What occurs while you infuse British fashion into the historic metropolis of Bologna? This retailer is the reply. After we visited the winter version of Pitti Uomo, we took a day journey with our associates on the Sartorial Membership to Bologna and we discovered a retailer we completely needed to share with you. Located among the many well-known Portico Archways, De Paz is a clothes retailer with a wealthy historical past and a singular providing as they concentrate on British fashion, clothes, and equipment.
The Historical past of De Paz
We have been handled to an intensive take a look at the shop in addition to the wealthy historical past of De Paz by David, the third era of the De Paz household. Based in 1932 by David’s grandfather, the De Paz retailer has been in the identical location since day one.
To start with, they solely bought cloth sourced from England, Eire, and Scotland; then, David’s father, Dante, added to the shop’s providing by promoting fits, jackets, and trousers. This addition of ready-to-wear strains additionally included Tricker’s footwear, with De Paz being the primary Italian stockist of Tricker’s footwear in 1982. David has additionally added his mark on the store by introducing an enormous number of Shetland wool clothes.
The shop itself is an absolute deal with for everybody who loves traditional fashion, particularly for those who like British fashion. De Paz was one of many first shops in Bologna to enthusiastically import and embrace all the things to do with British fashion, which you’ll be able to see within the memorabilia that decorates the two-story store.
Curiously, the De Paz crew has collected a chunk so as to add to their assortment of British objects every time they go to the UK, so you may see what number of instances the journey has been made in posters, stamps, and teacups. They nonetheless promote cloth, which might be discovered alongside the ground and partitions of the shop. That is most spectacular while you take the steps to the shop’s second ground as you may see all the material on cabinets alongside the staircase. It’s nearly such as you’re being guided up the steps by tweed, flannel, and tattersall.
Holding impressed with
Fashion Books
Additionally, featured alongside the staircase partitions is a number of fashion books, together with certainly one of my private favorites, The Gentleman by Bernhard Roetzel. David showcased the significance of getting these books, as lots of them function references for the material patterns, weaves, and textures.
He even has cloth swatches inside the bookshelf, performing as his archive of all of the materials De Paz has made and bought over time. This manner, he’s capable of hold monitor of what sells effectively and achieve inspiration from previous designs.
What Do They Promote in De Paz?
To today, they’ve a mix of previous and new cloths with some very particular items. For instance, we noticed a cavalry twill that weighs in at 1,000 grams per sq. meter and a keeper’s tweed that’s 850 grams per sq. meter. That’s some heavy cloth. It’s one thing that you just simply don’t see fairly often lately.
Different conventional materials might be discovered inside the assortment, too, like corduroy and moleskin. Total, David estimates he has over 300,000 meters of cloth accessible to buy. That’s a loopy quantity of fabric.
Hanging GarmentS have
Tartan Mud Covers
Talking of fabric, you’re certain to have observed one other a part of the shop’s wealthy historical past, the tartan mud covers, which shield the entire hanging clothes. This can be a splendidly distinctive concept that’s been part of the De Paz retailer because the starting, and it’s merely implausible to see this specific custom stored alive as we speak.
What Does De Paz Specialize In?
Eighty-five p.c of the shop’s items are all labeled with about half of the objects being made in Italy and the opposite half being made in Britain—with De Paz sourcing the material for all the things they make. The remaining inventory is proudly sourced from famend British manufacturers like Tricker’s, John Smedley, and Grenfell.
After we requested them what they’re most happy with, there was no hesitation from David in telling us it’s definitely their Scottish test. It’s their bestselling cloth and particularly woven with their very own district test. This acts as a delicate, fashionable calling card. In the event you’re sporting this fabric then the one place on the earth it may have come from is De Paz.
Whereas this specific test is their best-selling cloth, their total hottest objects are the Shetland wool clothes. Boasting a formidable 55 colours of Shetland wool, you’re certain to discover a sweater or cardigan to fit your wardrobe.
As you may in all probability inform, wool is a giant a part of the shop’s heritage as even the socks that they promote are 100% wool with no polyamide or elastic in them. That is fairly uncommon as many woolen yarns these days have some aspect of artificial fibers in them, particularly for stretchy issues like socks. This dedication to utilizing as many pure supplies as doable is a testomony to the old-world appeal that exudes from the shop and proves that the standard mindset continues to be very related even within the twenty first century.
Different wool objects we noticed included some great blankets within the De Paz test. Sized at 180 x 40 cm, these are an incredible measurement to tackle a picnic, to the seashore, or to make use of as a throw in your home.
If blankets aren’t your factor, then the number of overcoats will certainly be for you. Whether or not it’s a heavyweight Irish Donegal wool made up right into a Raglan sleeve overcoat or a traditional duffle coat with conventional twine and wooden toggle fastenings, there’s a superb number of timeless clothes which might be straightforward to fashion and mix.
Whereas De Paz primarily focuses on ready-to-wear clothes, it’s additionally value mentioning the additional step they make in the direction of getting all the small print proper. Simply above the shop sits an alterations tailor, which implies that, when you choose a garment, there’s a excessive probability you’ll be capable of get it fitted precisely the way you prefer it. As everyone knows, match is vital to trying your greatest.
Match is vital
What Did We Purchase From De Paz?
Jack joined me on this journey to Bologna as he additionally got here with me to Pitti Uomo. You possibly can see what he packed for the journey in our put up on What Influencers Pack for Pitti Uomo in addition to the garments that I delivered to Pitti in one other put up. Jack runs chilly and was delighted to choose up a two-ply, cable knit sweater in an exquisite mossy inexperienced shade. Though it’s a Shetland wool, the mélange presents lots like a Donegal yarn because it additionally has parts of heather and blue colours in there.
sweater manufactured from
Shetland Wool
As you may see, it has a crewneck, which isn’t my fashion, so I checked out a cardigan as a substitute. However, these have been slightly too lengthy for my torso and I felt that I seemed an excessive amount of like a grandpa in them. So, Jack ended up getting one thing.
I got here away empty-handed this time. It’s not usually that I’m outshopped by one other member of the crew. We have been additionally on a schedule so we stayed and shopped for so long as we may, however I undoubtedly would love the chance to return to the shop to choose one thing up sooner or later.
Conclusion
Total, we had a implausible time on the retailer. It has such an exquisite historical past and an incredible number of garments and equipment, and so they actually perceive learn how to curate a retailer so you possibly can theoretically purchase your complete wardrobe from one place.
Our particular thanks go to David and the De Paz crew for having us. This was an impromptu go to, and we actually admire their heat welcome.
I’m curious: have you ever ever been to De Paz, or have we impressed you to make a visit? Tell us within the feedback under.
We’d additionally love to listen to of any suggestions you could have for different menswear shops to go to. Wherever they’re on the earth, and nonetheless large or small, we’d like to see your strategies for superior shops identical to De Paz.
