Antonio Panico, a master of Neapolitan tailoring, captivates fashionistas worldwide. The ultimate comfort comes from his masterful, completely handcrafted work.

Antonio Panico

Born in Casalnuovo, he began tailoring at the age of 11, training under Mr. Combattente. After serving as the cutter/sartorial manager at London House from the age of 29, he opened Sartoria Panico in 1991.

He began his career as a tailor at the age of 11. A key figure in Naples' golden age.

"The pinnacle of Neapolitan tailoring," "the last and greatest maestro"—the renowned tailor Antonio Panico is showered with such accolades. His soft, lightweight finishes, and the way his completely handmade garments beautifully and elegantly accentuate the body's lines, are what make him the "last" tailor to carry on the authentic Neapolitan style, and these garments continue to captivate fashionistas around the world.

He entered the world of tailoring at the age of 11. According to him, he was such a lively child (in other words, quite a mischievous kid) that he was sent to train as a tailor under the supervision of a priest. His hometown, Casalnuovo, a town on the outskirts of Naples, was famous for its tailoring, so it was a very natural choice. Later, at the age of 14, he began his apprenticeship under the legendary tailor Roberto Combattente, where he mastered the technique of freehand cutting. At the age of 29, he joined London House, a long-established tailor in Naples. He served as the master cutter for the shop for over 20 years, becoming a key figure in building the golden age of Neapolitan tailoring. In 1991, he finally opened his own tailor shop in the upscale Chiaia district of Naples. Now 78 years old, he is still active, and together with his son Luigi and daughter Paola, he is expanding his business with bases in Rome (currently temporarily closed) and Milan.



We've already touched on the appeal of Antonio Panico's clothing, which is entirely handmade using traditional Neapolitan tailoring. But what exactly is "Neapolitan tailoring"? Its main characteristic is that, reflecting Naples' warm climate year-round, it doesn't use shoulder pads or interlining, resulting in a soft and lightweight construction. It's also a style that strongly reflects the individual body type and preferences of the Neapolitans, who particularly value individuality. However, among the many tailors of Neapolitan tailoring, Antonio Panico is considered special because his clothes beautifully bring out the individuality and body shape of the wearer. Panico says:

"It has to be a suit that, when you get home, makes you forget you've been wearing it all day."

In other words, it should be so comfortable that you forget you're wearing it, like a second skin. The area Mr. Panico pays the most attention to is the shoulders. In true Neapolitan style, it's finished naturally without shoulder pads, but in reality, there's meticulous calculation involved to ensure the jacket perfectly matches the movement of the shoulder bones.

Among the many tailors specializing in Neapolitan tailoring, Antonio Panico stands out because his clothes beautifully enhance the wearer's individuality and physique. This is because his style strongly reflects the individual body type and preferences of the Neapolitans, who particularly value individuality within Italy.



The secret to creating clothes that perfectly reproduce each customer's proportions is undoubtedly the subtle adjustments that come from being completely handmade. In particular, the cutting techniques honed through many years of experience play a crucial role.

"I can cut clothes for long-time clients without even taking measurements. I know my own body well, so I even cut my own suits directly."

His right hand is more precise than the pattern.

Tailored suits start from 972,000 yen.
*Delivery: Approximately 3-4 months later
*Ready-made suits start from 648,000 yen.

A solitary tailor who never delivers clothes he doesn't like, always striving for perfection.

However, this reflects his strict way of life, both towards himself and the clothes he makes. Even after nearly 70 years of dedicating himself to tailoring, he still maintains a challenging spirit, saying, "Every garment is a test." He also firmly states, "No garment that I don't like will ever leave this sartorial house." There have been instances where a foreign customer came to the sartorial house to pick up a suit, only to be turned away because he wasn't satisfied with the finished product. Furthermore, even if a customer requests a garment, he will never make one that he is not satisfied with. To achieve this, he carefully considers not only the customer's physique but also their personality and occupation. Known as a "solitary tailor" and rumored to be difficult to deal with, he smiles wryly and says, "People say I'm scary because I'm always thinking about something like this." In reality, he is a cheerful Neapolitan with a playful side.


Now, it is his son Luigi and daughter Paola who have inherited the rigor and passion for their work from their great father. Currently, the tailor shop is supported by them and about 15 other craftsmen. Three young craftsmen in their twenties are also undergoing training. In the Italian craft industry, which is struggling with a shortage of successors, the future of Sartoria Panico is bright.