In the heart of Milan, an atelier that serves as a sanctuary, a workshop, and a salon. Here, Ciro Pistarino crafts bespoke garments for footballers, entrepreneurs, and heads of state.
Via Corridoni 1, Milan. An elegant, discreet doorway opens into a world of silence and sartorial beauty. Within this refined haven of calm and sophistication, the timeless elegance of Ciro Pistarino is born—deeply personal, quietly enduring. “I started at 17. Today I travel the world, but I always return here. This atelier is my home—and I want it to feel like home for everyone who walks in.” Seated in a velvet armchair, he calmly and serenely shares his philosophy of tailored elegance. He has always placed himself entirely at the service of his clients, preferring that they be the ones to shine. Footballers, entrepreneurs, executives, heads of state—men from vastly different worlds, united by a single desire: to feel at ease in a garment that tells their true story. “I often travel to meet my clients, even abroad. Alternatively, this atelier is my headquarters. This place has a soul—it relaxes, welcomes, and encourages dialogue. That’s where the perfect suit begins.”
Ciro’s training began in his youth, “in the workshop,” as they used to say. He learned from masters, observed, then shaped. Over the years, he refined a style that is uniquely his own: measured, yet never predictable. His hands know what to do, but it’s his ability to listen that sets him apart. A bespoke suit is like a private conversation, as Ciro confirms: “I like to enter, gently, into the client’s world. To understand his lifestyle, the environments he moves in. Only then can I interpret it with my own touch—tailored, but always respectful. The best suit is born from dialogue: the client feels free, and I capture the nuances that make all the difference. Ultimately, the suit must reflect the person, never distort him.” From his privileged vantage point, Ciro Pistarino offers insight into the world of tailoring—balancing tradition and transformation. “Tailoring evolves more slowly than fashion. Proportions have slimmed down, trousers have shortened. But the real revolution is in the fabrics: everything is lighter, more flexible, suited to a modern life spent indoors and in shifting climates. We work a lot with mid-weight fabrics, while linen, wool-silk blends, and cottons remain timeless.” His favorite fabric? Solaro—a noble textile originally created for the military, beloved by Gianni Agnelli, and now an icon. “And as a tailor, I love challenges: the lightest fabrics, those with ultra-fine threads, are the hardest to tame. But they bring the greatest satisfaction.” Among the more eccentric requests in his many years of experience, Pistarino recalls a footballer who commissioned a vividly colored jacket for his thirtieth birthday—elegant, yet unconventional. Or the requests for hidden pockets inside jackets to store documents and personal items.
But beyond materials and tailoring choices, what is elegance today? Is it a timeless concept, or is it dissolving into countless interpretations? “People wear ties less often now, and the t-shirt under the suit has become a staple. The idea of formality has changed—but that doesn’t mean it won’t change again. In every era, one truth remains: elegance belongs to the person, not the garment. It’s how a piece is worn that makes it elegant, not the piece itself. A great suit without personality is just an empty shell.” And what about the future? What challenges lie ahead? “Few young people want to learn a manual craft. That’s a real risk: Italian tailoring is a heritage, and our school is among the most respected in the world.”
In the discreet salon of Via Corridoni, Ciro Pistarino doesn’t sell suits—he offers experiences. Between a fabric laid out on the table, a cup of coffee, and a smile that puts even the most reserved client at ease, the beauty of a craft that helped shape Italy’s greatness is passed down. And with masters like him, it still has much to say.