The Official Stoffa Thread

[Rowyourboat]

I do think Stoffa is too expensive now but some of their fabrics are still unparalleled. Like the chocolate silk blazers in the current season are so hefty and soft... I wish I knew of other brands that were doing constructions like that.

Most of the stoffa I have I buy secondhand.

 

[leapyourbar]

Their prices would be fine but for the fact that the clothes don't last or don't wear as well as I would have hoped. Their lookbooks are absolutely brilliant. I think Agyesh is truly a master of his craft. The entire Stoffa orbit is incredible - the art references, the blog, the service, etc... EVERYTHING about this company is incredible...except, perhaps, wearing the clothes, lol. That said, I've owned like ten things from them. The first pair of pants (navy cotton water repellant) didn't fit well, and only lasted two years (granted I paid $275 for them, I probably got my money's worth). Getting the side tabs replaced (sidetabs should never be put on cotton trousers) was a nightmare that costs half of what the pants did. The second item I bought were a pair of anthracite trousers, which are unequivocally one of the best items in my closet. They have held their lines and are honestly as good as new even though they were purchased 7 years ago. The tshirt I purchased for $86 from Mr Porter was horrible, fit terribly, and hung off the back a good 8-12 inches). I cannot fathom paying $350 for same. The band collar shirt I overpaid $375 for was just meh, imo. The fabric seemed to be pretty dull after a single wash. I'd be reluctant to try any more tops from them after that; so much so that I've had my shirtmaker (Luca Avitabile) just do something that similar to what they offer for 1/3 the price. Same goes for pants - I've just gravitated to have Ambrosi do my casual pants now because they will last far longer at the same price (aside from my anthracite pants, of course). My flight jacket, which I purchased used, is hands down the best item of clothing I've ever owned.

I know Stoffa tries to ensure a fair wage for all of the people who make their products, which I respect entirely - I just need a few more years out of the items I buy if I'm going to pay their premiums at my current budget is all. If they can get the money, good for them - Nick and Agyesh are good guys in my experience and probably deserve it, because I don't think anyone else has created a more exciting brand in the last ten years.

 

[leapyourbar]

Stoffa prices are absolutely shameful. As a Canadian the camp collar shirts are almost $1000 for me. Wtf? Ok great your quality is nice but you arent Loro Piana or Tom Ford here buddy.
Hard for me to stand by a brand that price gauges their customers.

Your Prime Minister hasn't done a lot to help the dollar along. You need to be like me and find a way to start making USD!

 

[Aszatk01]

Their prices would be fine but for the fact that the clothes don't last or don't wear as well as I would have hoped. Their lookbooks are absolutely brilliant. I think Agyesh is truly a master of his craft. The entire Stoffa orbit is incredible - the art references, the blog, the service, etc... EVERYTHING about this company is incredible...except, perhaps, wearing the clothes, lol. That said, I've owned like ten things from them. The first pair of pants (navy cotton water repellant) didn't fit well, and only lasted two years (granted I paid $275 for them, I probably got my money's worth). Getting the side tabs replaced (sidetabs should never be put on cotton trousers) was a nightmare that costs half of what the pants did. The second item I bought were a pair of anthracite trousers, which are unequivocally one of the best items in my closet. They have held their lines and are honestly as good as new even though they were purchased 7 years ago. The tshirt I purchased for $86 from Mr Porter was horrible, fit terribly, and hung off the back a good 8-12 inches). I cannot fathom paying $350 for same. The band collar shirt I overpaid $375 for was just meh, imo. The fabric seemed to be pretty dull after a single wash. I'd be reluctant to try any more tops from them after that; so much so that I've had my shirtmaker (Luca Avitabile) just do something that similar to what they offer for 1/3 the price. Same goes for pants - I've just gravitated to have Ambrosi do my casual pants now because they will last far longer at the same price (aside from my anthracite pants, of course). My flight jacket, which I purchased used, is hands down the best item of clothing I've ever owned.

I know Stoffa tries to ensure a fair wage for all of the people who make their products, which I respect entirely - I just need a few more years out of the items I buy if I'm going to pay their premiums at my current budget is all. If they can get the money, good for them - Nick and Agyesh are good guys in my experience and probably deserve it, because I don't think anyone else has created a more exciting brand in the last ten years.

I agree with everything you said here. A few direct purchases, a few Mr. Porter and secondhand for me. The Mr. P purchased pique tees (I have 2) couldn't fit more differently but maybe that's why they are discounted there. But, they are both coming apart at the seams after fairly minimal use and I've seen other experiencing the same. My overshirt and more recent trousers are amazing. 2 other trousers both had buttons coming off way prematurely. Not difficult to fix a button or resew a seam, but for the price...

 

[thatboyo]

I think Mr P cuts may differ from their usual? I remember looking at measurements for the drawstring pants and it was slimmer. It’s possible measurements were just off though.

That said, agree with the seams coming apart from minimal use. It’s happened to my lounge jacket from NMWA collab

 

[tuna roll]

I do think Stoffa is too expensive now but some of their fabrics are still unparalleled. Like the chocolate silk blazers in the current season are so hefty and soft... I wish I knew of other brands that were doing constructions like that.

Agree, the fabrics are incredible. All my recent purchases were first motivated by fabric - I just wouldn’t be able to find anything equivalent elsewhere. For instance, their shirts made with cloths originally designed for woman’s dresses (cotton, wool, cashmere mix). The texture, feel, patterns, everything is quite unique. I've only seen anything similar from G. Inglesi, but the patterns and design are of course different.

Surely the value in having something done with Ambrosi or Luca Avitabile is much better, but I actually prefer how Stoffa clothes fit (after a few MTM tweaks) as opposed to most MTM options (more relaxed, blousier fit). Questionable opinion, I know. I've actually tried to ask my local shirtmaker for something similar but I gave up after the second fitting (my mistake, coming to thing of it). The combination of fabric, fit, colors and designs are unique and that uniqueness explains why the brand has achieved the current sucess.

Still, yes - prices are though to swallow. Right now I'm buying very few pieces each year, mostly made with fabrics that I wouldn't be able to find elsewhere. And each purchase feels like "ugh... I'm cleary overpaying here but let's go, YOLO, treat yourself".

Interesting to hear the comments on durability. I haven't noticed that with my pieces but I do baby them, rotate frequently and wash infrequently. But if I notice premature wear that would be a dealbraker for me.

Anyone tried to contact the brand about this? Their customer service is excellent and they may be able to do something about it, or at least try to make improvements to the production method.

 

[antoinezula]

Does anyone know where Stoffa gets his fabrics for shirting and trousers? I know they say they come from Italy, but do they get them regularly from any particular mill?

 

[tim_horton]

One of my favorite aspects of Stoffa is the MTM leather jackets. I got a flight jacket a few years ago and it’s one of my favorite things to wear. The traveler jacket in black leather looks amazing. But the increase in prices makes it tough. I don’t remember what I paid for my flight jacket but I want to say it was about half of the price of the current traveler jacket.

 

[King Calder]

I work around the corner from Stoffa, and the close proximity has put me in a position where I've given into temptation and am steadily buying a piece every 1-2 months. Have two shirts and two pairs of pants, plus a pair of loafers.

I really like the fit and fabrics of the pants and shirts. I'm currently wearing a shirt in their cotton silk and it is really something else. It was expensive af, definitely the most expensive shirt I've ever bought. But I don't need that many shirts, and I can swallow it. I really like the fit and will likely get one or two more next year. I wear my Stoffa pants all the time, and as someone who also buys Lemaire pants RTW, I can justify it. Their cotton pants are about $500-$600 a pair, whereas their cashmere pants are $1.5K or wool cashmere is $750. I also wear my loafers all the time, they are super comfortable but jury's out on durability / resoling.

Having tried on most of their other product though, I'm not super impressed, or it isn't for me. The outerwear is incredible but I just can't pay $3K+ for a wool coat. The cashmere ones are over $4.5K with tax, which sucks because they feel amazing. Their fleece pieces/sweats seem really mid and don't fit me well at all. Their sweaters are ludicrously expensive for what you get imo - I'll stick with other makers for now. Their jackets (like their SB/DB jackets) are too loose for my taste, and as someone with an established MTM suitmaker relationship, I can do better elsewhere.

Prices are going up for sure, but one thing is that their highlighted / marketed fabric selection seems to be escalating in quality as well. Lots of brushed silks / cashmere this F/W that is definitely part of what is driving prices up. You can find more reasonable prices MTM, and there's also no upcharge for MTM. I'm sure they're trying to pack more margin in there when they are doing nicer fabrics as well.

 

[joacimbylehn]

Does anyone know where Stoffa gets his fabrics for shirting and trousers? I know they say they come from Italy, but do they get them regularly from any particular mill?

Apart from the styling, the big USP with stòffa is that they're developing their own fabrics and finding a lot of deadstock etc. So there's no real direct equivelent to most stuff.

 

[joacimbylehn]

One of my favorite aspects of Stoffa is the MTM leather jackets. I got a flight jacket a few years ago and it’s one of my favorite things to wear. The traveler jacket in black leather looks amazing. But the increase in prices makes it tough. I don’t remember what I paid for my flight jacket but I want to say it was about half of the price of the current traveler jacket.

Yup, prices have gone up significantly. My asymmetrical coat was $1900 IIRC a bunch of years ago. Sadly I've more or less outgrown it, but to this day it remains my favorite custom piece. And so far I have not seen another similar design, which I also quite like. Especially now when everyone and their models makes normal raglans and db coats.

 

[King Calder]

Was in the store recently and asked the SA what was doing well this season. The answer was very surprising: he said that even he has been taken aback by how popular their cashmere coats have been doing, to the point where they are almost out of cashmere with their supplier. I tried the floor model on again for kicks, ordered yet another shirt, said thank you, and left

 

[jonathanS]

Yup, prices have gone up significantly. My asymmetrical coat was $1900 IIRC a bunch of years ago. Sadly I've more or less outgrown it, but to this day it remains my favorite custom piece. And so far I have not seen another similar design, which I also quite like. Especially now when everyone and their models makes normal raglans and db coats.

How was the fabric on this coat? Did it wear cool? Or was it okay?

 

[gfigo]

does anyone know which shops exactly stoffa has their clothing sourced? i know it is in Campania, Italy.

 

[somatoform]

^I only know that Cavour (SF affiliate) was making their suede jackets by the same maker as Stoffa. Given that Cavour's chocolate brown suede looked identical to Stoffa's I would guess that they were both sourcing this fabric from the maker.

The only other reference is this (split-seams):

"These new models are made in-house in Casoria, Napoli with a team of artisans who work extensively with this fabric. Their special skill allows for a completely unlined, clean design, so the wearer can experience these beautiful fabrics to their fullest."

Given that this maker is a specialist in the fabric I would imagine Stoffa also sources the fabric from them.

Otherwise, I would forget about any reference to Como or Biella - every brand references those two places.