Riva shirts

I bragged too soon about having Riva shirts made for me. When I found out the price my shirtmakers charged, I balked ($439 w/o VAT). By comparison, they are charging $314 for a Simonnot Goddard shirt.

I have written to 4 shirtmakers for whom I have emails. Bugelli wrote me back immediately to say he does not use Riva (I did not ask him why). I wrote to a shirtmaker Andy bragged about on AAAC and two others whom I embarrassed to say I know or remember too little about to even remember why I have their emails.

I am sure Carl would say I am "very strange" for conducting such a global search when there are plenty of good shirtmakers here, but as anyone who has pursued Riva shirts knows, no American shirt maker uses them or is willing to get their product.

So I ask, besides the Kiton machine (Kiton supposedly has Riva cottons, unlabelled, as part of its own offerings), what shirtmakers accessible to Americans can use Riva fabrics, for the smallest prices?

Matthew in Chicago is the only one I know in the US that buys Riva fabric.

Riva makes no effort to distribute in the USA.
I understand that Riva does not produce much fabric.
there is no need to set up a larger distribution system when your production is usally sold out

I have purchased some riva fabrics in the secondary market.
they were sort of odd open weave cotton/linen blends. or very lightweight lightly textured weaves.

tip top has ended up with riva fabrics. the factory tickets are removed, so you would not know where the fabric was produced
i found this site
http://www.furlanettotessuti.com/eng...ndproducts.htm
maybe they will send you swatches that you can pick from, then send them off to a HK shirtmaker.

ratti, another silk mill turns out very fine cotton shirting. they may also be using older looms.

Carl

Brescd01, We haven't made shirts in many years and currently do not have a workshop or factory in America but we do buy Carlo Riva fabrics directly. The fabrics are very beautiful but expensive. You would likely need 3.5+ meters for a shirt and even if you managed to find a local shirt maker to order at wholesale for you after you finished paying for the fabric and FedEx (they do not use UPS) with the way the dollar is you will be paying quite a bit for the fabric. I have considered selling Carlo Riva fabric in America but I wonder if the demand is there?

Many of my Kiton shirts use Riva fabrics. Very comfortable and durable shirting. Perfect for warmer climates like Atlanta in my experience.

Originally Posted by Sam Hober

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You would likely need 3.5+ meters for a shirt ...

Why so much? I thought 2 meters would suffice for someone of average height/build.

the riva fabric I have purchased is 59/60"
i doubt this is made on old looms
36" fabric requires 3-3.5 yards per shirt.
that would be made on old looms
Carl

I don't have a ruler nearby but looking at some bolts of Carlo Riva 180s that are in a cabinet near my desk they are roughly 90 cm wide which if my math is not off this late at night is just over 35 inches wide.

The way we make shirts 3.5+ meters plus is correct. This is also the amount that Carlo Riva uses as a basic measurement.

This thread has been helpful to me as I completely forgot about some cashmere/cotton Carlo Riva fabric that I have that I am thinking about making into ties.

Originally Posted by Shirtmaven

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36" fabric requires 3-3.5 yards per shirt.

Right. Completely forgot about 36" fabric.

I love my Riva Kiton shirts.....just hate the double premium for the shirts!

Regards.

no offense to anyone here but Kiton could start using budget fabric and no one here would really notice. Maybe the shirtmakers can tell the difference, but I am very dubious that anyone can tell the difference between Riva and whatever cotton Finamore or Borrelli or any of the other high end makers. In other words, searching out Riva simply because it is Riva is rather silly, you would do just as fine with the other cottons the swiss and italian fabric makers offer.

Originally Posted by edmorel

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no offense to anyone here but Kiton could start using budget fabric and no one here would really notice. Maybe the shirtmakers can tell the difference, but I am very dubious that anyone can tell the difference between Riva and whatever cotton Finamore or Borrelli or any of the other high end makers. In other words, searching out Riva simply because it is Riva is rather silly, you would do just as fine with the other cottons the swiss and italian fabric makers offer.
I agreed with you until I got my first Kiton with the premium cotton.....a $950 dent......and did blind comparison with the regular Kiton/Borrelli etc. My tailor and myself got the cloth right each time.....sad once you get spoilt and they are amazing for the warmer Houston months. Regards.

Sator's favorite guy Charles Nakhle out of Sydney (Parramatta actually) was looking into adding Riva to his options as of the last time I talked to him which was about two years ago. In general, he is very reasonably priced (e.g. shirts with SIC Tess 2X120s for ~A$220).

Bit far away though


http://www.nakhleshirtmakers.com.au/...es-Nakhle.html

Originally Posted by edmorel

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no offense to anyone here but Kiton could start using budget fabric and no one here would really notice. Maybe the shirtmakers can tell the difference, but I am very dubious that anyone can tell the difference between Riva and whatever cotton Finamore or Borrelli or any of the other high end makers. In other words, searching out Riva simply because it is Riva is rather silly, you would do just as fine with the other cottons the swiss and italian fabric makers offer.
The linen-cotton shirtings they have are spectacular, but I agree about pure cottons.

Originally Posted by iammatt

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The linen-cotton shirtings they have are spectacular, but I agree about pure cottons.

I saw some really nice linen/cottons recently, no idea by who as I don't really pay attention to that. I could wear an all linen-cotton shirt wardrobe for business and casual.

Originally Posted by iammatt

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The linen-cotton shirtings they have are spectacular, but I agree about pure cottons.
spectacular or just a wider selection?