Litrico 1950
Sartoria Litrico, men’s high fashion makes its way
Litrico is a historic Roman tailoring of men’s high fashion founded in 1951 and still a family-run artisan business. The first Italian Maison to hold men’s haute couture shows, starting from the 1950s, and to promote Italian men’s fashion throughout the world. The Litrico tailoring shop is among the founding members of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion and has obtained the highest recognitions, not only from the Italian state, but also from all the most important fashion and non-fashion media.
The Litrico maison has always played a prominent role in the world of Italian Haute Couture and is also responsible for the fame of the much sought after “Made in Italy”. It was the first to organize men’s “fashion shows” and to combine men’s models with women’s garments that were already presented by the big houses in the 1950s.
Litrico Angel
A son of Sicily all heart, style and friendliness who made as much noise in the field of men’s fashion as Khrushchev did at the United Nations! The first of twelve brothers and sisters, Angelo was born in Catania in 1927. He went to school but soon started working for a tailor in his city.
With great zeal he threaded the needles, prepared the iron and performed other small tasks. The tailor appreciated the boy’s commitment, but he was far from imagining that a famous designer of Haute Couture would blossom from his little “custureri” pupil.
The arrival in Rome
When he was a young man, Angelo realized that in Catania he would never be able to express himself at his best and, almost called by destiny, he reached Rome, where he began his business working for a suburban tailor.
But the desire to know and understand often led Angelo to Via Veneto who, if he had the means, began the “Dolce Vita”. It was then that, passing through Via Sicilia, he noticed a small tailor’s shop; he came in, asked for a “bench” seat and got it. More confident by now, he had the opportunity to create and wear classy clothes, but so new in terms of line and color that they were the object of attention.
One evening Angelo wore a silk “tuxedo” to the Opera which, in the “foyer”, was noticed by Rossano Brazzi, who became his first named customer. The clientele developed and Angelo was able to take over the small tailor’s shop which became a destination for political figures, illustrious professionals and famous stars.
Litrico brings Italian fashion to Russia
In ’57 there was talk of Italian Fashion in Russia and they invited Litrico to participate, with his models, together with the women’s fashion houses. Angelo had the idea of bringing Khrushchev a coat as a gift. For the measurements he was inspired by a newspaper photo. The first secretary of the party thanked him and returned the gift with a precious camera. Then, through his daughter and son-in-law he sent Angelo his exact measurements. After a few months, in anticipation of his trip to the United States, he asked Litrico, through the Russian Embassy, for a complete wardrobe including the famous shoes.
In America, journalists, accustomed to Russian inelegance, asked Khrushchev who made his clothes. He replied that, for the purposes of … thaw, he had used an Italian tailor whose name was Angelo Litrico. Angelo, almost by design of destiny, was in the United States for a fashion event. He was tracked down and the press put him in the spotlight. Hundreds of journalists and magazines from all over the world spoke about him, in 37 languages. In ’59 the name of Angelo Litrico was already famous.
The personalities dressed by the brand
His small “atelier” was filled with Italian and foreign clients and its walls were covered with author’s paintings and photos with affectionate dedications of personalities “dressed” by the great Italian stylist. Litrico was called in all parts of the world and not only had his clothes paraded, but he established substantial business relationships, opening important doors to Italian men’s fashion.
Angelo was the first to sign a contract with a large Japanese company, paving the way for many of his colleagues, through the prestige that his style gave to “Made in Italy”. The first contracts were followed by others, so the name of Litrico became known, not only throughout Europe and Japan, but in North and South America, South Africa and Australia.
The honors to Litrico
Having noticed all this, the Italian authorities awarded Litrico with a whole scale of honours: appointed Knight in ’62, Official Knight in ’65, Commander in ’68, Grand Officer in ’72. Awarded the Gran Premio Vita di Sarto by the Accademia Nazionale dei Sartori in 1985, he has also received various honors to this day. Last recognition in chronological order: in 2008 the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities declared the Litrian Archive of Significant National Historical Interest.
His thousand commitments and the thought of the numerous family he had to help prevented him from building a lasting bond with a woman, but they did not prevent him from acting as best man for adults, baptising the little ones and giving gifts to the many people dear to him, making himself loved by adults and children, in particular by the hosts of grandchildren who he showered with gifts and tenderness.
The basic elements of fashion
Angelo was constantly searching for style and aesthetic perfection. He was aware that Fashion, as happens in other sectors, is committed to two basic elements: concepts and creations.
He started, by method, from man, never from things. Studying man to discover his needs, weaknesses, whims, aesthetic needs in relation to the flow of time, to be able to anticipate his tastes, to derive the fashion of tomorrow. In fact, Fashion is the sliding showcase of history.
Angelo Litrico didn’t like to talk about himself, but in one of the numerous interviews, with the sincerity and common sense that distinguished him, he gave an answer so focused that it beat the most skilled politicians. “It’s embarrassing to talk about yourself”, he said, “every time I have to do it I get upset, due to that sense of reserve that every man has towards his life, but I can’t hide the pride of having achieved a goal difficult, of having realized the dream of having all my family close to me and of surrounding them with well-being, after so many years of distance and sacrifices on everyone’s part. All this with scissors and needle, very modest artisan work tools, but which, with the help of constant study, served to create my creations.”
Simple and wise thought
The simplicity and wisdom of his thoughts, the sincerity of his feelings, brought many famous men closer to Angelo.
We mention, for example: Artists such as Manzù, Carpi, Consagra, D’Orazio, Mastroianni, Caron, Greco, Cagli, Guttuso; Poets such as Raphael Alberti, Quasimodo, Ungaretti; Conductors such as Thomas Schippers, Sinopoli, Caracciolo, Pani, Gelmetti; Actors such as Richard Burton, John Houston, Rossano Brazzi, Amedeo Nazzari, Vittorio Gassman; the actor-singer Domenico Modugno; Heads of State such as Kennedy, Tito, Peron, Pertini, Nasser, Leskol, Gronchi, Leone, King Hussein, King Umberto of Savoy, Eisenhower, Mac Milian, Nixon, Kubitschek; Politicians like Andreotti, Colombo, Preti, Morlino, Tanassi, Malfatti.
Christian Barnard and Angelo Litrico
But to truly understand the greatness of Angelo Litrico’s heart, we must mention the famous Christian Barnard, who through Litrico’s intercession, every time he came to Rome, visited hundreds of children who were then operated on in Cape Town with the personal financial participation of Angelo himself who, mindful of his difficult childhood, wanted to help the little ones in need of care and understanding.
Angelo Litrico, who passed away on 13 March 1986, left his business to his brothers Franco and Giusi who, from a very young age, followed him in his work, collaborating with him at all levels and ensuring that, even in the long and frequent periods in which Angelo had to be absent from Italy for work, so that the company would not be affected in the slightest.
“LITRIC FRANC”
Today the company owns the “FRANCO LITRICO” brand, created and registered for a target of excellence and for a commercial strategy based not only on the creation of Haute Couture garments, but also on lines of couture-à-porter, cashmere knitwear, footwear and high quality accessories entirely made in Italy.
After Franco’s death on 2 June 2004, his sons, who had been in the company since 1998, took over the management of the brand. Furthermore, together with the technical-stylistic staff, aware of the routine and the company target, they still form the same successful team composed of tradition and innovation. In this way the company continues to progress and broaden its interests.
Today Franco’s sons, Luca and Fabio
Today Franco’s sons, Luca and Fabio, have absorbed the vision and philosophy of the LITRICO style, readapting and reinterpreting it, over the years, to the continuous changes in society.
Just for Kennedy
Luca Litrico presents the new version of the jacket, corrected on the basis of modern taste. The new “Just For Kennedy” is a shirt jacket that combines the elegance of a traditional men’s jacket with the comfort of a sweater. The jacket in honor of President Kennedy is unlined and strapless, and changes fabric according to the seasons: cashmere in winter, cotton in summer. For the new collection, an innovative 100% natural stretch wool twill fabric was used above all.
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