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Nicola Blasi - What can you tell me about this Neapolitan brand?

post #1 of 18
12/1/11 at 2:59pm
Thread Starter 
Here's a case of my buying without any knowledge whatsoever of the brand. I 'm completely in the dark here, but like very much. The item was bought today, at a shop near to Piccadilly, London.

Bought first, then did a Google. From Ask Andy:
Nicola Blasi is a well-known and highly-regarded Neapolitan tailor, who rarely fails to be mentioned alongside luminaries such as Attolini et al.

The details:

Nicola Blasi
Tan colour
Single breasted
100% cashmere
Brand spanking new - but how long has it been in the stockroom?

It's the last bit that puzzles me. Google appears to suggest it could be an old piece, from a respected Neapolitan tailor. But that's all I can come up with. The greater mystery is, if true, how an earth could I buy it today as new? It's beautiful, with no pilling, or sign of even having been tried on by anyone. All removable threadings are still in place etc. So where has it been all this time? Do old tailoring houses hang onto their stock for decades? Or, maybe I've got it all wrong, and they're a current, thriving concern. I have to reemphasize, it is definitely brand spanking new and unworn.

Someone here has got to know, because even the Internet isn't giving me much to go on.

I'm curious

Lear
Edited by Lear - 12/1/11 at 3:21pm
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post #2 of 18
12/1/11 at 3:12pm
The famous tailor is Angelo Blasi.

Angelo Blasi cut a more a squared off coat rather than the rounder style that Attolini developed/cut while at Rubinacci.

I have no idea who Nicola Blasi is (or was.)

Angelo Blasi:

73158132.png

I doubt that you have an Angelo Blasi jacket, but post up photos.

Read this as a starting point to learn more.
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post #3 of 18
12/1/11 at 4:02pm
I have not heard of this tailor, but before F. Corbera pointed it out, I was going to say that the Italian Christian name would have been Niccolò Blasi...not Nicola Blasi....Nicola sounds like a Slavic type and there are Bulgarian, Romanian designers of overcoats out there....

Also, I would not take Blasi for a Napolitan surname...but I could be wrong here. I do know that derivatives of "Blas" (Blaise in English) are common in the Slavic culture...eg. Blasutig...Blasutic, etc....so Blasi could be Venetian or Dalmatian....but again, surnames are not as simple as Christian names....
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post #4 of 18
12/1/11 at 4:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by F. Corbera View Post

The famous tailor is Angelo Blasi.
Angelo Blasi cut a more a squared off coat rather than the rounder style that Attolini developed/cut while at Rubinacci.
I have no idea who Nicola Blasi is (or was.)
Angelo Blasi:
73158132.png
I doubt that you have an Angelo Blasi jacket, but post up photos.
Read this as a starting point to learn more.

Thanks for the link F. Corbera

Having poor genes, an embarrassing physique and bad posture, I'm loathe to post pics of me wearing the garment. Will try for a few shots less Lear. I've witnessed the cruelty of SF.

Edit: Hold it! Wait until I've picked it up from the tailor this Saturday. I'll quiz the shop owner and double check the spelling.

Lear
Edited by Lear - 12/1/11 at 6:07pm
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post #5 of 18
12/1/11 at 7:20pm
I swear, though, if you look at the little sign back by the fabrics in that pic of Blasi, it says "Nicola Blasi" !

Also, here was an old post on AAAC: http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/forum/showthread.php?52991-Anyone-familiar-with-Abla-by-Nicola-Blasi-suits

Abla is/was a high end Italian RTW line, perhaps comparable to Brioni.
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post #6 of 18
12/1/11 at 7:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoefan View Post

I swear, though, if you look at the little sign back by the fabrics in that pic of Blasi, it says "Nicola Blasi" !

!

smile.gif
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post #7 of 18
12/1/11 at 7:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoefan View Post

I swear, though, if you look at the little sign back by the fabrics in that pic of Blasi, it says "Nicola Blasi" !

Ha... I wanted to say it first.

Perhaps Nicola is the founder, and Angelo the current master tailor?
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post #8 of 18
12/3/11 at 6:31pm
lg87fwnicolablasi.jpg

Fall/Winter 1987
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post #9 of 18
12/4/11 at 2:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by F. Corbera View Post

The famous tailor is Angelo Blasi.

Angelo Blasi cut a more a squared off coat rather than the rounder style that Attolini developed/cut while at Rubinacci.

I have no idea who Nicola Blasi is (or was.)

Angelo Blasi:

73158132.png

I doubt that you have an Angelo Blasi jacket, but post up photos.

Read this as a starting point to learn more.

Did you notice the shelf on the right of the pic, next to the old man? It says "Nicola Blasi" smile.gif


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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post #10 of 18
12/4/11 at 5:25am
Thread Starter 
Some poor pics:

573

263

263

I had a little something done to the shoulder (nothing too major).

They were fairly busy, and I forgot to ask questions about Blasi.

I've never had such great service. The owner obviously has a passion for clothing. His friends turn up on a regular basis (wearing Zilli etc) and chat for hours about the finer points of tailoring. Pity he closes in a week.

Lear
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post #11 of 18
12/4/11 at 10:38am
Nicola is a proper Italian name. No one in Italy would mistake a someone for a "Slavic type" simply because he is named Nicola.
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post #12 of 18
12/4/11 at 11:40am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicola_(name)
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post #13 of 18
12/4/11 at 2:39pm
Thread Starter 
The best bit about this story, is that I bumped into another SF member. We both found ourselves at the Vincci shop on Saturday, and I think I mumbled something about him sounding like a barrister. Anyway, turns out it was Barims! Bloody nice bloke. Impeccably dressed, with a cut-glass accent, the likes of which you rarely hear anymore. The guy should give elocution lessons. Brilliant icon_gu_b_slayer[1].gif

First member I've ever met.

Lear
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post #14 of 18
12/5/11 at 7:12am
^ Lear is such an affable fellow that he has even inadvertently given me a new career (or second job) suggestion. It was a great afternoon for me, also

I was peripherally involved with the Blasi conversation between Lear and Mr. Vincci on Saturday, but that reminded me to post this eBay description, for what it's worth:

Quote:
SARTORIA PARTENOPEA has been a "best kept secret" in the USA, but it should be mentioned along with the best suit makers of Italy.

Formed in 1992 with a small staff that has only grown to 100. Sartoria Partenopea has continued to remind us the Neapolitan tailoring is still the best on earth. Handmade by master tailors without a single piece of machinery, each jacket takes over 24 hours of labour.

They are the current manufacturers of Luciano Barbera's Collezione Sartoriale line, Scott Hill bespoke, etc.

The story goes: A few years ago legendary Neapolitan tailor Angelo Blasi's nephew, who used to work for KITON left the company, took some tailors and they started PARTENOPEA.

The workmanship on their garments is first rate, it is comparable to Kiton!
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post #15 of 18
12/11/11 at 1:19am
I think that picture of Angelo Blasi combined with the ad pretty much tells the story. Nicola Blasi apparently is/was a RTW or MTM line associated somehow with Angelo Blasi. FWIW I've seen a "Nicola Blasi" coat that seems a dead ringer for the one Blasi is wearing in the picture (in terms of cut.) It is also worth noting that carpu65, a very knowledgeable member of London Lounge, Cutter & Tailor etc. seems to use "Nicola" and "Angelo" Blasi interchangeably so perhaps we are talking about the same person.
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