of frauds!

[Castle]

Oh, I didn't even think this way
And nobody has yet made a suggestion with this in mind. I was thinking of one of the artisans recommended in the LL who will understand me.

[whnay.]

Rubinacci

[alden]

Rubinacci was practically a founding member of the LL Certified Artisan Program, though from what I am reading these days, it will behoove you to visit them in Naples. There are many excellent tailors in the city: Gennaro Solito, Mario Formosa, Arturo Pastena, Biagio Mazzuoccolo, Renato Ciardi, Nunzio Pirozzi, Sartoria Dal Cuore will each provide a fine service. There are some real, not so juvenile delinquents, in the town as well but their names do not figure on this list. Capisce?

Cheers

M Alden

[Castle]

Si

[alden]

Si

In bocca al lupo!

[Castle]

In bocca al lupo!

Crepi il lupo!

[mafoofan]

I picked Rubinacci in part because Mariano speaks English and travels with relative frequencey to New York City. More than small advantages, if you ask me.

[alden]

Rubinacci not only speaks English, but after decades of serving tourists at London House, he knows how to serve them. He also has a “long term” view regarding his business and customer service. When I first recommended Rubinacci back in 2003, I did so because I knew the sartorial landmines and pot holes in Naples might prove a distraction to a visitor.

Today, many of the tailors in Naples, including those on the list above, have found ways to communicate in English. The Easyjet and Meridiana flights from London, established in the last few years, have brought many “sartorial” tourists, to the city. So speaking inglese became necessary.

Rubinacci is one choice out of many in Naples. And Naples is just one choice in Italy. I have been served by six good Neapolitan tailors, two Romans, two Florentines, a Milanese and three Sicilians. As such, I have had the opportunity over the years to learn a bit about Italian tailoring (for a fellow whose wardrobe is almost exclusively English.) There are many Italian cities with sartorial traditions that are worth exploring.

I assume that most writers in the sartorial magazines have much more experience than I do, but I plan on adding my views over the next months on a new website that will be announced in the next few weeks. Stay tuned…

Cheers

M Alden

[mafoofan]

^^^ There is always Google Translator! That's how I communicated with Antonio and Salvatore Ambrosi during my first visit to Naples. However, as you've indicated, tailors seem to be picking up English quickly. Salvatore can hold a decently fluid conversation in English, now.

[alden]

I am reviving this thread because I have received a few emails from LL members who would like to visit Italy this spring/summer but did not find a place in the LL sartorial vacation program. They have asked me for some places to visit in Naples.

My first word for Americans living or working in or near New York is to take full advantage of local NY based tailors. In my mind there is no reason to globe trot to be served by a tailor or accept the clear disadvantages of a visiting tailor program, given there is plenty of talent in your own backyard.

But if you are set on taking a vacation in Naples, here is a list of well known local tailors in the center of town. With all the influx of tourists over the last dozen years a few of them have probably learned enough English to get by or know someone who will help.

Arturo Pastena, via Ascensione 38

Biagio Mazzuoccolo, via Bisignano 59

Nunzio Pirozzi, P.zza Sannazzaro 200

Sartoria Dal Cuore, P.zza Vittoria 6

Cesare Attolini, via Vetriera 12

Piero Marrota, Corso Novara 5

G. Marigliano, via Filangeri 11

Renato Ciardi, via Fiorilli 12

Note:

Mario Formosa, one of the greatest Neapolitan tailors sadly has passed away.

The great Sartoria Albino closed about ten years ago.

Fratelli Manna have retired.

If there are some well known names missing from this list, there is a reason.

When in Naples walk around the Spanish quarter and in small street level studios you will find many tailors working making clothes. Stop by, say hello and see what they do.

Here is a resource that may be of help to you as well:

http://www.napolitoday.it/aziende/abbig ... -per-uomo/

Cheers

[angelo]

Michael ,
just a clarification about F.lli Manna, P.zzetta Matilde Serao 7 Naples :
both the Manna brothers (my previous tailors) retired more than 5 years ago closing their workshop in P.zzetta Matilde Serao.

Angelo

[Marcodalondra]

I would add Gianni Volpe, with the workshop in Via Antonio Ciccone, near the famous fabric merchant Caccioppoli. I have first known of Mr Volpe in the late 90's, when I guess it was already well known in Naples and was frequenlty visiting Rome where he had already a large clientele. If my memory serves me correctly, he has worked under Nicola Blasi before setting up on his own. Unfortunatelly, I believe his prices have gone up with his growing fame, after he become the tailor amongst other of Fiona Swarowski's housband, also known to be an Austrian Finance Minister (Karl-Heinz Grasser).

And there are many other tailors around the Via Duomo/Via Ciccone area that are not even listed on directories (again, if I remember correctly, there was a pretty good shirtmaker in the same building as Mr Volpe which was not listed anywhere...)

[tazmaniac]

This probably doesn't belong in this thread, but are there any recommendations for tailors, preferably with a soft style, in the Milan/Como vicinity? These places can be reached very easily from Zurich but I find it very difficult to find out about the local tailors.