Our History
In 1967, Luigi began his tailoring career in earnest by operating his own sartoria out of his home in Salve, a commune within Lecce, Italy. He specialized in bespoke garments, all of his work was handmade, and he took great pride in the fineness of his stich. Luigi could make a suit in any style, always deferent to his clients’ wishes but when given the opportunity he preferred the Apulian way. He defined this style as begetting a light touch, one that required a deft hand to create the effect of temporary suspension from all perceived weight. He carefully sculpted curved lapels and added other personalized touches to communicate this lightness. For this exemplary skill, Luigi was named “Mesciu Gigi” by his peers meaning a master tailor in Leccese dialect.
A New Rekindled World
Now more than ever, time and progress share an unmistakably intertwined relationship. In fact, the extrapolation of Moore’s law posits that the rate technology increases exponentially with time. The application of technology as such has gifted society many wonderful inventions improving our ability to control and manipulate the world. Like all things, however, progress comes at a cost. Things that we once held dear fade and disappear with time. It is our intention at Mesciu Gigi to forestall this process by preserving ancient ideals and imbuing them in innovative new processes.
Homeland
Situated at the heel of Italy’s boot lies Apulia. This magical region is split latitudinally between the three historic areas of the Gargano, the Valle d’itria, and Salento. In the Salento region, situated at the spur of Italy’s boot, stands Lecce, a city between two seas, the Adriatic and Ionian, and thereby two worlds.
In Lecce, life can be characterized by the Salentino phrase of “Lu sule, lu mare, e luientu”. The sun, the sea, and the wind. It is a place of sumptuous beauty yet unpredictable weather.
It is here where we learned to craft versatile garments to brave the elements. It is here where we have seen the colors which we have infused within our garments. And it is here where we have derived our aesthetic which prizes elegant simplicity over garish complexity.
Heritage
We are uniquely Apulian, the proud descendants of Greeks, Romans, Lombards, Normans, French, Spanish, and fellow Italians.
Mesciu Gigi is the beautiful confluence of the many races, cultures, and philosophies of our land.We are our contradictions. We are young and old, light and heavy, loud and muted, natural and synthetic, simple and ornate, innovative and traditionalist.
We have inherited this rich mélange from our ancestors. This mix, however, has not created confusion but rather enlightenment. We are Apulians, people well-versed in the fine language of fabrics accustomed to its nuances and well-rounded in a culture of craftsmanship that obsesses over every detail.
Humanist
At Mesciu Gigi, we believe in our mission to provide the best products possible, always. We enjoy the challenge, the toil, the endless pursuit in search for the beautiful. We take this charge seriously.
Our mission, however, does not end there. We believe our mission extends even further into something more valuable, one which involves creating a community that values critical thinking allowing us to perceive more clearly the true, the good, and the beautiful. And to reject all those things that distract from their ultimate pursuit.
We believe in the power of philosophy to be our guide in the search for the divine.
Sustainability
Our garments are artisanally hand-made in Apulia, Italy. Only natural materials are used, locally sourced in Apulia, Italy. We only partner with fabric mills with sustainable practices. A testament to our constant alignment with the sublime, natural beauty of our land and our people.