I came across this September 2010 Irish Times article on Sicilian tailors. The article makes an astonishing claim, which, if true, speaks to a wonderful sartorial state of affairs in existence half a century ago. In postwar Italy, the author of the article estimates there were approximately 100,000 tailors serving about 85 per cent of the adult male population. Even if those numbers are off by 20, 30 or even 40 percent, those are still remarkable numbers both in absolute and relative terms.

The article also references Sartoria Modica Ragusa Concetto, based in Modica, Sicily. Above is a photo of tailor Concetto with a customer. Concetto’s cut is described as a “comfortable Neapolitan” style.

Neapolitan is a style that divides partisans and critics on the men’s clothing forums into often silly bouts of factionalism. Whatever the moniker used to describe this Sicilian cut, it’s clearly a soft-shoulder construction. At 1,000 euros for a suit and four days from start to finish, this might be a trip worthy of exploration for Sleevehead this year. We’ll see if I can resist the temptation!

Additional links
Irenebrination article on the history of Sicilian tailors

2 thoughts on “Sicilian tailors: What’s next after the Neapolitans?”

  1. I must say I am amazed. Mr Concetto works alone and can deliver a suit in four days, with 2 to 3 fittings? My experiences have led me to think of tailors as geologically slow craftsmen… And we're not talking MtM here, we're talking bespoke, as in individual paper pattern cut to each customer's measurements…

    Don't resist the temptation. I know I won't…

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