Barney's private label suits? thumbs up? down?

[smokinggun]

I was over at the Barney's Outlet looking for a pin-stripe and noticed that all the suits in my size were Barney's house brand. The label indicated that it's "Made in Italy", but I'm not enough of an expert to judge quality of fabric or workmanship.

The price is attractive (under $450), but is it a Bargain? Anyone know the manufacturer?

Do you think I could do better for a sub-$600 suit (in-store, non-eBay)?

 

[thc]

A lot of Barney's Private Label stuff is made in the same factories as designer Italian stuff like Armani, Cerruti, etc. The quality is good for standard, non-custom suits.

A price of $450 is a good price. I wouldn't call it a bargain, but it's not a bad price.

 

[smokinggun]

Thanks for replying.

I'll keep that Barney's Private Label in mind, but I'm really hoping to score a deal on a Canali somewhere in Southern Cal.

 

[T4phage]

I believe that A.Harris mentioned that some of Barney's private label suits are by Castagnia, which is light years ahead of Canali in terms of construction and balanced styling IMO.

 

[smokinggun]

Thanks for the info.

I didn't know that Sartoria Castangia crafts high-end "Battistoni" suits for Barney's. hmmm.....

Still, I would be surprised if they make any of Barney's outlet-priced generic label suits. For $450, it's tempting, but I'd rather pay $600 or $650 for a reputable brand since I don't have the eye to judge quality on my own.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Mainline Barney's is equivalent to Hugo Boss.  The Barney's suits with the additional label "Piattelli" are canvassed and equivalent to Corneliani, Canali, and Zegna.  If you are getting the latter for under $450, it's a pretty good deal.

 

[Downtowner]

The Barney's suits with the additional label "Piattelli" are canvassed and equivalent to Corneliani, Canali, and Zegna. If you are getting the latter for under $450, it's a pretty good deal.

I'm not sure this is universally correct. Saw some Piattelli suits at a Barney's outlet that were most definitely fused. At an alleged retail of less than $1000 (for the suits I saw, anyway), that's not a total surprise.

 

[smokinggun]

Just for future reference, the sales staff at Barney's Outlet told me that Nogara manufactures most of their private-label stuff (at least for the Outlets). Never heard of them, but according to a blurb on their website, "Nogara S.p.A. is renowed and appreciated as a specialized semi-canvas manufacturer."

Are Boss suits half-canvassed too?

 

[A Harris]

Missed this thread earlier. The Piattelli license has gone to several companies in the past - Isaia and Belvest among them. But the latest versions of the Piattelli suits are not as nicely made as that (don't know xactly who is making them.)