A man who, since childhood, has been exposed to a world rich in creativity, expanding his skills. A decades-long story of needle and thread to tell, one that has made Biancavilla a talking point in Italy and abroad. Salvatore Papotto It is known throughout the town as the master tailor academic par excellence, whose produced elegance continues to live on.
Story of a tailor
Salvatore Papotto was born in Biancavilla on February 27, 1948. At the age of six, his parents took him to Sebastiano Sangiorgio's tailoring shop to learn the trade, and he has never stopped practicing it since. He has had an immense passion for tailoring. gratitude For his first master, who instilled in him the value of dedication to one's work. The tailoring workshop was a creative circle: children aged 6 and 7 would come every afternoon until midnight. Apprentices would perform small tasks such as preparing the needle for the master to sew, or first the coal-fired iron, then the gas-fired one. The tailoring workshop was a second home, as much time was spent there learning the trade. The master, therefore, was a second father, whose wife was also called "maestra" as a form of respect.
An romantic tailoring, Sangiorgio's school, which emphasized not only the craft but also interpersonal relationships, centered on education. Several of the master's friends would visit him, creating a form of interaction based on respect. At age 10, the master would take into account the work already accomplished, so by the age of 12 or 13, the apprenticeship was complete. The 15- and 16-year-old tailors were experts, already considered adults, and therefore served as assistant masters. In 1963-1964, Salvatore Papotto traveled to Milan to work at Carmelo Minauro's tailor shop to hone his craft. It was a wonderful journey that hardened him and introduced him to important figures.
After this crucial experience, Papotto worked at Paolo Lo Re's tailor shop in Catania, at Via S. Euplio 13, which no longer exists. An equally impactful journey that lasted five years, Papotto commuted every day between Biancavilla and Catania. Here he met clients from the so-called "Catania per bene," such as the nephew of Giovanni VergaHis father was a farmer, his mother, Vincenza Pastanella, made wool sweaters with knitting needles. She was a crucial figure for the tailor, as, after her death, he decided to open a workshop in Biancavilla.
Salvatore Papotto and his independent journey
The Biancavilla tailoring shop opened on December 7, 1970, at Via Preside Caruso 6, in the heart of town. This marked a milestone in his career, which from then on would flourish. His career path was both rewarding and rewarding, with many accolades and accolades. The tailor participated in over a hundred haute couture events, including the first held in Alì Terme in 1974. In 1977, he presented his designs at the Caffè Royal in London, where he was awarded the title of Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Fashion.
In 1987, Papotto's catwalk show featuring a man in a skirt, held in Catania's Piazza Verga, aroused great curiosity. The exhibition "Artigianato alle Ciminiere" (Craftsmanship at the Ciminiere) continued between the late 90s and 2000s. This craft show, organized by the Municipality of Biancavilla in 2009-2010, ran through the town's alleys. The Papotto tailoring shop displayed its clothing along the Via Preside Caruso.
Exhibition of the collection in 2011 Turi, on the occasion of the World Congress of Master Tailors in Rome. Inauguration, in 2012, of a permanent exhibition of Papotto's most significant creations, Villa delle FavareAt the same location, in October 2021, he received an award as a Biancavilla citizen who honored the town and was given a place on the Walk of Fame. In 2012 and 2013, Papotto held internships for experimental training courses. He has been a member of the World Federation of Tailors since 1975, and a member of the National Academy of Tailors since 1986. In November 2012, he was a guest speaker at the conference "The Tailor in the Third Millennium," organized by the Biancavilla Academy for Senior Citizens. Salvatore Papotto has received numerous mentions from national and international newspapers and magazines.
Salvatore Papotto and environmental sustainability
He always takes part in the World Tailors' Congresses, fondly remembering the one in Seoul (2013), Verona (2019) and above all the most recent one in Biella. A place that has always been important for its world-class fabric factories, it hosted the World Tailors' Congress 2023 at the Città degli Studi. The central theme was eco-sustainability: the fashion industry, especially the fast fashion, It's among the most polluting on the planet, and therefore requires a new way of thinking about production. Tailors have observed how sustainable fabrics are processed in factories, such as how they are washed with mountain water and then processed when the wool arrives. Tailors have also learned how to pick up a thread when it breaks. A kind of degrowth, reconciling the art of tailoring with environmental justice.
- craftsmen of the past Unknowingly, due to the scarcity of resources, they were skilled recyclers. This is a lesson we need to learn in today's consumerist era. Salvatore Papotto was struck by the last congress; it inspired him greatly. A tailoring school will open in Biella. The World Tailors' Congresses are held every two years; the next one will be held once again in Seoul. Asia invests heavily in tailoring; it's a growing sector. China and Korea fund training courses for young people, held in Italy. In Italy, however, no consideration is given to craftsmanship, not even tailoring. The aim is to pursue the interests of capital through overproduction, in complete antithesis to eco-sustainability. The eco-friendly materials discussed in Biella are wool, silk, and cotton. Hemp is also an excellent alternative; Papotto used to make jackets from it as a boy.
The production of Biancavilla tailoring
The company mainly produces jackets and trousers, sometimes also riding suits and gowns for lawyers and magistrates. Shirts and ties are custom-made by the company. Three ladies, to whom the tailor commissioned the work, after having chosen the model. Men's clothes that follow the classic-modern styleThey maintain elegance but must embody the wearer's individuality. Clothing, therefore, is not stiff but evokes both classic taste and creative flair. Salvatore Papotto is a man who always looks to the future. future, to becoming, despite his advancing age. He always tends to learn and innovate from his profession, demonstrating dynamicity and at the same time maintaining the teachings learned since childhood.
Worthy of note is the sewing machine used by three generations, purchased by Salvatore D'Asero, another Biancavilla tailor. The tool was first used by Uncle Basile in the 20s and 30s. Garments, such as jackets, feature many small details that require attention, such as buttons. Hand sewing requires mastery, especially when it comes to detail. This production strives to salvage the irretrievable, with two women working alongside the tailor, who believes in the potential of women in this world. Salvatore Papotto considers his work extraordinary; it inspires him to dream and constantly challenges him. This is what craftsmanship strives for, for its authentic and unconventional production.
