You said that you took over the Sartoria G. Inglese as a mission. Could you explain in what way?
Our mission is to protect the cultural heritage linked to crafts like tailoring, weaving, embroidery and crochet, which are unfortunately considered minor trades, while in actual fact they are essential to the creation of unique garments.
Which kinds of clients order your clothes?
First of all, our clients appreciate tasteful clothing and look for beauty and details. They value excellence and they wish to enrich themselves also from a cultural point of view. They are not interested just in buying custom-made garments, they enjoy spending time with us in Ginosa, experiencing the magic atmosphere of a tailoring ritual that is performed in perfect harmony with the beauty of this land.
Are your garments more appreciated in Italy or abroad?
They are mostly appreciated abroad, especially in countries where history, tradition and craftsmanship are values that create emotions, making excellence more desirable than luxury.
How can you harmonise your craft with the new trends and needs of the market?
Our offer reflects that of a traditional tailor’s shops in constant evolution. Our style is classical yet revisited and contemporary. We also have two ready-to-wear collections that we supply to very few qualified dealers across the world.
Do you think that young people could find this an interesting activity to undertake?
Normally, students approach this world dreaming of becoming fashion designers. This is a cultural issue: fashion is usually associated with a “catwalk”, while what we really need is a greater number of excellent tailors. It is such a joy to me when eager young people can “breathe the workshop air”, as they did in our atelier a long time ago. An atelier is a magic place that offers a true learning experience, where art and technique give life to a professional figure that masters a rare craft. A rare craft that not only grants a professional career, but also increases the value of quality “Made-in-Italy” products.
What are the critical areas in your sector? And what are the opportunities?
Bureaucracy and the institutions penalise small enterprises, instead of supporting them. But the prospects for the future are potentially very positive. Southern Italy is attracting an international public that, thanks to nearby Matera - the European Capital of Culture in 2019 - is already a favourite destination for a great number of tourists. We hope to share with Matera the project that so far we have not been able to develop in Ginosa: encouraging and enhancing what we call “sartorial tourism”.