This is always a fun conversation.  We should really have it more often.

Frankly, some of the points have some merit, others are woefully misinformed.  I generally agree with Marc that there is not some definite link between quality and price, and that good service should be a given.  However, the idea that many other tailors in Naples produce a product of similar quality is simply untrue, and the idea that somehow Rubinacci does not represent what "Neapolitan tailoring" is about is laughable on its face, and even if it were true, it would only be dealing with something which is completely unimportant, which is the need to achieve some ulitmate in regionality in order to have a good product.  That is just silly.

No Nobel Prize in economics will be awarded on this subject. I do think, however, the Veblen effect is what's at work with these particular Neapolitan makers. The foreplay of the transaction is built into the high pricing scheme for these sorts of customers. "Authentic Neapolitan Taioring." (TM)

Last edited by iammatt (2009-04-01 11:57:48)

Last edited by tteplitzmd (2009-04-01 12:45:25)

I think silk vs. Bemberg has been covered before. I don't know of any master tailor who will recommend silk. Perhaps a 'stylist' would, but then again, he's not a tailor is he? In case you missed the earlier tutorial, silk doesn't breathe. So, for Authentic Neapolitan Tailoring, especially in a climate like Authentic Naples, you'll want to go with Ermezine.

With the silk lining, do they offer to sell you an 'extended warranty' along the lines of Best Buy? You know, the cost of the materials and repairs can add up!

There's a tailor in NYC, Tony Maurizio, who boasts that whenever he raises his prices, his business increases.  There's probably more than a little bluster in that, still, people often equate price and quality.