What is the deal with Borrelli?

[ThinkDerm]



Luciano Barbera was trying to make it much more stringent for manufacturers/brands to legitimately have the "Made in Italy" designation, but I'm not sure how far he got with that endeavor...

that was just rhetoric for a newspaper article. he has minimal pull.

 

[max b]

This matter of "Made in" is coming back very "hot" during last months. I had long discussions about. Don't think this is the right post to start it another time, but what I can assure it is : it's true what you are saying about this problem, but, please, believe there still are in Italy Companies producing 100% in their factories. Believe the ones doing it correctly are VERY disappointed (to use a kind word) about this matter because it is damaging their hard work to keep the production here. And about chinese work in Italy, it is not about nationality, but about people working 20 hours/day with a little salary without respecting the elementary laws of protection of the rights of the workers..doesn't matter they are Italian or Chinese or American. It is not a matter of the colour of the skin, but a matter about respect of the people, the law and the trust of the final consumer.

 

[apropos]

^ good post.

 

[Nicola]



Aren't they meant to be changing the law on this?

EU keeps blocking labeling laws. EU finally caved on meat labeling with all that toxic Irish stuff last year.

 

[Dan e gee]

According to our sources, John McCoy took over the Borrelli shirt license. Shortly after Fabio did the perp walk at Pitti Uomo 2 years ago for allegedly misappropriating 50 million euro of the Italian gov'ts money, McCoy bought the license, then had Giampaolo produce the shirts. Not sure if they're still making them...

Here's the bio on McCoy:

Mr. John McCoy, II has been President of Components by John McCoy, Inc. since 1985. Mr. McCoy is Founder of Fitzgerald by John McCoy, a U.S. manufacturer of European styled clothing in 1977. In 1985, Mr. McCoy founded Components by John McCoy, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of luxury clothing brands, including Gran Sasso, Mason's, Coast, Moncler, Lenor Romano and Alfred Dunhill. Mr. McCoy has worked within the apparel industry during the past 38 years. In 1970, he began working for Pierre Cardin's sales operations and held the position of Executive Vice President of Clothing until 1977. He has been Director of Passport Brands, Inc. since 2005.

where does Giampaolo have the shirts made? Done in China but finished in Italy?

Stefano Giampaolo founded the company in 1985.
Located in Cassamassina - in Apulia if memory serves me - in the province of Bari, the home of Stefano.
All their shirts are 100% made in Italy throughout. Don't think China has anything to do with them unless there are Chinese workers employed in Italy.
The idea was to provide the workingman with a shirt of high quality to enjoy. Most have 4 steps by hand and the top range (7 su 7) has seven with thick mother of pearl buttons, of the 'old' Borrelli's, and you can pick the up for approx €125.
I do believe they offer a su misura service too.

 

[supernova]

anyone have any idea what "LB 57 designed by Luigi Borrelli" is? a diffusion line? licensed to third party?

 

[stu00a]

Luigi Borrelli is still in business?

 

[SartodiNapoli]

Yes,

I have done myself practises with some of their crew on Naples and know the family, their shirts and ties continue being as good as always, their shop in Naples sells them so i know what i am talking about but their suits are better to avoid, are not the same. The brand is owner now by a German company so the suits got small lapels etc kinda Hugo Boss.

 

[supernova]



Yes,

I have done myself practises with some of their crew on Naples and know the family, their shirts and ties continue being as good as always, their shop in Naples sells them so i know what i am talking about but their suits are better to avoid, are not the same. The brand is owner now by a German company so the suits got small lapels etc kinda Hugo Boss.

do you know if the labels are the same? do the suits now say "LB 57 design by luigi borrelli"?

 

[SartodiNapoli]

I don´t know as the suits done nowadays feel Hugo Boss or similar so i only check their good shirts.


Also the shirts labelled as luxury vintage are not as good as the normal ones and priced more expensive than the normal good ones. Strange.

 

[dreamhope]

When I was recently in Italy, several vendors told me that they stopped selling the new Borrelli as it was not made in Italy anymore, or just "finished" to a small degree in italy. C'est la vie.

Really? No wonder they're up for grab for cheap everywhere now.

 

[SartodiNapoli]

The ones on the Borrelli shop on Naples are as good as always have been, but i have seen poorly made ones on Ebay who might been false or from a low quality third party.

 

[jeffd]

I've only bought Borrelli shirts from the affiliates here, and of course it's hard to say how much of what you find on discount is old stock vs new. Having said that, my experience is that it's hit and miss with how much handwork will be on any particular shirt. The least amount I've encountered is similar to what you'd find on a Barba, though with thinner buttons. On discount, even those are a good buy in my opinion - but the Barbas, which are typically $30 or $40 cheaper, would be an even better value. The Borrelli shirts with handwork throughout are clearly superior to the Barbas, and are worth the extra but of course you never know what you're getting until it arrives.

I can also say that I have a few older Borrelli shirts that I've bought from members here, including some royal collection, and I see no difference whatsoever between those and the better of the recent shirts I've bought.

My experience with Borrelli pants, on the other hand, is a completely different story. I bought two pair off Yoox a few months back, and found the construction to be a bit bizarre - the legs in both pair essentially spiraled down, so that the inside seam on each leg ended up in the front at the cuff. My only guess is that they didn't properly shrink the twill prior to making them. Clearly they should have been factory seconds, though perhaps they were and Yoox decided not to sell them as such.

I have a Luxury Vintage sport coat, though, that I think is fantastic. Lots of handwork throughout - buttonholes, pockets, sleeve attachment, collar, etc.

 

[sangiuseppe]

Do they still have the shop in New York?

 

[Layered Player]

I thrifted this baby from a Maine college town Goodwill for 2.50 USD





It's gorgeous and I've just gotten it back from the tailor and don't she drape like a dream!

I couldn't get a clear shot but it's also got a boutonniere latch sewn behind the left lapel, love that!

Pics to come...is this one pre 2009?

Just outta curiosity how much would it have retailed for?