Heir to one of the largest fashion empires in the world, Paolo Canali talks about how Indian nawabs are now serving as inspiration.
What started out as a tailoring workshop between brothers Giovanni and Giacomo Canali in 1934, today is a multi-billion-dollar menswear empire spread across continents. So while Paolo Canali, part of the third generation, dreamed of being a pilot as a kid, his calling was quite naturally pre-determined.
“Ours is a family business, with my brothers and sisters and cousins all being involved. So my agenda was pretty much set at an early stage. In our company, business and life are interlinked because of the number of hours spent,” says Paolo, who as marketing director was on a whistle-stop visit to Mumbai to celebrate their 75 years.
And while menswear across the world seems to be gaining increased prominence, with India also having its first men’s fashion week, Paolo explains, “Men now have a more individualistic approach to fashion. Also, casual has become more acceptable. You don't need to dress in a suit even on holiday.”
Renowned for their bespoke Italian tailoring, Paolo defines style as being all about elegance. “Elegance is one step ahead of being classic and one step before being too flamboyant. So, elegance is a matter of balance.”
Having famously dressed some of Hollywood's biggest stars — George Clooney (
Michael Clayton), Mark Ruffalo (
Reservation Road), John Travolta (
A Civil Action) etc, does Paolo have a personal favourite?
“Definitely George Clooney — because of the way he expresses himself, not only physically but also as a person. He gives the feeling that he’s at ease in any situation, which is of course a part of inner elegance,” he says, adding, “we’ve also been active with sports people and athletes. We recently dressed the US Davis Cup team.”
And while he remains tight-lipped about zeroing in on anyone from Bollywood as the Indian face, Paolo says that India has in fact inspired their latest creation — the Nawab jacket. “It evokes this rich heritage of the past, royalty, and a lavish lifestyle. India is increasingly becoming a source — for inspiration, materials and special textiles. On the fashion map, India has become more important than ever before!”
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