Insist on it

Three Things
1 ● Trunk shows this month
2 ● Insist on it
3 ● Nostalgia

1 ● Trunk shows this month

Experience the artistry of Italian tailoring with I Sarti Italiani, a Palermo-based sartoria known for their dedication to detail, quality fabrics, and timeless elegance. Since 1986, they have been crafting bespoke suits and garments for men who value individuality and craftsmanship.

This month, they will begin their tour in London, followed by a US-wide tour starting in February, including stops in major cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore their bespoke offerings, including bespoke jackets starting at $1,000, designed to fit your unique style and proportions. Follow their updates to book your appointment and experience Italian tailoring at its finest.

2 ● Insist on it

Werner Herzog’s 1982 film Fitzcarraldo centers on the titular character’s quest to bring the opera to the Peruvian jungle. Fitzcarraldo has little money, so he hatches a plan to harvest rubber from an unexploited, remote tract of land, then use the profits to fund his opera. He buys a boat in the city of Iquitos, and sets out on his voyage.

I won’t spoil the plot — you can watch it on Amazon Prime — but as Fitzcarraldo floats down the river, he plays opera records on a phonograph. Aside from the boat crew, the only audience are the Amazonian tribes who sometimes appear on the riverbank.

His action is many things at once: a symbol of his determination to bring European opera to the Amazon, a projection of power over the tribes, an attempt at communication or diplomacy with the tribes — a defiant act of idealism that penetrates the overwhelming natural forces of the Amazon.

Ultimately, the jungle puts up a fight. Fitzcarraldo’s pursuit runs him ragged. The same is true for the film crew itself: they overcame huge setbacks and vicious fights. Herzog and his lead actor Klaus Kinski had such animus that the Amazonian tribespeople who were film extras offered to kill Kinski on behalf of Herzog. But Herzog got his film, and we the audience got an enduring work of art.

Swap the Amazon jungle for New York City, and walking around in a bespoke jacket, you too can feel like Fitzcarraldo. There’s idealism in embracing craft, a rebellion against the loud, distraction-filled jungle of modern life. Everywhere, an ugly spectacle vies for your attention. The default state is chaos and disrepair. The world resists beauty — but it’s worth insisting on.

3 ● Nostalgia

Enjoy Mulatu Astatke’s Tezeta (Nostalgia):

If you enjoyed this issue, please recommend us to a friend.

See you next time.

—Editor