My name is Max Girombelli and I am very honored to be a new Haute Living Ambassador. I am Italian and I belong to a family that has played quite a big role in the history of fashion over the last 50 years. This makes me very proud and, at the same time, humbles me.

My uncle was the one who discovered a young and talented designer named Gianni Versace. My father and my older brother, on the other hand, decided to work only in men’s fashion and worked closely with big designers like Enrico Coveri, Marithé François Girbaud, Franco Moschino, and Valentino Garavani-just to name a few of them.

I grew up always using the family company as my “playground.” I was paid 100 Italian lira to remove the dust from the shoulders of suit jackets, which is when I started to admire the tailors who were working on the most beautiful fabrics with passion and love. After many years working in the family’s companies, my younger brother and I decided to go back to the roots of the tailoring business. We took over a tailor shop in Milano and we started our new exciting venture: Duca Sartoria.

From the beginning we set our standards at the top. Quality has never been compromised and our main goal is not to sell suits but to provide the special service and attention that our customers deserved. Our company motto is very simple: “The jacket is your second skin.”

The jacket or suit is made basically of three essential things:

The fabric: We don’t produce the fabrics, we just select the best in the world.

The cut: Our tailors will do the best cut, always based on the client’s request and style.

The details: We strongly believe that life is about details, and this is why a Duca Sartoria suit will have a personalized lining, buttons, customized inside pockets, and different ways to embroider your name or make your suit a unique and special one.

This new season will be the suit season; more and more people like to go back to a nicely tailored two-piece suit, even without tie, in order to achieve a classy and sharp look. I just returned to New York after the summer break in Italy, and as I do many times per year, I spent time in our atelier there and handpicked the new beautiful fabric selection for the fall/winter season.

The fabric selection is very extensive. In fact, we have some new books from Loro Piana, such as the new Super 160s with some outstanding patterns; the Proposte book featuring some special materials like wool and cashmere; and the winter cotton, which is very hot for slacks or sporty suits and jackets. We will also carry some of the best fabrics from E. Zegna, like cashmere and cotton in really nice colors, and a very limited edition of special wool I personally selected in Scotland and England.

Unfortunately, the warmer winters and the limited use of heavy suits in New York will limit the pleasure of the new Saxony and flannels, but they are still the best choice for people who like to be very warm.

The real new bestseller for the season will be velvet. All versions-plain or with stripes or even printed-can be used for suits, jackets, and pants, or even as a sport jacket with jeans. Other than the usual classic colors (camel, navy blue, black), this year we will have some new trendy hues, like burgundy, purple, deep green, or the newest…royal blue. E. Zegna has a great selection of velvet; the top one that I recommend is the new cotton and cashmere. It’s a super soft and light version, very easy to wear all day and night-yes, nighttime with a velvet jacket or suit, or even as a tuxedo!

An overcoat is the other super cool item for this winter. The new short version in cashmere and silk is really amazing. Touch it, feel it, and you will fall in love in a second. You can wear it on top of a suit or simply with a pair of jeans.

I look forward to showing you all my products in person. Stop by and we can share an espresso together, talk about fabrics, cut, details, and all the things that you and I love.

Ciao a tutti. M@X

Duca Sartoria Atelier New York
425 Madison Avenue Suite 1903
New York, NY 10017
212.582.3225
www.ducausa.com
atelier@ducausa.com