THE ARTISAN WORKSHOP RUN BY ANGELO INGLESE CONTINUES THE FAMILY TRADITION. FOUNDED IN 1955, IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF ITALIAN EXCELLENCE SET IN THE HEART OF PUGLIA WITH INTERNATIONAL APPEAL. BETWEEN EVOCATIONS OF THE “DOLCE VITA” AND MODERN INTERPRETATIONS. SURPASSING ALL FASHIONS.
Angelo Inglese with Ape Calessino “interpreted” by his tailoring shop and presented at the international EuroApe event (Salsomaggiore, Italy, September 2018) that celebrated the 70th anniversary of Ape, with Vincenzo Scardigno (Head of 3-4 wheels EMEA & Emerging Markets of the Piaggio Group).
Source of images: angeloinglese.wordpress.com/2018/09/23/presentazione-ape-calessino.
July 2019 – The story of the “G. Inglese” tailor shop, founded in 1955 in Ginosa (a centuries-old village in the province of Taranto), is one of Italian excellence, capable of lasting through the decades and reaching the international fashion runways.
A family company, skilfully led by traditional fine tailoring and a managerial attitude that looks to the future, new trends and new generations. The iconic garments of the G. Inglese tailor shop – shirts, polos, safari jackets, overcoats and accessories – are also chosen, today as they were yesterday, by famous personalities of the international jet set (reaching all the way to Prince William of the English Royal Family and American President, Donald Trump). Customisable garments, painstakingly designed from the selection of the precious materials to the trim, with unique and original details, the result of a combination of inspiration and research.
The prestigious French male fashion magazine, Monsieur, recently dedicated a flattering article to Angelo Inglese: the family tailor shop has been dressing VIPs since the nineteen-fifties. On the right: original G. Inglese tailor label on a shirt made for a “special” customer, President of the United States, Donald Trump.
The tailor shop is headed up by Angelo Inglese, who tells his story: “I was born in Ginosa, a small, provincial town between Taranto and Matera. From a very young age, I was taken to the family tailor shop, a place that contributed to making me fall in love with what can now be defined as ‘my world’. The memories are always there, the many anecdotes, the indescribable magic of the place, the scents and the odour of the steam from the iron in contact with the fabrics will be forever indelible. The time spent in the shop, along with the traditional and strict scholastic curriculum, contributed to teaching me simplicity and dedication, as well as honing my talent.
The G. Inglese tailor shop at Pitti Uomo, June 2019, Florence.
Source of images: www.facebook.com/ginglese.sartoria.
Curiosity and a desire to learn, discover and travel gave me the chance to get to know beauty. A quality I became fond of and which accompanies me always. The generous and kind welcome that the international market reserved for my creations allowed me to be able to set up a company model that could meet my ideals and my philosophy.
Angelo Inglese in Milan during a fashion show. Source of images: www.facebook.com/ginglese.sartoria.
In the year 2000, I acquired a historic building in the historic centre of Ginosa. Designed to develop all products connected to our tailoring tradition, but above all to draft a new model that could intensify the company-territory relationship, an interpretation that is all mine of beauty, art, socialising and hospitality.
Angelo Inglese creates a jersey dress for a part played by the attractive Italian actress Maria Grazia Cucinotta.
www.facebook.com/ginglese.sartoria.
As of today, even though the project is still not complete, it is particularly popular to the point of attracting illustrious personalities from all over the world to Ginosa. It is also emulated, and the experts have christened it as tailor tourism.”
Angelo Inglese during his recent visit to the Piaggio Museum (Pontedera, Tuscany): he poses at the entrance and with a vehicle from the historic collection; a 1957 Ape 150 AC Calessino.
And now the Ape Calessino comes on the scene of this story: Italian design, style and creativity par excellence, still capable of evoking “Dolce Vita” atmospheres even today.
Ape Calessino model year 2019; on the right, poster reminiscent of the nineteen-fifties: Capri, “paparazzi” on Vespas follow an actress in an Ape Calessino, emulating the “Dolce Vita” atmospheres.
Angelo Inglese has personalised it with the unmistakeable touch of his tailor shop and brought it into “his” Ginosa. During his recent visit to the Piaggio Museum in Pontedera, located just a short stroll from the Piaggio Group plants where Ape and the subsequent versions have been manufactured since 1948, we wanted to know more. This is what Angelo Inglese revealed about his “coup de foudre” for the elegant Calessino.
In the historic centre of Ginosa. Source of images: www.instagram.com/g._inglese_sartoria.
What do you like in particular about the Ape Calessino?
“I consider it to be a great masterpiece, a true icon. It is the small vehicle created for the widest variety of uses that immediately thrills you, makes you feel like you are in a Rossellini or Fellini film, immerses you in the atmosphere of a breathtaking drive through some of the most beautiful locations. Then, if you add the fact that you can bring your friends along for the ride, it also becomes a lifestyle.”
How did you personalise it?
“I went with a personalisation that would reflect my style. My colours, my collections. Particular attention to detail and to the use of techniques that evoke local tradition. In detail: door upholstery and interior made with fabric in typical striped patterns made on hand looms; top with flowers (a symbol of G. Inglese) hand embroidered and with crocheted lace; spare tyre cover hand-made in denim cotton and Piaggio and G. Inglese logos hand embroidered; cushions with embroidered fabric; rear flap in cotton canvas with a centrepiece crocheted in rush yarn; curtains in ultra-fine white linen with ‘raised stitching’ embroidered finishing; small blanket-plaid in hand-knitted cashmere.”
Ginosa: Ape Calessino “interpreted” by G. Inglese, latest version.
What do you use the Calessino for?
“Everyone comes through Ginosa: I take great pride in being able to show it to customers, friends, journalists. Especially foreigners. I like to describe it, tell about my interpretation and how it is outfitted. And also its history, conveying the charm of a ‘Made in Italy’ symbol. Riding around in the Calessino with discretion and elegance through the beautiful corners of the historic centre. One of the most spectacular urban interpretations of nature. A truly unique sight, just a quick stroll from Matera.”
And Angelo Inglese adds in conclusion: “My greatest desire would be to see more and more Ape Calessinos in symbolic Italian locations like Capri, Ischia, Portofino, Matera..., and who knows? One day maybe even an electric version, with special and personalised outfitting, different from one another, just so we can continue telling stories of style, beauty and a legend called Piaggio.”
INFO: www.g-inglese.com
Ape Ape Calessino story: 10 years ago, in July of 2009, Piaggio launched Ape Calessino Electric Lithium, an electric powered version of the Italian legend; a special limited and numbered edition. A collector’s item.
In the background images to this article: on the right Angelo Inglese at the Piaggio Museum; on the left Ape Calessino model year 2019.
