Truzzi

Milanese shirtmakers. Founded in 1890 by Luigia Truzzi with a shop in the Via Broletto, it was purchased in 1924 by Tina and Ferruccio Ballini. In 1948, they opened a Truzzi shop in the Corso Matteotti. The sign remained beneath those porticoes until 1993, when the son Luigi moved the shop and workshop to the Via Santa Eufemia and, in 1997, changed the name to Luigi Ballini, while continuing the great tradition of quality and style. Members of the Italian royal house wore Truzzi shirts. Truzzi made for Hitler wool pajamas with a fabric made specially in Biella, which was carefully weighed by officials of the Gestapo, both before and after cutting and stitching, to ensure there was no wastage. Among the illustrious clients, Von Karajan, Horowitz, Benedetti Michelangeli, the Falcks, the Pirellis, Enrico Cuccia (who only bought white shirts; when he was away, his wife would order them), Cardinal Montini, Gaetano Afeltra, considered the most difficult client, the race car drivers Varzi and Chiron and, among the women, Giannalisa Feltrinelli. For each individual client, a paper and cardboard pattern would be prepared, upon which the shirts would be cut in the preferred fabrics, including voile, linen, and poplin, while special care was devoted not only to the stitching, but also to the pressing, done by modern pressing machines.