Luxe label brings Italian touch to tailoring
Handmade coats for women feature clean, ‘minimal palette,’ Aleesha Harris writes.
If there’s one thing Canadians can never have enough of — sartorially speaking — it’s coats.
From springtime toppers to heavy-duty winter workhorses, having an array of quality coats on hand is a very real necessity.
Now, shoppers have one more option to choose from thanks to the new luxe Canadian label Tempo Italy.
The brand’s creative director, Harriet Guadagnuolo, talked about the made-in-Italy designs, her inspiration and why women need one more coat in their closets.
Q When did you start the company?
A It started pretty recently, actually. We started the project at the beginning of March. It was fantastic that we got everything together so quickly, honestly. We had to source a manufacturer and fabrics all in Italy, so it has been a really amazing couple of months.
Q What made you want to start an outerwear brand?
A I knew that I wanted to create an outerwear project because I really saw a blank space in the market, especially in contemporary, for made-in-Italy quality outerwear. ... I didn’t have a coat like this that I could buy at this price point, so I really wanted to create it for the girls who are looking for that really minimal, tailored and clean look. That was the inspiration for the line.
Q Do you have a background in fashion design?
A I didn’t go to school for fashion, but I grew up in the industry. My mother owns Vestis Fashion Group, which is the owner of Blubird.
Q How would you describe your personal style?
A I really love classic pieces that are easy and effortless. I like the clean, minimal palette. And I always like for pieces to look professional. Never too casual.
Q Where in Italy are the coats made?
A We work with a really great manufacturer about 30 minutes outside of Florence. We wanted to find a quality manufacturer who could produce the type of coats we wanted with everything handmade.
Q The coats are reminiscent of the iconic Max Mara coats. Aside from price point, what makes them different from those toppers?
A It’s different because of the style. We really conceived the pieces to be a bit more streamlined in their shape.
Q What is the price point of your coats?
A From $1,185 for the Special Delivery coat to $1,985 for the Room Service coat.
Q Who is your target demographic? A I would say women ages 22 to 65. It is quite a wide range.
Q What are your plans for the brand?
A We are testing the market to see what our clients are saying. We have such a great client base here in Vancouver through Blubird and we just launched our e-commerce site at Tempoitaly.com. We are definitely planning for a spring 2017 collection, and honestly, the sky is the limit. We want this to be a stand-alone brand that could become something big.