Alessandro Gherardi Shirts: Experience, Passion and Craftsmanship
Twice a year, Ed and I spend two nights in Milan visiting collections that are not shown by any agency in the UK. Comes part and parcel with stocking brands not over-distributed in England (I know, what a chore). The week before we were setting out to buy our AW23 collection in Italy's fashion capital, we received an email from a shirting brand called Alessandro Gherardi.
I’ll admit, more shirts were something we didn’t need as our shirt brands at the time were holding their own. So we thought our time maybe better spent viewing something else, but last minute, we decided to pop in and view the collection as it was around the corner from Fedeli, and we are so happy we did. Well, when I say pop in, we may have navigated ourselves around the same block 3-4 times before we realised we had been next to the front door the whole time, let's just say that's a story for another day, hey Ed.
One thing that stood out straight away from the shirts folded on the slanted shelves as we walked in through the ever-so-Milanese entrance was the collar shapes. Shapes we love but only see online from some of our inspirations, never at a buy in England. For instance, the one-piece open collar with the hidden button-down is an absolute work of art. Sitting perfectly with or without a jacket over the top of it. We were also the first of their stockists to go for the XH collar, which is a large button-down, not a three-finger (menswear rule) but a four, and it has been received the best of the collection. Find this collar on the denim (featured below) and herringbone flannel shirts.
Alessandro Gherardi began making shirts in the 70’s, now, they create 500,000 shirts a year, 250,000 for AG, 50,000 made-to-measure and 200,000 private label. One thing that sets Gherardi shirts apart is the amount of handwork that goes into each and every one of them. From cutting and sewing to buttoning and ironing, every step is carried out with meticulous attention to detail. The materials used are of the highest quality, whether sourced from their own stocks or from trusted suppliers such as VBC or Thomas Mason.
For a 100% Made in Italy product that comes hand-finished, Alessandro Gherardi shirts provide amazing value. While they have always championed the handcraft of bespoke shirtmaking, Gherardi has also been smart to innovate their production processes over the years by investing in Italian machinery and technology. Take the white stretch shirt we have introduced this season (found below), Many brands struggle to create a good quality white stretch shirt, but Alessandro Gherardi has succeeded in doing so. This stretch fabric that A.G has created has such a natural handle it feels more like a lightweight cotton than a synthetic blend.
However, It's worth noting that the Gherardi shirts are made to order, so the designs we’ve created aren't held on stock, which means that you'll need to be quick if you want to get your hands on one. But once you do, you'll appreciate the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into each shirt. So, if you're looking for a shirt that exudes passion, craftsmanship and exclusivity, Alessandro Gherardi is definitely the shirt worth considering. So be sure to cop your’s before they’re all gone.
