Borrelli shirts - really that good? Who really makes best shirts in world? - Page 9

"Price tag attached by hand in Italy by Asian hands."

Some things are lost in translation.

One man's courtesan is another man's artisan.

I only have one - bought it from a forum member. Also, on ebay it appears there are some of these out there. This for example - the picture is small but the buttons look like the plastic ones.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BORRELLI-NAVY-WHITE-THICK-STRIPE-SHIRT-15-75-40-/251034421738?pt=US_Men_s_Dress_Shirts&var=&hash=item3a72d149ea

BTW, I've heard that Rupert Murdoch (the man behind the phone hacking scandal in the UK, eventhough he's Aussie-born) is also a Borrelli fan as well.

I've bought some ten Borrelli shirts from Italy within a year. All have MOP buttons and hand-stitched details, but some shirts have smaller buttons. The accuracy of stitches varies greatly, some shirts were clearly made in haste. With the price I paid, around $50 per new shirt, I cannot complain.

Is it possible these "new" Borrelli shirts are counterfeits?

is a client of Matuozzo (see below). Although not mentioned by name (but covered by the rubric "[a]ll my tailors are in Naples"), Borrelli was his shirtmaker for a period, but less than satisfactory results saw him cross Spaccanapoli to AM. It should be noted that Anna will add nubs for a small sur-charge.

MATTHEW FAN, 27, lawyer
Where do you like to shop in the city?

I don’t, really. All my tailors are in Naples, Italy. My suit and jacket maker is Rubinacci. My shirts are made by Anna Matuozzo and my trousers are M. Brosi. I would say 90% of my wardrobe is custom-made.


Did you see Gomorrah?

That Borrelli orange/blue windowpane is quite beautiful and unique.

That Borrelli orange/blue windowpane pattern is quite beautiful and unique! Can you post more pics of it?

I've enjoyed my Robert Talbott custom shirts. This Estate one is from January of 2007. Unfortunately, I've heard the quality of RT has gone down in the past few years. Most of my custom RT shirts (non-Estate and Estate) are from 2005-2007, with the exception of two, which are from September of 2002! (And, they are in beautiful shape). With the exception of two shirts that have recently frayed significantly in the collar and will be headed to shirt heaven very soon, I'm still wearing all of my RT custom shirts.

A lot of places aren't even stocking Borrelli in Italy anymore. A shame really as all the older shirts I have by them are lovely. However the ones I still see have all the handwork and MOP buttons...

Perhaps it's a case of Borrelli lowering their quality for certain markets where they think they can get away with it?

My theory as well. I still have not come across any of the non-handwork/plastic-button ones.

There's something like thousands of factories in Prato, employing Chinese migrant labour, making the products for the Italian lux industry? That's what I've read. Of course "Made in Italy" on tags and labels always looks much better and carries more prestige than "Made in China" or "Made in Indonesia" or similar....just ask Hermes Man.
Edited by MikeDT - 6/25/12 at 7:28am

Highly recommended. The book and film paint a very disturbing scene about Naples.